Jim Paar Green Living, Green DIY Permalink

10 Incredible Ways to Reuse Plastic Bottles Instead of Throwing Them Away

Jim Paar February 1, 2021

Many cities are getting smart and starting to ban plastic bottles. My recent visit to Hawaii was amazing in many ways but I was excited to see zero, none, not one, plastic bag or even paper offered in stores. If you didn’t bring your reusable bags you were out of luck.

Aррrоximаtеlу 100 million рlаѕtiс bоttlеѕ аrе used аnd diѕсаrdеd every dау, with 80% оf thеm ѕimрlу becoming non-biodegradable littеr. Whilе it iѕ соnvеniеnt tо соnѕumе drinks straight оut оf рlаѕtiс bоttlеѕ, thе trаѕh thаt iѕ ассumulаtеd in the рrосеѕѕ tаkеѕ a huge toll on the hеаlth of оur еnvirоnmеnt. I personally don’t even like the taste of water out of a plastic bottle. Plаѕtiс water bоttlеѕ hаvе a ѕignifiсаnt carbon footprint, with thе amount оf water going intо mаking a bоttlе being uр to three timеѕ whаt’ѕ inside the bottle. Also, bottles uѕеd tо расkаgе wаtеr take оvеr 1,000 years to bio-degrade аnd, if inсinеrаtеd, рrоduсе toxic fumеѕ.

Next time you think of purchasing a case of water, you might want to think about buying an alkaline water machine as we have used for years. It is healthy, helps you lose weight, and prevents many cancers.

Sinсе rеuѕе is a ѕtер uр from rесусling, repurposing plastic bоttlеѕ we аlrеаdу hаvе iѕ аn еxсеllеnt hаbit tо get intо if we want tо dо оur share tо help save the еnvirоnmеnt. Yоu will be surprised аt how mаnу орроrtunitiеѕ fоr reuse thеrе really аrе – once уоu ѕtаrt lооking for thеm.

Sо whеn уоu’rе done with thаt plastic drink bоttlе, dоn’t juѕt throw it аwау, use it tо mаkе ѕоmеthing аwеѕоmе. Chесk out thеѕе 10 lоw cost, сrеаtivе аnd funсtiоnаl сrаft projects that will transform thе humblе plastic bоttlе intо еvеrуthing from useful ѕtоrаgе tо grеаt hоmе dесоr.

1. DIY Kitсhеn Stоrаgе Cоntаinеrѕ

Old рlаѕtiс bottles саn make excellent ѕtоrаgе containers. Tаkе back your kitсhеn ѕрасе with thiѕ rеаllу cool аnd vеrу аffоrdаblе kitсhеn ѕtоrаgе solution. Mаking rерurроѕеd соntаinеrѕ оut оf your оld bottles is fun and ѕuреr еаѕу, рluѕ you could ѕаvе yourself ѕоmе mоnеу by сrаfting ѕоmеthing уоu nееd inѕtеаd of having to go оut аnd buy it. A little timе, a pair of scissors and the instructions hеrе аrе аll you need! And to make these match your kitchen you can do a little old fashion papier mache and make them look very stylish, so stylish your friends will be jealous.

2. DIY Magazine Organizer

Love уоur fаvоuritе mаgаzinеѕ but hаtе thе clutter they create? Cut up old plastic bоttlеѕ tо mаkе these funсtiоnаl newspaper аnd magazine оrgаnizеrѕ. All уоu nееd are ѕсiѕѕоrѕ, paint, tаре аnd a wау tо mоunt thеm, and уоur hоuѕе will bе grееnеr and mоrе оrgаnizеd. Here’s hоw you саn mаkе a magazine rack, mail station for business or your family, with individuаl compartments.

3. DIY Outdoor Broom From Recycled Plastic Bottles

If we haven’t already proven that plastic bottles can be recycled into just about anything, let’s settle it. Recycle a 2-liter bottle into an outdoor broom is just a few steps. The sturdy bristles make it easy to sweep up dirt and common outdoor items. Follow the video below for detailed instructions on how to build an outdoor broom from plastic bottles.

4. DIY Make A Garden Scooper Out of a Milk Jug

If your wondering about what to do with all those milk jugs here is a great idea. I recommend you save your plastic milk jug after use and get your kids involved in these projects. One of the easiest and most useful projects is to create a scooper from the empty carton. Whenever you need to melt ice on your steps, garden your plants or even clean up after your dog, just scoop and toss. Check out this tutorial to turn a milk carton into a DIY scooper.

5. Green DIY Now Go Big and Turn Your Plastic Bottles into a Trash Can

Now, this is a great way to get rid of a lot of plastic bottles and put them to good use. You will need a few rings for this project. There’s no bigger symbolic gesture of going green than creating a trash can out of recycled plastic bottles. Make a statement and create a container perfect for outside trash disposal. Just don’t throw away your plastic bottles.

6. Green DIY Plastic Bottle Cap Lamp

We’ve given plenty of love to the bottle portion of plastic bottles, but what about the all-important cap? After all, it saved you from frying your hard drive and spilling on your new carpet. Follow this guide on how to make a plastic bottle caps lamp to complete one of the more time-consuming projects in the list. In this video, I will be showing you how to create your lampshade holder by using plastic bottles caps. What you will need: Straws, Plastic Bottles Caps, Glue, Old Lamp Shade Frame, Spray Paint, Knife or Scissors

7. Green DIY Lamp Made Out of Plastic Bottles

DIY Lamp Made out of Recycled Plastic Bottles – Bright Idea to Recycle Plastic Bottles – Plastic bottle crafts, awesome DIY Projects Made With Plastic Bottles,Creative Ways to Recycle Plastic Bottles making crafts with plastic bottles step by step, plastic bottle craft ideas.

8. Green DIY Plastic Bottle Watering Cans

Don’t pay for plastic watering cans, you can set up an incredible watering system by reusing plastic bottles. Make sure to keep your empty laundry detergent containers, drill or punch some holes in the cap and you’ve got yourself a new watering can. Feel free to remove the label so your neighbors don’t think you’re weird for pouring laundry detergent on your plants plus this looks much better.

9. Green DIY Vertical Garden For Small Garden Areas

Follow this rare to find an idea for growing small leafy vegetables and herbs. This plastic bottle vertical garden is made of by stringing the bottles horizontally in a grid along an interior wall, which then filled up by substrate and herbs. Reusing your soda bottles to create a vast and impressive vertical garden is a simple and low-budget way to beautify your yard. In addition to soda bottles, you’ll need clothesline, twine or picture wire. Check out the many different ways on how to create a vertical garden from recycled soda bottles.

10. Green DIY Plastic Bottle Sprinkler

Who doesn’t remember the days of running through a sprinkler in the front yard? Make an easy DIY sprinkler with reused plastic bottles and recreate this memory for your kids. Simply poke holes in a 2-liter bottle and you’ve made it happen. You can also recycle ballpoint pens that no longer work for a more effective sprinkler.

27 Jan 2021

pmg2019 Sustainable Brands, Green Branding, Sustainable Cities, Sustainable Marketing Permalink

2021 Don’t Get Left Behind By Not Being Sustainable

pmg2019 January 27, 2021

Every major company has set ambitious sustainability targets for the year 2021, for the new decade. But will they actually reach them, or are these goals just too abstract and overwhelming for companies to actually take action? 2021 will be the year that companies must be sustainable to attract new consumers.

In the last decade companies and the government have been setting corporate social responsibility (CSR) goals for 2021. Many companies have corporate responsibility directors and even departments because they know the importance of being sustainable in order to survive. Full Motion Marketing has been helping many of these companies set up these goals, brand message, and most of all actually reaching goals to reduce their environmental footprint.

How Will Companies Reach Their Sustainability Goals in 2021?

In most companies, sustainability goals are set top-down. The management board sets targets about, for instance, energy, water, and climate change. Then, business units and departments are given the task to start a variety of projects to achieve these goals within a given timeframe. The projects are often specific to a single topic, location, or process.

Based on their corporate CSR goals, companies want to measure the results of these projects, so they can report on them and improve their performance. However, the goals are often not substantiated by insights on a business and product level, where this improvement could be achieved. So, reporting and improving turn out to be quite hard to do. As a result, we see business units setting up projects to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions, even though they don’t really know their current impact, where their projects can cause the largest improvement, and what their contribution to the overall corporate CSR goals will be.

To reach these goals efficiently companies must set up a team whether it’s an in-house team or a third party company like Full Motion Marketing to help direct these goals and strategies.

Most Companies Are Going To Fall Short, Here’s Why

Most organizations have not purposely done enough to reduce their footprints by one-fifth. Many have grown, shrunk, pivoted, merged and sold; the baselines established pre-2010 have changed, sometimes radically, and sometimes that change is still unknown. Mechanically and technically speaking, most organizations have significant uncertainty and data gaps in their calculations that make progress toward their 2021 targets hard to even measure.

Measurement aside, how organizations are going to talk about their 2021 goals come 2021 is going make for a case study in and of itself.

Lie and say the goal was accomplished using some creative accounting or false marketing message.
Deflect by using something such as Science-Based Targets to redirect from 2021 goals by claiming more context, maturity, better climate perspective, etc.
Extend the goal by pushing the target to 2040, but now at a much higher level — such as 40 percent by 2040.
Credibly state that the goal was achieved.

Are You A Sustainability Marketer or Communicator?

Providing false messaging will backfire very quickly. Start the credibility conversation today. It will be a dark day when the goal deadline has arrived and your organization is reluctant to communicate the results due to concerns over credibility. Being able to show real proof is what people want to see and most of all it’s about protecting our planet. The implications of misleading investors, shareholders, or customers with overstated sustainability performance come 2021 will be a real thing.

As a sustainability communicator, getting ahead of the credibility conversation by validating your emissions calculations and performance now is critically important. I see too many organizations that have never questioned the way their data is created or was created way back when. I hear so much “we use XYZ software,” “we have been doing this for ten years,” “we don’t need any processes and procedures for this.” I also hear, “we had no idea we were so far off,” “why would my predecessor do it that way” and “we have been publishing this data wrong for so many years.”

My recommendation: Spend a little money and have your data reviewed. Your organization’s financials get audited for a reason; that same reason applies for these calculations.

Are You A Manager or Sustainability Leader?

Ensuring the accuracy of your organization’s total GHG emissions inventory is a large lift in and of itself, but the micro-aspect of emissions performance is equally important. If you happen to be one of the organizations that actually hit its 20 percent by 2021 target, the most important element of communicating that success is to be able to explain how those reductions actually happened.

Detailing how emissions reductions happened is part of the way to build credibility in communicating this massive accomplishment. As facility managers or topic leaders on sustainability, you are the front line for explaining which projects saved how much energy/waste/water/carbon at what ROI, over what period of time. While some will argue these details should be left in minutia, I would argue these details help write the story and build credibility. Additionally, CDP does a great job of helping organizations set context for their reductions.

Starting now, prepare a list of accomplishments, the performance of projects, ROIs, pictures, charts and beyond to share with communicators and sustainability leadership. In 450 days, this level of data is going to be important.

How Strong Is Your Sustainable Branding Message? Why Going Green is Good for Business

So, how do you take a page from IKEA’s successes in building a sustainable brand and build a sustainable brand of your own? Here are a few ideas to get you started:

People+&+Planet+Positive+The+IKEA+Group+Sustainability+Strategy+2020

© Inter IKEA systems B.V People & Planet Positive. The IKEA Group Sustainability Strategy This presentation can be used both internally and externally. Pls adapt it to your audience. This presentation focuses on 4 areas: World around us – introduction to why it is important that IKEA works strategically with sustainability matters. New strategy – short introduction to the direction. 3 change drivers – overview of the content of the 3 change drivers. Enablers of change.

Understand your audience and what matters to them

What do your customers care about? Conduct market research to get a complete picture of your target audience and what matters to them. You can then use this to inform your sustainability strategy.

Assess your current practices

Think about your supply chain: Where are you sourcing your products from, and how are they transported? Once you know what you’re dealing with, you can find areas for improvement. Look at carbon-offsetting initiatives, too.

Form your mission statement

With the knowledge, you’ve gained from researching your customers, design a mission statement that will alleviate their concerns. Your sustainability strategy will then work to achieve this goal.

For example, the popular outdoor brand Patagonia’s mission statement is: “Build the best product, cause no unnecessary harm, use business to inspire and implement solutions to the environmental crisis.”

Implement your strategy

Identify ambassadors for change within your organization to lead your new sustainability strategy. Assess the financial and operational impact of making these changes and cross-reference them to the benefit they’ll bring to you and your customer. Your product, if you have one, is a good place to start. The eco-friendly changes you make will become a unique selling proposition (USP) for your brand, so make them count.

Measure, test and improve

Measurement is vital to success and should be woven into every element of planning — it’s not something you should just throw in at the end. Don’t wait until the campaign is over to evaluate its success. Test and make changes as your strategy takes shape and is implemented across the business.

Communication is key

If no one knows about the changes you have made, the perception of your brand won’t change. When speaking about these changes, think about the language you use and what will resonate with your audience.

One in five people agrees that they would actively choose brands that promote environmentally or socially conscious practices on their packaging and in their marketing, so be bold in sharing the changes you’ve made.

Sustainability may seem out of reach for your business, but you can start by making small changes to work toward a bigger overarching goal. In doing so, you can tap into a market that is willing to pay a premium for responsible products and services.

Get Your Sustainable Message in More Than 60 Cities and 40 States in 2021

The National Clean Air Green Tour pioneered the first sustainable branding tours in the United States. The Green Tour is the only green industry national tour in the United States of its kind. Green industry professionals and consumers gather every year at many of these tour stops to gain vital knowledge and skills to improve business, educate employees and discover the latest information for the upcoming season.

A Turnkey Green Marketing Solution

The 2021 National Clean Air Green Tour in association with Full Motion Marketing provides a full turn-key solution for brands such as the “Clean Air Green Tour Discovery Vehicle” below. These include in-house design, custom sustainable displays, marketing collateral, social sharing, live streaming and more. Reach millions and make an impact and a lasting impression by becoming a brand partner.

For more information on the 2021 National Clean Air Green Tour or for help creating sustainable strategies for your company or brand contact Full Motion Marketing at https://fullmotionmarketing.com or call us at 615-266-4911. We have helping companies and brands since 2007.

22 Dec 2020

Jim Paar Green Marketing, Green Branding, Sustainable Brands, Sustainable Marketing Permalink

How To Build a Sustainable Brand With a Powerful Message

Jim Paar December 22, 2020

How to Build a Sustainable Brand for People, Planet, and Profit That Resonates With Your Consumers

Why create a message of sustainability for your brand? It is simple, it impacts the planet and makes it a better place for our generations now and future generations. You’re probably fed up with the terms “millennial” and “Generation Y,” but they’re still helpful when describing that particular group of consumers.

Many will say, the new generations are not concerned about sustainable brands. Look at Amazon’s recent purchase of Whole Foods. These stores are packed with millennials and generation Y buying natural foods, and many sustainable products such as natural cleaners and biodegradable products.

Why are Sustainable Brands Important for People

What does it mean to be a sustainable brand? Sustainability is a key factor when making purchases for many people. People now expect every reputable business to have a sustainability department and as a result, some level of corporate sustainability reporting is the norm. More and more companies are becoming B Corp because they believe in the inherent value of using business to solve social and environmental problems. A shift is underway to make sustainable business something every department needs to get behind.

How does a sustainable brand make an impact on the planet

A sustainable brand is one that has successfully integrated environmental, economic and social issues into its business operations. However, many companies that consider themselves to be sustainable only meet one-third of this definition.

The communications marketplace has been losing the battle to maintain the sanctity of this concept as companies, activists and others throw the word “sustainable” around to refer solely to environmental issues. However, as I’ve discovered in my work branding sustainable businesses, focusing on the environmental side is a good place to start.

Companies are profiting off a sustainable message

It was in 2006 I realized how important it was to voice the importance of sustainability. I launched a green initiative called the “Clean Air Green Tour.” At that time, I saw companies abusing our natural resources and dumping waste into the earth that would affect our future generations. Most of all, they were losing profits by not being green.

Looking back, I realized the companies could benefit by being sustainable and actually increase profits to their bottom line by including this in the brand message. Over the last decade, I have worked with many companies create that message of sustainability but most of all making a real impact on the planet. Many companies claim to be green but have no real proof to back this message. That is where my team has helped clarify and establish these strategies so companies don’t get greenwashed.

Leading companies that have implemented sustainable initiatives along their supply chains have seen a huge boost in their financial performance. Companies that instituted only one aspect of sustainability lost more money than they gained due to a half hazard approach and the wrong reason.

To understand the benefits of a business going green we must understand what the actual words of “Going Green” mean. When a company makes a conscious decision to reduce its impact on the environment, that is “Going Green.” It can be as simple as visibly taking steps to reusing procedural programs, reducing utility costs, to buying green products and services.

Benefits To Becoming a Sustainable Company

Increasing energy efficiency saves on utility costs.
Green marketing awareness can increase trust between your company and consumers and ultimately increasing revenues.
Many countries offer incentives to companies reducing their carbon footprint.
Employees feel safer working for green businesses which boost morale and performance.

When it comes down to it the benefits of going green for a business, the benefits far outweigh any negatives. The time and money it takes to establish new environmentally green protocols pay back in dividends over the years, not only in money but also in feeling good that the company is kind to the planet.

5 Fundamentals To Creating a Sustainable Brand

1. Understand Your Green Message

Sometimes we just want to go with our gut. Not always a bad thing, but proper research & analysis of your intended audience should always be the first step in creating a proper brand strategy. For example, many brands try to resist the NGO’s such as Greenpeace because of things they have heard, instead of supporting them and learning from them. Make a list of the brand attributes that are important to your targeted consumer. Then, dig deeper and see what your targeted consumer currently thinks about your brand. Which messages are connecting, and which are not? If your brand is new, conducting brand perception research and competitive analysis is critical in building your strategy. You have to know what consumers are thinking about you and your competitors and what it is that sets you apart. That is where your true brand platform will begin.

2. What is Your Green Strategy

Your research will guide, not determine, your strategy. Determining who you’re trying to reach comes before how you intend to reach them. In this phase, the development of the brand strategy is the roadmap all stakeholders will follow. It is the plan that outlines who you’re targeting, how you’re getting to them and what you want them to know about your brand. In this phase you’ll also develop key branding elements such as: name, tagline, brand promise/essence, brand attributes, brand values/behaviors, brand voice. What do you want each of your key audiences to know about your brand and how do you plan to engage them? Consider the best channels and environment with which each audience will be most receptive to your message. Be clear on what key differentiators set you apart from the competition. For example, we’ve determined that Core Values (faith, community, family) play an important role in buying behavior with the Scott Natural consumer. Once you address those questions, you will create the foundation of the brand strategy.

3. Create Your Sustainable Strategy

Now that the strategy has been laid out, it’s time to get the creative juices flowing. I like having the creative team involved in green strategy development so they have a deeper understanding of the context for the work we’re asking them to create. This is what helps when creating a smooth execution of your sustainable strategy. Strategy comes to life through creative and they must be in unison. The best creative in the world that doesn’t build an emotional connection with the consumer is worthless. Unfortunately, we see a lot of self-indulgent creative that doesn’t move the ultimate needle of building brand equity and driving sales. In the case of the Scott Naturals consumer, brands don’t need a different message but may need to consider how it’s being delivered. “Content” is another catch-all phrase in today’s marketing-speak. However, great content that’s out of context is a recipe for failure. Use the research from the planning stage, combined with the brand strategy and planning to guide the creative and make sure that every touchpoint is meeting your target audience where they are in their everyday life.

4. Launch Time

You have a solid strategy and your creative has been successfully tested. It’s time for a solid campaign launch. Even more important than a solid launch, is your ongoing efforts to ensure your message stays in front of your target in a way that makes sense for them. Going back to our definition of “brand,” now is where the “hundreds of perceptions” need to be managed. Make sure all of your marketing tactics and methods of delivery are authentic and resonate with what influences their buying behavior most. Continuity and consistency play important roles in implementing your strategy.

5. Analyze & Measure

Measurement is vital to success and should be woven into every element of planning. Measurement isn’t something thrown in at the end. You should not wait until the campaign is over to evaluate success. A rocket doesn’t go straight to the moon…it’s course-corrected along the way. Using the proper analytics is crucial as you measure your success and gives you the right info to make necessary changes.

Each step in the process is connected and vitally important to the overall success of the brand. A weak plan will yield weak results. Still, we see brand stewards who take shortcuts in developing the foundation for their brand – particularly in Steps 1 and 2 with little or no investment in research, analytics and strategy. 100% of the time, they have to re-do what wasn’t done properly on the front end, requiring significant resources. The upside is watching a strong brand strategy push through the inevitable and unpredictable market challenges to produce a successful and sustainable brand.

Other Considerations

When considering people it is important to take in these considerations in any ethical certification.

No child labor. The age of a child varies across countries but often ranges between anyone under 14-17 years of age.
No slave labor. Employees must be paid.
Fair wages. Companies provide workers a minimum wage, which varies by the economy.
No discrimination. Employees can’t be hired, fired, promoted, or demoted based on anything other than merit.
Right to unionize. Workers must be able to advocate for their rights and safety.
Clear communication from management. Employees must know their duties and what’s expected of them, they must be treated in a respectful manner, and not be subjugated to physical or emotional abuse.
Safe, healthy workplace conditions. Workers must have access to fire extinguishers and extensive safety precautions and processes.
An environmental improvement plan. Factories must have a sustainability strategy that seeks to improve year over year.

Conclusion

It’s clear that consumers prefer sustainable brands. But without proper messaging to reach your consumers and show them what your brand is doing, they will end up buying from your competitors. Pay special attention to what you send out in press releases and on social media, as well as the general brand perception of your company, to ensure that you are showing consumers what you stand for.

Sustainable goes beyond green.

The greatest realization brands must make is that sustainability goes beyond caring for the environment. It involves three major aspects — environmental, economic and social — each of which must be taken into consideration for a true sustainability strategy. As a social media influencer, I am proud to be part of the change.

If you’re looking for a sustainable message reach out to us at https://fullmotionmarketing.com or email us at info@fullmotionmarketing.com

28 Aug 2020

Jim Paar Sustainable Cities, Green Cities Permalink

What We Can Learn From Dubai in Sustainability, Stop Making Excuses

Jim Paar August 28, 2020

A decade ago Dubai had one of the largest ecological footprints of any city in the world. By 2050 it wants to have the smallest. Can it get there?

To plunge headlong into the audacity of Dubai—the sprawling efflorescence of concrete, glass, and steel that has sprung up over the past three decades on the scorched sands of Arabia—you would never imagine the possibility of skiing. Right in the middle of the flat city, the slope looks like a silver spaceship impaled in the ground floor of the Mall of the Emirates. Inside, you can window-shop at Prada, Dior, and Alexander McQueen before pushing through the glass doors of Ski Dubai. Passing a mural of the Alps, you zip up your parka, pull on your gloves. You begin to marvel then at what air-conditioning can do when pushed to its limits.

You can even buy a souvenir shirt that says “I went from 122°F to 14°.” It is literally 14° on the slopes in the middle of this desert. The humidity is stifling then, because of the proximity of the sea. Yet it rarely rains; Dubai gets less than four inches a year. There are no permanent rivers. There is next to no soil suitable for growing crops or even the suggestion of farmland.

What kind of settlement makes sense in this hot and dry setting? For centuries Dubai was a fishing village and trading port, small and poor. Then oil and a wild real estate boom transformed it into a city that sports the world’s tallest building, one of its densest collections of skyscrapers, and it’s the third busiest airport. Anyone looking to build a sustainable city would not do it in a hot desert but Dubai has done it, and it is successful.

And yet a sustainable city is precisely what Dubai’s government says it aims to create.

Sustainable? Dubai? When camels fly, you might say. The boom years made the city a poster child for the excess that results when cheap energy meets environmental indifference. Indoor skiing is just a symbol: Dubai burns far more fossil fuel to air-condition its towers of glass. To keep the taps running in all those buildings, it essentially boils hundreds of Olympic pools worth of seawater every day. And to create more beachfront for more luxury hotels and villas, it buried coral reefs under immense artificial islands.

How is Dubai’s Carbon Footprint?

In 2006 the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) declared the United Arab Emirates the country with the largest ecological footprint, per capita, largely because of its carbon emissions. It is not a surprising fact with all the large luxury vehicles. In the decade since, the city’s population has doubled, to more than 2.8 million. The number of cars on its roads has more than doubled. A surprising number are Bentleys, Lamborghinis, and other gorgeous gas hogs.

Something else has happened since 2006: Dubai has started to change.

Gleaming driverless metro trains now run the length of the linear city, alongside Sheikh Zayed Road, carrying about as many people, and often faster, as the cars on that clogged 12-lane artery. On Dubai’s southern outskirts, a new housing development has opened—called Sustainable City—that recycles its water and waste and produces more energy than it consumes. Further out in the desert, Dubai is building a giant solar power plant that will soon be producing some of the cheapest and cleanest electricity on Earth. Dubai is one of the first cities in the world testing and implementing unmanned electric drone transportation.

“The leadership has recognized that the growth of the economy is not sustainable without taking action on emissions,” says Tanzeed Alam, climate director for the Emirates Wildlife Society, WWF’s local partner.

How Sustainable Leadership Makes a Difference

In Dubai, the “leadership” is His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the 67-year-old hereditary emir, aka the Ruler. Sheikh Mohammed took over in 2006. He has decreed that his city will get 75 percent of its energy from clean sources by 2050. He wants it to have the smallest carbon footprint in the world. Many people I met on a recent visit to Dubai, including Rostock and Alam, believe the city might actually pull that off.

And if it can happen here, they say, it can happen anywhere. Many cities need to stop making excuses.

The Pollution Problem

Dubai has exploded in terms of population in recent years, having been a small fishing and trading port of little note until an oil and real estate boom. Like most rapidly developing countries, Dubai’s growth has come with a significant environmental cost. When Emiratis want a ski slope in the middle of the desert, they build one. There have been numerous other projects undertaken to transform Dubai and overcome natural obstacles.

Dubai Clean Energy Strategy 2050

The UAE is investing up to US$163.3 Billion (AED600 billion) in generating power from clean energy sources. Concurrently, Dubai seeks to secure its power supply by providing 75 percent through clean energy by 2050. Dubai’s strategy and the federal investment is set to revolutionize the energy sector over the next three decades, with a commitment to sustainability in energy conservation, and an overarching goal to have the smallest carbon footprint in the world by 2050.

Dubai Leads The Way In Solar Energy

Through its efforts, the emirate has made groundbreaking strides in innovation. Its focus on energy-efficient growth has led to the development of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar renewable-energy-marketing Park, the largest single-site solar park in the world.

Among the ambitions is to produce 5000MW by 2030, reducing the country’s dependence on fossil fuels with a reduction of approximately 6.5 million tonnes of carbon emissions, and create 1,100 green jobs by 2020. Meanwhile, Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) is striving to redefine the way it provides energy by generating 7% of the city’s total power output through clean energy by 2020, 25% by 2030, and ultimately reaching 75% by 2050. As part of its Dubai Integrated Energy Strategy (DIES) 2030, the Dubai Supreme Council of Energy (DSCE) also aims to reduce the emirate’s electricity and water consumption by 30% by that year.

With an investment of AED 50 billion ($ 13.6 billion) in the park alone and an AED100 billion ($ 27.2billion) investment in the Green Fund as part of the Dubai Clean Energy Strategy 2050, it’s no wonder Dubai is now at the forefront of globally renowned green practices. In 2015, the State of the Green Economy Report declared the emirate to be the “capital of the green economy”. The park, which will feature an R&D section as well as smart grid technologies and the ability to produce electricity and water using solar energy, is set to encourage a culture of innovation in renewable energy while providing incentives for the efficient use of natural resources and reducing the carbon footprint.

This will reduce the price of energy for consumers through renewable energy sources. The UAE’s commitment to generating renewable energy has already had a positive global impact. In a statement made following 2017’s World Environment Day, HE Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, Vice Chairman of the Dubai Supreme Council of Energy & the Managing Director and Chief Executive of DEWA, stated that Dubai’s efforts had contributed to a worldwide drop in prices and had lowered the price of solar and wind power bids in Europe and the Middle East.

The results mean Dubai could end up offering the world’s cheapest solar power, even by night. In a futuristic move worthy of a sci-fi film, Dubai has already used energy technology originally designed for use in outer space to create a sustainable house that is completely disconnected from the emirate’s power grid. The smart home is the first of its kind and was built in a mere 100 days. Homes such as this will have the potential to help power Dubai’s electricity grid with any surplus energy down the line as well.

Conclusion About The Sustainability in Dubai

Dubai’s leaders have now recognized that the current rate of development is ecologically unsustainable. New environmental policies and a more ecologically conscious approach, in general, have been needed for some time. While they are overdue, no one can deny that they are comprehensive.

A few years ago, it would have been unthinkable to predict that Dubai might become one of the greenest cities in the world. However, this is looking to be an increasingly realistic possibility.

10 Sep 2019

Jim Paar Hydrogen Vehicles, Electric Cars, Hybrid Cars Permalink

How Nikola Motor Company is Changing The Way We Travel

Jim Paar September 10, 2019

I am so excited about Nikola Motor Company and the innovations rolling out. As the founder of the National Clean Air Green Tour, we are always looking for the most sustainable ways to travel on our 50,000 mile plus green tour every year. In the past, we have used bio-diesel and other ways to reduce our own footprint. As we roll out the 2020 National Clean Air Green Tour to over 60 cities and 40 states, I could see having the Nikola Two on the tour for our solar-powered marketing displays.

Recently Nikola Motor Company announced a line-up of all-electric and hydrogen fuel cell-powered vehicles. Although Nikola is in testing with an unproven truck, Anheuser-Busch recently ordered about 14,000 of these new trucks to add to their fleet.

The Nikola vehicles feature two large commercial trucks: the Nikola Two and the Nikola Tre (for European markets), as well as a Utility Task Vehicle (UTV) for off-roading, a military-grade UTV, and a previously unannounced jet ski.

Nikola CEO Trevor Milton, a college dropout from Utah who is pushing to raise at least $1 billion to put hydrogen trucks on the road, is a billionaire thanks to the latest investment that valued his Nikola Motor Co. at around $3 billion.

It has always been a challenge to overcome the distance of this class of vehicles whether a passenger car or truck. The other challenge is adding a load and to overcome rapid discharge of the fuel cells. Nikola aims to get thousands of futuristic hydrogen-powered trucks on the road throughout the 2020s that can travel up to 750 miles between fuelings at stations it plans to build and operate. For fleets requiring shorter-range semis, going a maximum of 300 miles per trip, Nikola will also lease battery-only variants of its Nikola One, Two and Tre trucks that will compete with Elon Musk’s Tesla Semi.

Trevor Milton, a serial entrepreneur whom only completed less than a semester of college, developed a passion for commercializing low-emission vehicles a decade ago, beginning with dHybrid Systems, an earlier startup that designed fueling systems for natural gas trucks. He sold that company to metals manufacturer Worthington Industries, which in turn provided seed capital for Nikola four years ago. Additional investors include hedge fund ValueAct Capital and NEL Hydrogen, Nikola’s Norwegian tech partner for producing hydrogen at its fuel stations.

The Nikola Truck

Nikola One has been sidelined by the Nikola Two, which appears to be a better fit for actual commercialization: its powertrain can be made with a battery bank for all-electric operation, or it can be made with a hydrogen-powered fuel cell that constantly regenerates a smaller battery providing more power and performance for long-range driving.

Tesla is currently working on an all-electric truck but Milton expects hydrogen fuel cell trucks to make up 80 percent of the company’s truck orders and all-battery trucks to make up the other 20 percent.

Nikola says the fuel-cell version of this truck will have 500 to 750 miles of range, which is on the upper limit of by DOT standards that a commercial driver can drive on one trip. Refueling the hydrogen truck will take a fascinating 15 minutes at any of the 700 hydrogen refueling stations that Nikola has promised to build. Customers can order trucks with hydrogen as a fuel, or they can order trucks with a 500, 750, or 1,000 kilowatt-hour (kWh) battery pack.

The current limitations are on refueling stations which Nikola recently released a solution with its new refueling stations. Below is the Nikola Motor Company ZEV Station. They will provide 8 tons/day hydrogen with fueling for both heavy-duty fuel cell trucks and light-duty FC vehicles as well as EV DC-Fast charging. The energy used at the station will be either be from renewable and/or carbon-neutral sources with the goal to remove Well to Wheel Emissions from the ground transportation sector. This will have an impact on greatly reducing both greenhouse gases as well as smog in our push to commercialize true zero-emission vehicles.

From a strategic point of view, it would make sense to partner with companies like Pilot, Love’s, etc. is they already have thousands of locations for trucks. The reason other vehicle manufacturers have not succeeded in hydrogen because of the lack of fuel stations. I can remember in 2010 when GM released a hydrogen-powered vehicle. The problem was they only had one station in the Los Angeles area.

All-Electric Powersports

Nikola is releasing a line of electric utility vehicles and has anything from a recreational vehicle called the Nikola NZT to the Reckless, a military which is virtually silent and has a low thermal signature due to its state-of-the-art refrigerant cooling system.

Nikola believes production would begin this year. Now, commercialization has been pushed back to 2021, a year before the Nikola Two is scheduled to go to market. Nikola has already been taking reservations for its NZT.

The Reckless, a military-grade UTV, which appears to be a heavier-duty extension of the NZT. Company representatives noted that the Reckless’ advantages are primarily in stealth. The UTV makes less noise compared to a diesel-powered UTV, it has almost no heat signature (especially if it’s operated in either the remote-control or autonomous modes, without a human in the passenger seat), and it can be fully submerged in water. It’s unclear whether the company has a contract to sell these to the military yet.

The Water Adventure Vehicle (WAV), a jet ski with no emissions and little noise pollution. The WAV will have zero environmental impact (which is not true of any battery-powered vehicle) and will have zero emissions. With an electric powertrain, it could avoid any oil or gasoline spillage into the water and could avoid releasing fossil-fuel emissions into the air and water. Currently, you can reserve one online with no money down at https://nikolamotor.com/wav.

The WAV has a sleek design modeled after sportbikes. It has angular LED headlights upfront, an LED light bar in the rear, and a cool pass-through beneath the steering column. It also has a 12-inch 4K digital display that would integrate technology such as over-the-air updates and cruise control.

Like the NZT, the WAV is set for commercialization in 2021. The WAV is rumored to have a 12-inch 4K display that is apparently fully submersible. Reservations for the WAV opened up last night.

Fuel Cells and Our Water for Hydrogen Vehicles

My take on hydrogen fuel cells and what innovation is doing to resolve any water supply issues. The biggest problem for hydrogen fuel-cell cars has been where to get a plentiful, affordable supply of hydrogen that doesn’t contribute to greenhouse gas emissions.

Now scientists may have come up with what some have called the holy grail of clean transportation: a way to create hydrogen affordably from seawater.

The salt in seawater has been problematic for electrolyzers that separate hydrogen and oxygen atoms from water molecules because it quickly corrodes the electrolyzer’s anode. Desalinating seawater before putting it through an electrolyzer is too costly. Most hydrogen is made by splitting methane, which results in large amounts of leftover carbon dioxide, the primary gas scientists have associated with global warming.

As in lithium batteries, the solution is in a new type of catalyst coating the anode.

Electrolyzing seawater to create hydrogen for fuel-cells solves an obvious problem with today’s electrolysis: the supply of freshwater, which is already constrained in many parts of the world, often including Southern California, the home to most fuel-cell cars in the U.S.

The breakthrough doesn’t solve all the challenges of hydrogen cars, such as developing a sustainable and affordable distribution network for hydrogen. But if it makes electrolysis viable using renewable energy, it could make the rest of the challenges worth solving.

To read more about Nikola Motor Company, visit https://nikolamotor.com

03 Sep 2019

Jim Paar Electric Cars, Hybrid Cars, Sustainable Travel, Uncategorized Permalink

2019 Most Eco-Friendly Vehicles in the United States

Jim Paar September 3, 2019

The Innovation of Electric Cars

Electric cars have been around for as long as their gas-guzzling counterparts. Electric started in the ’70s and was quickly destroyed and was given little success till recently. But technical limitations such as battery size and efficiency have until recently hampered mass adoption of what is demonstrably a cleaner and more efficient form of fuel-powered transport. Limitations on distance and convenient charging stations still is a problem unless in a major metropolitan area.

Today, thanks to innovations in how electricity is collected, stored, and discharged, we have recently entered a new era of motorized mobility. Innovations such as high-energy lithium-ion battery cells, the development of battery-charging networks, and engineering feats like hybrid drivetrains and regenerative braking, are rapidly making electric vehicles and gas-electric hybrids a new normal. Now, most of the world’s largest automakers either offer eco-friendly electric and hybrid cars or are developing them.

While internal combustion engines will be around for the foreseeable future, fuel economy is climbing thanks to a combination of technological development and regulatory nudges, such as vehicle fuel economy mandates in the United States and European countries, among other nations.

How Does a Hybrid Compare to an Electric Car?

With the new hybrid technologies, today it is possible to own hybrid cars able to drive the equivalent of over 40 miles to the gallon. Fully electric cars fare even better, able to drive the equivalent of over 100 miles on a gallon of gasoline.

While hybrids and electric cars have only been adopted by a small portion of the market, they are growing in popularity. One of the models on this list, the BMW i3 was among the 26 fastest-selling cars of 2018.

The following is a list of the most eco-friendly vehicles in the U.S. marketplace for the 2019 model year. All figures come from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s annual review of fuel economy for all passenger vehicles sold in the United States to determine the most fuel-efficient vehicles in the market for the 2019 model year. For electric vehicles, the fuel efficiency figure listed is in MPGe, or miles-per-gallon equivalent, a metric developed by the EPA to translate the fuel economy of vehicles running partially or exclusively on electricity into miles per gallon of gasoline.

In a few cases, multiple versions of a given model have different fuel efficiencies, all of which are high enough to make the list. In those cases, we list only the most fuel-efficient model.

New automakers of sustainable vehicles are moving into the United States because the market is so hot. Tennessee, Alabama, and Georgia have become the new automaker states.

Most Eco-Friendly Vehicles in the United States

Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid. (Photo: Courtesy of Chevrolet)

18. Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid
• Fuel (or energy) efficiency: 46 mpg
• Type: Midsize hybrid sedan
• Annual fuel cost: $900

The Chevy Malibu Hybrid is one of two Chevrolet vehicles on this list. Its 80-cell, 1.5kWh lithium-ion battery pack provides extra mileage compared to the 30 mpg non-hybrid version. The Malibu Hybrid can run on battery power alone at speeds of up to 55 mph before the gasoline engine kicks in. The 2019 model costs around $28,000, about $6,000 more than the gasoline-only version. The vehicle earns an Excellent rating from Motor Trend.

17. Honda Accord Hybrid
• Fuel (or energy) efficiency: 47 mpg
• Type: Large hybrid sedan
• Annual fuel cost: $900

The hybrid version of one of the best selling cars in the United States squeezes out an extra 14 mpg compared to the most efficient non-hybrid Accord. Honda claims that the 2019 Accord Hybrid gets an extra mile per gallon, 48 mpg, compared to the 2018 model. The Accord Hybrid costs about $25,000, or about $2,000 more than the starting price for the non-hybrid version. The Accord Hybrid is one of two Hondas on this list.

16. Kia Niro FE
• Fuel (or energy) efficiency: 50 mpg
• Type: Hybrid crossover
• Annual fuel cost: $850

The $24,400 Kia Niro FE traditional hybrid crossover gets a little more mileage than the slightly fancier Niro LX. An extra $5,000 gets you the plug-in hybrid version that gets less mileage than the FE when the gasoline engine runs solo but an MPGe of 105 when the battery is assisting. For 2019, Kia introduced a fully electric Niro with an MPGe of 112 and a maximum range of 240 miles.

15. Toyota Camry Hybrid LE
• Fuel (or energy) efficiency: 52 mpg
• Type: Midsize hybrid sedan
• Annual fuel cost: $800

The entry-level LE version of the Toyota Camry Hybrid gets 18 miles per gallon more than the most fuel-efficient four-cylinder version of the non-hybrid Camry, and it draws out 6 more miles per gallon than the pricier XLE and SE versions of the Camry Hybrid. Though it is pricier and less roomy than the larger Honda Accord Hybrid, at about $28,000 for the 2019 base model, it gets measurably more fuel economy.

14. Toyota Prius Two Eco
• Fuel (or energy) efficiency: 56 mpg
• Type: Midsize hybrid sedan
• Annual fuel cost: $750

The most fuel-efficient version of the Toyota Prius starts at about $25,000 but gets 4 more miles to the gallon (combined city and highway) than the standard Prius that costs about $2,000 less. Toyota also has the Prius Prime, a $28,000 plug-in hybrid that can travel up to 25 miles on battery power alone, giving it an MPGe of 133, but it has a lower mpg than the Prius Two Echo when its battery is not assisting.

The BYD e6. (Photo: Courtesy of BYD)

13. BYD e6
• Fuel (or energy) efficiency: 72 MPGe
• Type: Small electric crossover
• Annual fuel cost: $900

The only Chinese-made vehicle on this list has an EPA-verified range of 187 miles per full battery charge. It takes up to 5 hours to fully charge the vehicle’s lithium-ion battery pack. BYD, which is primarily known for producing electric car batteries and electric buses, is backed by U.S. business magnate Warren Buffett. BYD is touting the e6 as an ideal ride-sharing vehicle, but the vehicle is rarely seen in the United States.

12. Tesla Model X 75D
• Fuel (or energy) efficiency: 93 MPGe
• Type: Electric midsize SUV
• Annual fuel cost: $700

With a starting price tag of about $83,000, this all-wheel-drive 75D with the 75-kWh battery pack (a max distance per charge of 237 miles) is the most fuel-efficient version of the Model X. Tesla announced in January it will no longer accept orders for this base model. The new base model is the same vehicle with a 100 kWh battery pack, which has an MPGe of 87 miles but can travel up to 289 miles on a fully charged battery pack.

11. Tesla Model S 75D
• Fuel (or energy) efficiency: 103 MPGe
• Type: Fullsize electric sedan
• Annual fuel cost: $650

The Model S with a 75 kWh battery is the most fuel-efficient version of Tesla’s electric sedan. But like the Model X, Tesla announced earlier this year it was scrapping the smaller battery pack. The new battery would entail a price jump of the new Model S base price of $18,000 to about $98,000. The 100D gets 102 MPGe and it can travel about 270 miles on a fully charged battery pack compared to 237 miles for the 75D.

10. Ford Focus Electric
• Fuel (or energy) efficiency: 107 MPGe
• Type: Compact electric car
• Annual fuel cost: $600

Ford Motor Company’s push into fully electric vehicles included a battery-powered version of its Focus compact. Despite the car’s robust fuel economy rating, it was never very popular in the U.S. or European markets, where consumers have more choices in small fuel-efficient vehicles. Ford announced last year it would stop selling five of its six sedans in North America, including the Focus Electric.

9. Smart Fortwo Electric Drive
• Fuel (or energy) efficiency: 108 MPGe
• Type: Electric two-seat hatchback
• Annual fuel cost: $600

If you live in a big U.S. city you have probably spotted one of these quirky hatchbacks, and it was probably parking in a space in which few other cars could fit. The coupe version of the minicar, which starts at about $24,500, is among the top 10 most eco-friendly vehicles in the U.S. market. In some larger cities, the cars are available as ride-sharing vehicles through car2go, the company owned by German auto giant Daimler, which is also the owner of the Smart brand.

8. Fiat 500e
• Fuel (or energy) efficiency: 112 MPGe
• Type: Electric subcompact car
• Annual fuel cost: $600

Like the Smart Fortwo Electric Drive, the Fiat 500e is pretty much a city-only vehicle, not a car that is conducive to road trips or extensive highway travel. But its tiny size and battery power make it among the most eco-friendly cars available in the United States. With a price tag of nearly $34,000 and a limiting 84 miles of range on a full battery charge, however, the Fiat 500e may only fit few lifestyles.

7. Nissan Leaf
• Fuel (or energy) efficiency: 112 MPGe
• Type: Electric five-door hatchback
• Annual fuel cost: $600

Nissan announced in March it sold 400,000 Leafs worldwide since the car was first introduced in 2010, and that the Leaf is the first electric car to date to reach the milestone. Starting at just under $30,000 (excluding any state or federal green-vehicle tax credits) the Leaf is sold with a 40 kWh or 62 kWh battery, giving 150 miles or 226 miles of range per full charge, respectively.

6. Honda Clarity EV
• Fuel (or energy) efficiency: 114 MPGe
• Type: Electric midsize sedan
• Annual fuel cost: $600

With a range of only 89 miles per fully charged battery, the Clarity EV, which costs about $36,600 before any available state and federal tax credits, would work best for small commutes in areas with ample places to charge the battery. Plus, it is only available in Oregon and California. For about $3,000 less, Honda offers a plug-in gas-electric hybrid Clarity with 110 MPGe that can travel up to 47 miles on battery power alone.

5. BMW i3
• Fuel (or energy) efficiency: 118 MPGe
• Type: Electric subcompact car
• Annual fuel cost: $550

The i3 and its sportier but less fuel-efficient i3s may be the most eye-catching of the small electric cars, with their carbon fiber trim and sleek, minimalist interiors. But the i3 also comes with a heftier price tag, about $45,400 before any available state and federal tax credits. It also lags behind comparable cars on this list in how far it can travel on one full battery charge, at just 153 miles.

4. Chevrolet Bolt EV
• Fuel (or energy) efficiency: 119 MPGe
• Type: Electric subcompact car
• Annual fuel cost: $550

The Bolt is an unlikely winner for Chevrolet’s parent company, General Motors, which generally relies on its lineup of big SUVs and pickup trucks. The vehicle has received positive reviews for its handling and spaciousness, as well as its 238-mile range on a fully charged battery. Starting at about $36,600 before any available tax credits, the Bolt costs less than the BMW i3 but more than a roomier but less fuel-efficient Honda Clarity plug-in hybrid.

3. Volkswagen e-Golf
• Fuel (or energy) efficiency: 119 MPGe
• Type: Electric compact car
• Annual fuel cost: $550

Car & Driver magazine described the e-Golf as a “handsome little package” that has all of the pep of the regular Volkswagen Golf. The $32,800 electric car sits right about in the middle of the price range for small electric cars, and like other green vehicles qualifies for tax credits. But the e-Golf lags on driving range compared to comparable models like the Chevrolet Bolt and Tesla Model 3 at just 125 miles.

2. Tesla Model 3 Long Range
• Fuel (or energy) efficiency: 130 MPGe
• Type: Electric midsize sedan
• Annual fuel cost: $500

The Tesla Model 3 did not turn out to be the $35,000 Tesla for the masses that company co-founder Elon Musk initially promised. Still, starting at about $39,500 before any available tax credits, the Model 3 is currently the lowest-priced new Tesla. However, buyers have to drop another $10,000 on top of the base price for the long-range battery to reach 130 MPGe and an industry-leading range of 325 miles per full battery charge.

1. Hyundai Ioniq Electric
• Fuel (or energy) efficiency: 136 MPGe
• Type: Midsize electric vehicle
• Annual fuel cost: $500

The fully electric version of the Hyundai Ioniq led the pack in the 2018 model year with a whopping 136 MPGe. Starting at $30,700 it is also toward the lower end of the electric-car price scale. The Ioniq, however, has an unremarkable maximum 124-mile range. Cost-conscious buyers might be better off sacrificing some fuel economy for the lower-cost Ioniq plug-in hybrid that can travel up to 29 miles on battery power alone.

Conclusion

All of the vehicles on this list earned the EPA’s top ranking of “10” for being the most fuel-efficient relative to other vehicles available in the market. For electric vehicles, we included only those with an MPGe of more than 70 miles to the gallon. MPGe, or miles-per-gallon equivalent, is a metric developed by the EPA to translate the fuel economy of vehicles running partially or exclusively on electricity into miles per gallon of gasoline. This provides consumers with an apples-to-apples comparison between electric-powered vehicles and their gas-burning equivalents.

Unlike conventional hybrid cars, which use batteries that reclaim energy from braking and coasting, plug-in hybrid vehicles use a rechargeable battery that can be plugged into a recharging station. These plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) can travel for short distances on battery power before the gasoline engine is activated. Because of this quality, PHEVs have both an MPGe and mpg rating. To determine the ranking of a PHEV, we deferred to the vehicle’s mpg rating, assuming most PHEV drivers will typically travel distances beyond what the on-board battery can provide.

Both mpg and MPGe ratings on this list assume 55% city driving and 45% highway driving.

29 Aug 2019

Jim Paar Sustainable Cities Permalink

The World’s Most Sustainable Cities and What We Can Learn

Jim Paar August 29, 2019

2019 World’s Most Sustainable Cities Have Been Revealed.

As you know sustainability is so important as we experience global warming and growth. With just 12 years left to limit climate change catastrophe, people and governments around the world are investing in ways to lower pollution levels, manage waste and encourage greener living, and the following cities are at the forefront of these sustainable innovations.

To take the honor of being the most sustainable city in the world is more than an honor but also gets the attention of leaders around the globe. Many cities are taking huge strides to be sustainable but we could not list all of them in this list. By 2050, Dubai believes it can reduce its carbon footprint to almost zero.

Here is our list of the world’s most sustainable cities in no particular order:

San Francisco, USA

Sustainable City is a dedicated initiative to achieve the long-term sustainability of San Francisco’s built and natural environment. It includes city-wide and neighborhood-scale efforts addressing classically environmental sustainability categories: climate protection, energy, water, waste and materials, air quality, ecology, and resilience.

In its commitment to the long-term vitality of San Francisco’s built and natural environment, the Planning Department embeds a comprehensive sustainable lens (Environment, Equity, Economy) across all of its initiatives. These include neighborhood plan development, land use, housing, and transportation policies, public space and urban design, community engagement, and more.

The Sustainable City Team leads creative and collaborative partnerships with other City agencies and key stakeholders to support and exceed existing environmental regulations, maximize co-benefits, and facilitate widespread innovation and implementation.

The Bay Area city was the first in the United States to ban the sale of plastic water bottles. San Francisco aims to become waste-free by 2020 and is already making huge progress on its target as it diverts 80% of all trash from landfills. It should also come as no surprise that there is a huge vegan scene amongst it’s finest restaurants. Plus, the vintage stores alone are worth the trip.

Cape Town, South Africa

The second-largest city in South Africa, Cape Town, has made some exciting sustainable developments in recent years. With around 10% of its energy derived from renewable sources, the government has also set a goal for 10% of all households to use solar energy, which is significant as it is one of the cities most affected by blackouts.

South African Tourism (SAT) Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Moeketsi Mosola recently congratulated Cape Town on being voted one of ten cities in the world that are most likely to become a global sustainability center by 2020.

This award is added to Cape Town’s already impressive list of accolades including it being named Africa’s Best City (US Travel and Leisure Best in the World Awards, July); Favourite Foreign City (UK Telegraph); Best Travel Destination in Africa and Middle East (US Travel & Leisure magazine, 2004 through 2007); and One of the World’s five Bluest Sky Destinations (expedia.co.uk).

Cape Town was acknowledged for its sustainable development program in 2004 to help deal with the growing energy needs of the city.

The program aims to have 10 percent of homes using solar power and 10 percent of the city’s energy consumption coming from renewable sources by 2020.

Among the environmental and sustainability practices considered as health and recreation; education; arts and culture; economic and business environment; regulatory framework; law enforcement and transparency; media and speech; transportation and housing and innovation and investment.

Vienna, Austria

The Austrian city of Vienna ranks in at number five. The city of Vienna is no stranger to the list, ranking within the top 10 for the past two years. The Austrian city has also been voted as the world’s most liveable city, boasting low crime rates, comprehensive healthcare, and moderate housing costs.

More than half of Vienna’s metropolitan area is made up of green spaces. In total, Vienna is home to 2,000 parks including 280 imperial parks and gardens. According to the city, there are nearly 100 square meters of green space for each of their 1.8 million inhabitants.

Traveling around Vienna is easy and efficient. Vienna offers 1,300 km of cycle paths with numerous rental and charging stations for bikes and e-bikes.

Singapore, Asia

Singapore’s sustainable environment is another leading factor that has attracted numerous investors. Most cities in the world have failed to address environmental issues brought about by urbanization. Towns or urban areas cover over 2% of the Earth’s surface; they are responsible for about 80% of the greenhouse gases emitted while using up almost 75% of nature’s resources.

Singapore made the top five on Arcadis’ world ranking and also came in first for the sustainability ranking of Asian cities. Sustainability is a high-priority for Singapore, the self-proclaimed garden city.

In 1963, Singapore set out on the journey to becoming a garden city with a focus on a clean environment and abundant green spaces. Five decades later, the city-state is living up to the name. The Singapore Botanic Gardens was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2015. Singapore has dedicated 10% of its land for parks and nature conservation. As of 2018, 80% of households are within 400 meters of a park.

The city-state also encourages residents to opt for public transportation. Singapore’s transport systems have been rated as one of the best in the world regarding efficiency and affordability.

Edinburgh, United Kindom

Scotland’s capital, Edinburgh has the most abundant green space of any city in the UK. The mapping software company, Esri UK, shows Edinburgh with 49% green space. “Edinburgh in 2020 will be low carbon, resource efficient city, delivering a resilient local economy and vibrant flourishing communities in a rich natural setting.”

Sustainable transportation is a priority for the City of Edinburgh Council. In 2011, the city introduced a fleet of hybrid, low carbon buses. Lothian launched a fleet of 30 low emission buses in 2017. Lothian’s Euro 6 buses are serving one of the city’s busiest roads to curb air pollution. Transport Convener for the City of Edinburgh Council, Lesly Macinnes stated, “We welcome this investment by Lothian, which will significantly impact emissions in areas of poorer air quality across the city as part of a continued effort to convert to cleaner, greener vehicles. As a Council, we are committed to improving air quality and reducing CO2 emissions via a range of measures, but it is only with the support of companies like Lothian that we will be able to achieve this.”

In addition to public transport, the city is also working towards safer travel for pedestrians and cycles.

Stockholm, Sweden

The city’s sustainability initiatives are well-known. In 2010, Stockholm received the European Green Capital Award, an award given to cities with a consistent record of achieving high environmental standards and commitment to sustainable development.

Stockholm was the first city to be awarded the European Green Capital Award in 2010 by the EU Commission and has announced it aims to go fossil fuel-free by 2040, even though it already makes use of very little compared to other cities. Hammarby Sjöstad is an urban construction project completed in 2017 that has been developed to support environmentally-friendly housing and a greener lifestyle for its residents (think solar panels, car sharing, composting, low noise pollution and more green spaces). The city’s airport is entirely carbon neutral with respects to its own operations and the people of Sweden are also leaders in recycling, vintage fashion and investing in green innovations – definitely one to visit and explore.

Stockholm aims to be free of fossil fuels by 2040. In the meantime, petrol stations around the city offer an alternative to traditional fuel: sewage. Biofuel is generated from the sewage and is used regularly by cars and taxis. In a statement to BBC, the Head of Department and GrowSmarter Coordinator, Gustaf Landahl stated, “One hundred people going to the toilet powers one car, but if we add organic household waste, that goes down to 60 people,”

Vancouver, Canada

Vancouver scored well in a number of categories, notably air pollution – the city received the highest score worldwide in this measure. With the lowest carbon footprint of any major city in North America, Vancouver has a number of policies and programs in place to reduce emissions, stemming from the City of Vancouver’s Greenest City Action Plan. The action plan has attracted global attention and took center stage at the Paris COP21 Climate Change Summit, where Vancouver was honored with the coveted C40 Cities Award.

Vancouver also scored well in terms of transit infrastructure. The city boasts an extensive network of bike lanes and car-sharing co-ops, and a new bike-share program was introduced in August 2016. An accessible transit system combined with a walkable downtown core makes it easy and eco-friendly to get around.

Vancouver already boasts one of the lowest carbon emissions of all North American cities and is continuing to pursue greener goals. The city has committed to getting 100% of its energy from renewable energy sources by 2050, and to become zero waste by 2040. Local food production is supported across the city through urban farming and by increasing the number of farmers’ markets.

Oslo, Norway

OAC will use only energy created within the city itself, and driverless, electric vehicles will roam its streets. “This is a unique opportunity to design a new city from scratch,” said Tomas Stokke, director of Haptic Architects, to Dezeen. But, what exactly makes this such a sustainable city? Let’s explore:

The city will be extremely walkable. Those living there or just visiting won’t have to take any form of transportation, it will be easy for them to walk to most places.
The city’s center will be entirely car-free. This will be made possible, in large part, by the city’s innate walkability.
OAC plans to use a host of boundary-pushing, green technologies. While not all tech has been specified yet, the city will use driverless cars, auto-lighting, “smart” waste tech, and security tech.
The city will only use only the renewable energy that it produces. This will cut down on fossil fuel use and the energy used to transport fuel and energy.
OAC will sell excess energy that it produces, and it will also use excess energy to de-ice planes – cutting down the airport’s fuel usage.
Only electric cars will be used inside of the city.
Public transportation will be extremely close, a cycling route, and a host of outdoor activities that don’t require electricity.

THE WORLD’S MOST SUSTAINABLE CITIES TO VISIT

26 Aug 2019

Jim Paar Green Marketing, Sustainable Marketing Permalink

How Sustainable Companies Are Profiting

Jim Paar August 26, 2019

Hi, my name is Jim Paar, founder of Full Motion Marketing and the Clean Air Green Tour. I own a very successful international green marketing agency and help create sustainable companies around the globe. I have worked with many leading brands creating a sustainable structure and message, some of those companies include Dyson, Michelin, Bosch, Kimberly Clark, Southwest Airlines, Indy Racing Series, and many more.

Profits vs Planet

It was in 2006 I realized how important it was to voice the importance of sustainability. I launched a green initiative called the “Clean Air Green Tour.” At that time, I saw companies abusing our natural resources and dumping waste into the earth that would affect our future generations. Most of all, they were losing profits by not being green.

Looking back, I realized the companies could benefit by being sustainable and actually increase profits to their bottom line by including this in the brand message. Over the last decade, I have worked with many companies create that message of sustainability but most of all making a real impact on the planet. Many companies claim to be green but have no real proof to back this message. That is where my team has helped clarify and establish these strategies so companies don’t get greenwashed.

Leading companies that have implemented sustainable initiatives along their supply chains have seen a huge boost in their financial performance. Companies that instituted only one aspect of sustainability lost more money than they gained due to a half hazard approach and the wrong reason.

Why Your Green Message Could Go Up In Smoke

As I am writing this article, the Amazon rainforest is being burned off a record rate. This is the world’s largest rainforest, the Amazon stretches eight countries and covers over 40% of South America. More than 30 million people live in the Amazon, which is also home to large numbers of mammals, birds, amphibians and reptiles, most of them unique to the region. A new plant or animal species is discovered there every two days which is so important for our world population.

The Amazon forest produces about 21% of earth’s oxygen and is often referred to as “the planet’s lungs.”

Why do I bring this story up? Companies are trying to use a message of sustainability to impact profits but are doing nothing for the planet. Warren Buffet said it best, “It takes 20 years to build a reputation and five minutes to ruin it.”

Environmental reputations can be just as hard to rebuild with wrong or false messages. Non-governmental organizations like Greenpeace and the World Wildlife Fund believe in the potential fragility of the environment, and they see the potential fragility of companies’ brands as a means of pressuring them to change.

With the power of social media, the wrong or incorrect sustainable message can go up in smoke fast, far, and wide.

Taking a Sustainable Approach Can Be a Daunting Task

Everyday business executives across the world take on numerous strategies to build their company, and sustainability is just one a lengthy list of priorities. Very few will admit that they don’t care, although it is clear from meeting with many executives that many will only go as far as the demands of the customers, or make these environmental decisions if they also reduce costs.

When it comes to sustainability in business it may be necessary to take on the view from the science of climate change. I have seen companies spend more money on security to fend off the NGO’s then to embrace environmentalists’ arguments about the challenges or if they believe climate change is simply a hoax.

Regardless of what your personal beliefs may be, they still have a balance whether to pursue environmental initiatives and resources against competing demands. Instinctively, most of them focus on green messages that are aligned with their shareholder’s performance goals.

Currently, Cargill is taking an approach to remedy the rapidly rising global demand for proteins. One of the reasons the Amazon rainforest is burning to create more land for farmers, ranchers, and agriculture to feed our growing population. Across the food and agriculture industry, there is a pressing need to do more with less impact. To help address this need, Cargill is launching BeefUp Sustainability, an initiative committed to achieving a 30% greenhouse gas (GHG) intensity reduction across its North American beef supply chain by 2030.

What It Really Means To Go Green

To understand the benefits of a business going green we must understand what the actual words of “Going Green” mean. When a company makes a conscious decision to reduce its impact on the environment, that is “Going Green.” It can be as simple as visibly taking steps to reusing procedural programs, reducing utility costs, to buying green products and services.

Benefits To Becoming a Sustainable Company

Increasing energy efficiency saves on utility costs.
Green marketing awareness can increase trust between your company and consumers and ultimately increasing revenues.
Many countries offer incentives to companies reducing their carbon footprint.
Employees feel safer working for green businesses which boost morale and performance.

When it comes down to it the benefits of going green for a business, the benefits far outweigh any negatives. The time and money it takes to establish new environmentally green protocols pay back in dividends over the years, not only in money but also in feeling good that the company is kind to the planet.

For more details on creating a sustainable plan for your company, go to https://fullmotionmarketing.com or to become a part of the 2020 Clean Air Green Tour https://cleanairgreentour.com.

02 Aug 2019

Jim Paar Branding Permalink

Top 5 Tips for Effective Brand Identity Design

Jim Paar August 2, 2019

Every business owner should be able to completely know and understand their brand. A lot of entrepreneurs disregard this and end up making some blatant brand-related mistakes, such as using an ill-designed logo, not maintaining regular brand efforts, or not being completely transparent and honest about their products.

But perhaps the worst mistake they can make is having a poorly defined brand identity, or not defining it at all. And yet, so many businesses have fallen into this trap because they thought the quality of their products or services would be enough.

Spoiler alert: it isn’t!

Why is it so important? Think about it this way: you’re going on a first date with someone you really like, and you want to win them over. Of course, you’ll be making efforts and you’ll be dressing in a certain way, choosing certain activities, and overall, you’ll be on your best behavior. Essentially, you’ll be creating a persona to help this person see that you are worth dating.

Well now, think of your audience as this person. Your brand identity’s job is to wow them and win them over. In the same way, you’ll try to charm a person on a first date, your brand will help attract customers and retain them because there is nothing more important for a business than making a great first impression.

Keeping this in mind, here are five important tips to follow in order to come up with an effective brand identity design.

1. Think of it as selling your brand, not your products or services

Product-centric marketing is not trendy anymore. Today, consumers care more about your image than your products. Let’s take as an example the cosmetics company The Body Shop. Sure, other companies offer nicer products, but The Body Shop not only sells their cosmetics, but they also sell a whole brand idea. Buying from them means being ecologically responsible, as this is a cruelty-free brand that doesn’t test on animals.

Today, you’ve got less than 20 seconds to win over your customers, and this is definitely not long enough to show how great your products are. What will make get you sales is the image you cultivate as a brand, so make sure it’s a great one!

2. Your brand design should reflect what your business really is

Sure, you should definitely think about what your audience wants to see, but don’t let that keep you from being true to yourself and your company’s values. Who you are as a business should be the only thing dictating your marketing and branding strategies.

For example, if you’re a company that specializes in app development, high-end technology, your website, and social media should be just as sleek.

It might seem like a small decision, but it is the one thing that helps create an honest, authentic, and agreeable relationship with your audience.

3. You are only as good as what you invest in

So don’t invest in a cheap copy or design. A professional logo design especially is a must. A logo is the first thing that comes to mind when people think about a certain brand, so make sure yours is unique and well-designed.

Your art and copy play a huge role in defining who you are as a brand, so don’t let that definition be “cheap” or “confusing”.

A great example of a logo design that works perfectly with a company’s image is Apple’s logo. Just like the company’s products, Apple’s logo is monochrome, minimalistic, and sleek. So, invest in professional work, and you’ll get an attractive design that will help your brand outshine the competition.

4. You can always go through a rebrand and come out stronger

Going through a rebranding strategy doesn’t mean you’re giving up, and there is nothing wrong with it. Even the biggest companies make mistakes, and many multinational businesses have been through quite a few rebrands.

Rebranding is not just done to correct mistakes, but also to reposition yourself in the market, or advertise your new image. Rebranding helps you understand your audience and your market even better, so it’s definitely not a bad idea to go through it.

5. Never ever resort to artificial stunts

Finally, no matter how hopeless you feel, never ever resort to cheap gimmicks. If you feel like your brand identity is not where it should be, no amount of social media promos, SEO strategies, or quirky blog articles will help. Instead, go back to Tip #4 and give it a thought.

Now that you have our tips, which one are you going to start with?

Author Bio

Emily Woodward is a digital marketing executive who follows her passion for writing via freelance work.

The daily Post.

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Why are Sustainable Brands Important for People

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5 Fundamentals To Creating a Sustainable Brand

1. Understand Your Green Message

2. What is Your Green Strategy

3. Create Your Sustainable Strategy

4. Launch Time

5. Analyze & Measure

Other Considerations

Conclusion

A decade ago Dubai had one of the largest ecological footprints of any city in the world. By 2050 it wants to have the smallest. Can it get there?

How is Dubai’s Carbon Footprint?

How Sustainable Leadership Makes a Difference

The Pollution Problem

Dubai Clean Energy Strategy 2050

Dubai Leads The Way In Solar Energy

Conclusion About The Sustainability in Dubai

The Nikola Truck

All-Electric Powersports

Fuel Cells and Our Water for Hydrogen Vehicles

The Innovation of Electric Cars

How Does a Hybrid Compare to an Electric Car?

Most Eco-Friendly Vehicles in the United States

18. Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid • Fuel (or energy) efficiency: 46 mpg • Type: Midsize hybrid sedan • Annual fuel cost: $900

17. Honda Accord Hybrid • Fuel (or energy) efficiency: 47 mpg • Type: Large hybrid sedan • Annual fuel cost: $900

16. Kia Niro FE • Fuel (or energy) efficiency: 50 mpg • Type: Hybrid crossover • Annual fuel cost: $850

15. Toyota Camry Hybrid LE • Fuel (or energy) efficiency: 52 mpg • Type: Midsize hybrid sedan • Annual fuel cost: $800

14. Toyota Prius Two Eco • Fuel (or energy) efficiency: 56 mpg • Type: Midsize hybrid sedan • Annual fuel cost: $750

13. BYD e6 • Fuel (or energy) efficiency: 72 MPGe • Type: Small electric crossover • Annual fuel cost: $900

12. Tesla Model X 75D • Fuel (or energy) efficiency: 93 MPGe • Type: Electric midsize SUV • Annual fuel cost: $700

11. Tesla Model S 75D • Fuel (or energy) efficiency: 103 MPGe • Type: Fullsize electric sedan • Annual fuel cost: $650

10. Ford Focus Electric • Fuel (or energy) efficiency: 107 MPGe • Type: Compact electric car • Annual fuel cost: $600

9. Smart Fortwo Electric Drive • Fuel (or energy) efficiency: 108 MPGe • Type: Electric two-seat hatchback • Annual fuel cost: $600

8. Fiat 500e • Fuel (or energy) efficiency: 112 MPGe • Type: Electric subcompact car • Annual fuel cost: $600

7. Nissan Leaf • Fuel (or energy) efficiency: 112 MPGe • Type: Electric five-door hatchback • Annual fuel cost: $600

6. Honda Clarity EV • Fuel (or energy) efficiency: 114 MPGe • Type: Electric midsize sedan • Annual fuel cost: $600

5. BMW i3 • Fuel (or energy) efficiency: 118 MPGe • Type: Electric subcompact car • Annual fuel cost: $550

4. Chevrolet Bolt EV • Fuel (or energy) efficiency: 119 MPGe • Type: Electric subcompact car • Annual fuel cost: $550

3. Volkswagen e-Golf • Fuel (or energy) efficiency: 119 MPGe • Type: Electric compact car • Annual fuel cost: $550

2. Tesla Model 3 Long Range • Fuel (or energy) efficiency: 130 MPGe • Type: Electric midsize sedan • Annual fuel cost: $500

1. Hyundai Ioniq Electric • Fuel (or energy) efficiency: 136 MPGe • Type: Midsize electric vehicle • Annual fuel cost: $500

Conclusion

2019 World’s Most Sustainable Cities Have Been Revealed.

San Francisco, USA

Cape Town, South Africa

Vienna, Austria

Singapore, Asia

Edinburgh, United Kindom

Stockholm, Sweden

Vancouver, Canada

Oslo, Norway

THE WORLD’S MOST SUSTAINABLE CITIES TO VISIT

1. Think of it as selling your brand, not your products or services

2. Your brand design should reflect what your business really is

3. You are only as good as what you invest in

4. You can always go through a rebrand and come out stronger

5. Never ever resort to artificial stunts

Author Bio

Recent Green Marketing Blogs

Categories

18. Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid
• Fuel (or energy) efficiency: 46 mpg
• Type: Midsize hybrid sedan
• Annual fuel cost: $900

17. Honda Accord Hybrid
• Fuel (or energy) efficiency: 47 mpg
• Type: Large hybrid sedan
• Annual fuel cost: $900

16. Kia Niro FE
• Fuel (or energy) efficiency: 50 mpg
• Type: Hybrid crossover
• Annual fuel cost: $850

15. Toyota Camry Hybrid LE
• Fuel (or energy) efficiency: 52 mpg
• Type: Midsize hybrid sedan
• Annual fuel cost: $800

14. Toyota Prius Two Eco
• Fuel (or energy) efficiency: 56 mpg
• Type: Midsize hybrid sedan
• Annual fuel cost: $750

13. BYD e6
• Fuel (or energy) efficiency: 72 MPGe
• Type: Small electric crossover
• Annual fuel cost: $900

12. Tesla Model X 75D
• Fuel (or energy) efficiency: 93 MPGe
• Type: Electric midsize SUV
• Annual fuel cost: $700

11. Tesla Model S 75D
• Fuel (or energy) efficiency: 103 MPGe
• Type: Fullsize electric sedan
• Annual fuel cost: $650

10. Ford Focus Electric
• Fuel (or energy) efficiency: 107 MPGe
• Type: Compact electric car
• Annual fuel cost: $600

9. Smart Fortwo Electric Drive
• Fuel (or energy) efficiency: 108 MPGe
• Type: Electric two-seat hatchback
• Annual fuel cost: $600

8. Fiat 500e
• Fuel (or energy) efficiency: 112 MPGe
• Type: Electric subcompact car
• Annual fuel cost: $600

7. Nissan Leaf
• Fuel (or energy) efficiency: 112 MPGe
• Type: Electric five-door hatchback
• Annual fuel cost: $600

6. Honda Clarity EV
• Fuel (or energy) efficiency: 114 MPGe
• Type: Electric midsize sedan
• Annual fuel cost: $600

5. BMW i3
• Fuel (or energy) efficiency: 118 MPGe
• Type: Electric subcompact car
• Annual fuel cost: $550

4. Chevrolet Bolt EV
• Fuel (or energy) efficiency: 119 MPGe
• Type: Electric subcompact car
• Annual fuel cost: $550

3. Volkswagen e-Golf
• Fuel (or energy) efficiency: 119 MPGe
• Type: Electric compact car
• Annual fuel cost: $550

2. Tesla Model 3 Long Range
• Fuel (or energy) efficiency: 130 MPGe
• Type: Electric midsize sedan
• Annual fuel cost: $500

1. Hyundai Ioniq Electric
• Fuel (or energy) efficiency: 136 MPGe
• Type: Midsize electric vehicle
• Annual fuel cost: $500