Green Sense Radio

Green tech. expert Michael Kanellos/Chicago Auto Show

 He’s always an insightful and enthusiastic contributor to Green Sense when it comes to green technology. We’re joined  by Michael Kanellos, Industry Champion for water at OSIsoft to talk about the latest green tech, including ways to reduce water loss via leaks in our aging infrastructure. 

 
The auto industry does its best to break up winter doldrums with some of its major auto shows in the US happening around the time those of us in colder climates are feeling the cabin fever set in. Consumer Guide Automotive publisher Tom Appel recently wrapped up a visit to the Chicago Auto Show and has a look at the green cars on display.  

Solar tariff and U.S. jobs/Detroit Auto Show

President Trump recently announced a 30-percent tariff on imported solar cells and panels. What does this mean for the industry in the US and elsewhere? We’re joined by Dan Whitten with the Solar Energy Industries Association, the national trade association of the U.S. solar energy industry.

Back from the Detroit Auto Show with a look at green car technology, we’re joined by Consumer Guide Automotive publisher Tom Appel.

South Africa tap water crisis/Autonomous trucks

In the past on Green Sense we’ve talked about the possibility of future conflicts over water supply. That future could now be here as “day zero” could arrive in the coming months in Capetown, South Africa where municipal water supplies could dry up completely. We're joined by Capetown native and South African journalist Udo Carlese.

Transport history was recently made during the first commercial “last-mile” delivery made on public streets in a fully self-driving van. We’ve talked about autonomous cars potentially revolutionizing transport, but also trucks could have just as significant an impact, if not more. John O’Dell writes for Trucks.com and is editor of TheGreenCarGuy.com and has been following the development of autonomous vehicles.

Rob Trice of The Mixing Bowl/Maple Syrup in jeopardy

With the world population continuing to grow, in order to feed everyone, the people who feed the world are in need of connecting with those who are changing the world through technological innovations. The Mixing Bowl works to help make those connections and we’re  joined by Founder Rob Trice.  

 As if climate change affecting coffee, chocolate, possibly wine production wasn’t enough, there’s news that maple syrup could also be in jeopardy.  If current emission trends continue by the end of the century the warm climate will kill the trees that make maple syrup. Ines Ibanez is with the School for Environment and Sustainability at the University of Michigan and has published research on this possibility. 

Saving polar bears/Environmental Law & Policy Center

Video of a starving polar bear - emaciated and possibly just hours from dying - went viral on social media in recent months and quickly became a symbol of the threat many wildlife populations face because of climate change. Dr. Steven Amstrup has studied polar bears for his entire adult life and currently heads up Polar Bears International.

Attorney Howard Learner is one of the nation's leaders when it comes to environmental legal advocacy and eco-business innovation. He heads up the Environmental Law & Policy Center and we'd like to dive into a few environmental issues he's been involved with.

Saving National Monuments/Replacing pipes with plants in drainage systems

Millions of acres of public land in Utah are no longer protected, thanks to President Trump late last year reducing the size of both the Bears Ears and Grand Staircase National Monuments in Utah. How much of what is now unprotected land will be stripped away for mining and other purposes? What does this mean for other protected lands in the future? And, how do we protect what could soon become unprotected. We’re joined by Adam Markham, Deputy Director of the Climate and Energy Program for the Union of Concerned Scientists.

 

 

Ingham County, Michigan Drainage Commissioner Patrick Linnemann is internationally known for his drainage projects. They replace pipes with plants, creating wetlands and fountains for public enjoyment.

2017 - the year in green cars/Climate Engine

With a look back on Green Cars for 2017– sales, new technology and other trends inEVs, hybrids and high-mpg cars – we're joined by Consumer Guide Automotive publisher Tom Appel.

As much of the national conversation over climate change seems tobemainly over whether or not it’s real, anyone and everyone who can get online can use ClimateEngine.org to research all kinds of climate data - current and historic. Here to tell us more is John Abatzoglu with the University of Idaho and co-principle investigator of Climate Engine.

Greening up gift wrap/Redeveloping neighborhoods via food and the arts

Americans throw away 25% more trash between Thanksgiving and New Years than any other time of year. It adds up 25 million tons of garbage or about 1 million extra tons per week. Much of it, from holiday gift wrap that we use once and throw away. Hethyre Baez had the idea to green up gift wrapping with GG Wrap and joins us on Green Sense.

Once-great industrial cities that have deteriorated face unique challenges which are being met by people with the right spirit, attitude, entrepreneurship. And, in the case of El Taco Real in Hammond, Indiana…the right approach to Mexican food! Owner Raymond Garcia is our guest.

Energy from evaporation/Climate change and mental health

We all probably first learned about the cycle of evaporation when we were in grade school. This could be source of energy that rivals  wind and solar power and is, as yet, untapped.  Dr. Ahmet-Hamdi Cavusoglu with Columbia University is one of four researchers who've been looking into this innovation.

We’ve heard a lot about how climate change is having and will continue to have an effect on our physical environment around us and on our own physical bodies. More research is showing how it’ll have an effect on our own mental well being.  Dr. Susan Clayton of Wooster College is one of the authors of a study that looks into how changes in the climate bring about changes in our psychological health.

Greenest cities in America/Treating LF in Haiti

While sustainability and green are part of the national conversation, what matters more is what individual cities have been doing to green up. And, if you check out this new list, how well they’re doing varies widely.  Jill Gonzalez is an analyst with WalletHub which published the new list of the Greenest Cities in America. It includes the 100 largest cities in the US and ranks them.

Next to mental illness, lymphatic filariasis is the leading cause of disability in the world. Many of us have never heard of it, but it is an often overlooked tropical disease. And, food is a way to prevent it. It’s been tried with great success in Haiti thanks to a program with the University of Notre Dame.   We’re joined by James Reimer who’s with the Notre Dame Haiti program.