Richard Branson seems to have gotten a real drive for eco-friendly development as of late. Dropping large amounts of cash on biofuels, renewable energy research, co2 abatement prizes, and now he is planning a carbon neutral island paradise.
Sir Richard Branson has bought a second Caribbean island for £10million with a view to turning it into a luxury resort for ecofriendly families.
Moskito is just one and a half miles from Necker, the island home the Virgin tycoon paid £130,000 for in 1976.
His plans for Moskito’s 120 acres are still being drawn up but will include Balinesestyle lodges made from local trees and resources.
The resort is expected to be powered by wind, wave or solar power, and appeal to those in search of an environmentally responsible break.
Sir Richard’s Virgin Atlantic airline flies eight routes to the Caribbean. Both Moskito and the 74-acre Necker are part of the British Virgin Islands, to the east of Puerto Rico.
He said: “I was terrified that Moskito would end up in the wrong hands and be ruined.
“It is a beautiful island that needs love and attention. I want to start from scratch and create the most ecologically friendly island in the world.
“Come back in five years and you’ll find a mini-Bali with a rainforest in the Caribbean.”
Conventional cars will be banned although there may be small electric to ferry visitors around. Sir Richard, 56, is already installing wind and wave turbines and solar panels on Necker, which is used as a hideaway by celebrities such as Mariah Carey and Annie Lennox. Princess Diana was also a visitor.
Sir Richard said he intended Moskito to be carbon neutral. This means that any carbon dioxide which is produced will be off-set by actions which remove the gas from the atmosphere, such as planting more trees.
He said Necker should itself be “CO2 neutral” within nine months. (via)
My immediate first thought is, well at least the rich can enjoy a green resort. As the rich have the most disposable income it is vital that they are pressured (culturally and economically) to begin to shift over to a carbon neutral life style, from work to play. If someone like a (sir) Richard Branson can reduce the co2 output of his lifestyle it will keep a hell of a lot more co2 out of the air than if I did everything in my power. The rich use more resources, and hence produce more waste.
This is not to say us little people shouldn’t be doing our part. Our strength comes in sheer numbers. If everyone in America removed just one pound of co2 from their lifestyle a day, that would be 300 million pounds a day. Not hard to do, and the positive effects add up quick. Richard Branson could simply retrofit a few jets to use less fuel, and bam, he makes the same change in a week. Each plays a part in solving the problem of global warming.
I am not against people making money. I am against them making money on things that will harm the planets delicate eco-system. I feel you can make a lot of money, and save the earth at the same time. Maybe Richard Branson feels the same way.
MANDATORY RENEWABLE ENERGY – THE ENERGY EVOLUTION –R13
In order to insure energy and economic independence as well as better economic growth without being blackmailed by foreign countries, our country, the United States of America’s Utilization of Energy Sources must change.
“Energy drives our entire economy.†We must protect it. “Let’s face it, without energy the whole economy and economic society we have set up would come to a halt. So you want to have control over such an important resource that you need for your society and your economy.” The American way of life is not negotiable.
Our continued dependence on fossil fuels could and will lead to catastrophic consequences.
The federal, state and local government should implement a mandatory renewable energy installation program for residential and commercial property on new construction and remodeling projects with the use of energy efficient material, mechanical systems, appliances, lighting, retrofits etc. The source of energy must be by renewable energy such as Solar-Photovoltaic, Geothermal, Wind, Biofuels, Ocean-Tidal, Hydrogen-Fuel Cell etc. This includes the utilizing of water from lakes, rivers and oceans to circulate in cooling towers to produce air conditioning and the utilization of proper landscaping to reduce energy consumption. (Sales tax on renewable energy products and energy efficiency should be reduced or eliminated)
The implementation of mandatory renewable energy could be done on a gradual scale over the next 10 years. At the end of the 10 year period all construction and energy use in the structures throughout the United States must be 100% powered by renewable energy. (This can be done by amending building code)
In addition, the governments must impose laws, rules and regulations whereby the utility companies must comply with a fair “NET METERING†(the buying of excess generation from the consumer at market price), including the promotion of research and production of “renewable energy technology†with various long term incentives and grants. The various foundations in existence should be used to contribute to this cause.
A mandatory time table should also be established for the automobile industry to gradually produce an automobile powered by renewable energy. The American automobile industry is surely capable of accomplishing this task. As an inducement to buy hybrid automobiles (sales tax should be reduced or eliminated on American manufactured automobiles).
This is a way to expedite our energy independence and economic growth. (This will also create a substantial amount of new jobs). It will take maximum effort and a relentless pursuit of the private, commercial and industrial government sectors’ commitment to renewable energy – energy generation (wind, solar, hydro, biofuels, geothermal, energy storage (fuel cells, advance batteries), energy infrastructure (management, transmission) and energy efficiency (lighting, sensors, automation, conservation) (rainwater harvesting, water conservation) (energy and natural resources conservation) in order to achieve our energy independence.
“To succeed, you have to believe in something with such a passion that it becomes a reality.”
Jay Draiman, Energy Consultant
Northridge, CA. 91325
Feb. 17, 2007
P.S. I have a very deep belief in America’s capabilities. Within the next 10 years we can accomplish our energy independence, if we as a nation truly set our goals to accomplish this.
I happen to believe that we can do it. In another crisis–the one in 1942–President Franklin D. Roosevelt said this country would build 60,000 [50,000] military aircraft. By 1943, production in that program had reached 125,000 aircraft annually. They did it then. We can do it now.
“the way we produce and use energy must fundamentally change.”
The American people resilience and determination to retain the way of life is unconquerable and we as a nation will succeed in this endeavor of Energy Independence.
The Oil Companies should be required to invest a substantial percentage of their profit in renewable energy R&D and implementation. Those who do not will be panelized by the public at large by boy cutting their products.
Solar energy is the source of all energy on the earth (excepting volcanic geothermal). Wind, wave and fossil fuels all get their energy from the sun. Fossil fuels are only a battery which will eventually run out. The sooner we can exploit all forms of Solar energy (cost effectively or not against dubiously cheap FFs) the better off we will all be. If the battery runs out first, the survivors will all be living like in the 18th century again.
Every new home built should come with a solar package. A 1.5 kW per bedroom is a good rule of thumb. The formula 1.5 X’s 5 hrs per day X’s 30 days will produce about 225 kWh per bedroom monthly. This peak production period will offset 17 to 2
4 cents per kWh with a potential of $160 per month or about $60,000 over the 30-year mortgage period for a three-bedroom home. It is economically feasible at the current energy price and the interest portion of the loan is deductible. Why not?
Title 24 has been mandated forcing developers to build energy efficient homes. Their bull-headedness put them in that position and now they see that Title 24 works with little added cost. Solar should also be mandated and if the developer designs a home that solar is impossible to do then they should pay an equivalent mitigation fee allowing others to put solar on in place of their negligence. (Installation should be paid “performance basedâ€).
Installation of renewable energy and its performance should be paid to the installer and manufacturer based on “performance based” (that means they are held accountable for the performance of the product – that includes the automobile industry). This will gain the trust and confidence of the end-user to proceed with such a project; it will also prove to the public that it is a viable avenue of energy conservation.
Installing a renewable energy system on your home or business increases the value of the property and provides a marketing advantage.
Nations of the world should unite and join together in a cohesive effort to develop and implement MANDATORY RENEWABLE ENERGY for the sake of humankind and future generations.
The head of the U.S. government’s renewable energy lab said Monday (Feb. 5) that the federal government is doing “embarrassingly few things” to foster renewable energy, leaving leadership to the states at a time of opportunity to change the nation’s energy future. “I see little happening at the federal level. Much more needs to happen.” What’s needed, he said, is a change of our national mind set. Instead of viewing the hurdles that still face renewable sources and setting national energy goals with those hurdles in mind, we should set ambitious national renewable energy goals and set about overcoming the hurdles to meet them. We have an opportunity, an opportunity we can take advantage of or an opportunity we can squander and let go,”
solar energy – the direct conversion of sunlight with solar cells, either into electricity or hydrogen, faces cost hurdles independent of their intrinsic efficiency. Ways must be found to lower production costs and design better conversion and storage systems.
FEDERAL BUILDINGS WITH SOLAR ENERGY – Renewable Energy
All government buildings, Federal, State, County, City etc. should be mandated to be energy efficient and must use renewable energy on all new structures and structures that are been remodeled/upgraded.
“The goverment should serve as an example to its citizens”
Jay Draiman
Northridge, CA 91325
Email: renewableenergy2@msn.com
What about conservation, Jay? Any room for that?
I am all for conservation. Energy efficiency, Renewable Energy, Rainwater Harvesting – These are all ENERGY CONSERVATION actions.