The Iron Mike: No Boarding
A friends take on riding in our thirties.
Thursday, November 20, 2008
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
Solio Sponsors a Revealing Expedition to Mount Stanley
The Solio Mount Stanley Expedition team recently gave its support to explorer, anthropologist and documentary filmmaker Julian Fisher as he set out to explore the fabled "Mountains of the Moon" in Uganda’s Rwenzori Mountain Range. Fisher and his team faced numerous challenges throughout their three-week expedition, but staying in contact wasn’t one of them. Thanks to Solio solar chargers, they could power their satellite phones, GPS units, and other devices even in remote areas without power.
In the end, the team uncovered some revealing insights into climate change, its impact on Rwenzori’s melting glaciers, and the ensuing effect it’s having on the ancient cultures living within Rwenzori’s valleys. Said Fisher, “We’re living in a time when we all need to look inward to solve the problems that outwardly face us all.” The folks at Solio couldn’t agree more.
In the end, the team uncovered some revealing insights into climate change, its impact on Rwenzori’s melting glaciers, and the ensuing effect it’s having on the ancient cultures living within Rwenzori’s valleys. Said Fisher, “We’re living in a time when we all need to look inward to solve the problems that outwardly face us all.” The folks at Solio couldn’t agree more.
At Powderfin.com, receive FREE SHIPPING on every
Solio Solar charger! $99.95 - shipping included!
SOLIO SUSTAINABILITY SCOOP:
Did you know that over the next five years the U.S. will import and use 2.5 billion chargers for handheld electronics, representing thousands of tons of plastics and metals? Remember: One Solio can replace a dozen wall chargers.
Thursday, November 13, 2008
INTERNET SAVES ENERGY, REDUCES GREENHOUSE GASES
From: BNET.com - Electric Perspectives, May/Jun 2000
Use a little electricity to turn on your computer and hook up to the Internet, and you can save a lot of energy and vastly reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
That's the conclusion of "The Internet Economy and Global Warming: A Scenario of the Impact of ECommerce on Energy and the Environment," a study that has drawn increased attention since it was initially released last December. Although its conclusions about future growth in electricity demand and the Kyoto Protocol remain controversial, it is yet another refutation of the notion, popularized decades ago by critics of electric companies, that the only good kilowatt is a kilowatt saved.
The study prepared by the Center for Energy and Climate Solutions (cECS), argues that the emerging Internet economy probably deserves substantial credit for the nation's shifting energy diet. While the U.S. economy grew more than 9 percent in 1997 and 1998, energy demand stayed almost flat in spite of low energy prices.
Perhaps a third of this gain in energy efficiency is attributable to expansion in economic sectors with relatively modest energy needs-especially the double-digit growth in information technology But the bulk of the gain reflects economy-wide efficiency improvements made possible in part by the Internet.
The authors point to e-commerce as one of the many ways in which the Internet saves energy and natural resources. For example, when a consumer purchases a book from Amazon.com rather than from a "bricks-and-mortar" store, about one-sixteenth as much energy is consumed. In part, this is because it takes less energy to heat and light a warehouse than a commercial building catering to the public.
What's more, it takes less energy to ship the book to the online consumer than if he or she drove to the mall.
Telecommuting has been made possible by the Internet-fostered boom in home offices. The study cites an International Data Corporation forecast that the number of home offices linked to the Internet will grow from 12 million in 1997 to 30 million in 2002. Home offices use far less energy than office buildings, and telecommuting reduces automobile travel.
The Internet reduces energy use, as well as hazardous waste, in the manufacturing sector. For example, while the paperless economy has not materialized (nor is likely to any time soon), the Internet is helping to reduce growth in consumption of paper. Paper manufacturing is one of the nation's most energy-intensive processes. By 2003, the Internet will reduce net demand for paper by 2.7 million tons compared to what it would have been, the study says, citing an analysis by the Boston Consulting Group.
The cECS study can be viewed online at coolcomanies.org
Copyright Edison Electric Institute May/Jun 2000
Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning Company. All rights Reserved
Use a little electricity to turn on your computer and hook up to the Internet, and you can save a lot of energy and vastly reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
That's the conclusion of "The Internet Economy and Global Warming: A Scenario of the Impact of ECommerce on Energy and the Environment," a study that has drawn increased attention since it was initially released last December. Although its conclusions about future growth in electricity demand and the Kyoto Protocol remain controversial, it is yet another refutation of the notion, popularized decades ago by critics of electric companies, that the only good kilowatt is a kilowatt saved.
The study prepared by the Center for Energy and Climate Solutions (cECS), argues that the emerging Internet economy probably deserves substantial credit for the nation's shifting energy diet. While the U.S. economy grew more than 9 percent in 1997 and 1998, energy demand stayed almost flat in spite of low energy prices.
Perhaps a third of this gain in energy efficiency is attributable to expansion in economic sectors with relatively modest energy needs-especially the double-digit growth in information technology But the bulk of the gain reflects economy-wide efficiency improvements made possible in part by the Internet.
The authors point to e-commerce as one of the many ways in which the Internet saves energy and natural resources. For example, when a consumer purchases a book from Amazon.com rather than from a "bricks-and-mortar" store, about one-sixteenth as much energy is consumed. In part, this is because it takes less energy to heat and light a warehouse than a commercial building catering to the public.
What's more, it takes less energy to ship the book to the online consumer than if he or she drove to the mall.
Telecommuting has been made possible by the Internet-fostered boom in home offices. The study cites an International Data Corporation forecast that the number of home offices linked to the Internet will grow from 12 million in 1997 to 30 million in 2002. Home offices use far less energy than office buildings, and telecommuting reduces automobile travel.
The Internet reduces energy use, as well as hazardous waste, in the manufacturing sector. For example, while the paperless economy has not materialized (nor is likely to any time soon), the Internet is helping to reduce growth in consumption of paper. Paper manufacturing is one of the nation's most energy-intensive processes. By 2003, the Internet will reduce net demand for paper by 2.7 million tons compared to what it would have been, the study says, citing an analysis by the Boston Consulting Group.
The cECS study can be viewed online at coolcomanies.org
Copyright Edison Electric Institute May/Jun 2000
Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning Company. All rights Reserved
Sherpa Adventure Gear Gives Back
The Sherpas are the unsung heroes of Everest…
From the early days of Sir Edmund Hillary's first successful summit, to modern mountaineers' attempts on treacherous Himalayan peaks, these incredible high-altitude climbers have been there in every step of the way—guiding, hauling food and gear, setting ropes, and rescuing sick and injured climbers.
Unfortunately even though climbers pay thousands of dollars for permits and guides, Sherpas still often live in impoverished conditions. And it is their children who suffer most when a Sherpa guide is injured or killed in a climbing accident
In order to honor their heroic feats, Sherpa Adventure Gear has partnered with Alpine Ascents to donate up to $.50 for every item sold to The Sherpa Education Fund. We are also in the process of setting up additional non-profit partnerships to benefit the health, education, and welfare of underprivileged Sherpa children.
In addition to this, Sherpa Adventure Gear employs local Sherpas in their office in Katmandu, and contract with Sherpa artisans (some of whom are their own cousins) to create the beautiful, hand knit Sherpa wool hats. Every product you buy makes a direct impact on the lives of these amazing people.
From the early days of Sir Edmund Hillary's first successful summit, to modern mountaineers' attempts on treacherous Himalayan peaks, these incredible high-altitude climbers have been there in every step of the way—guiding, hauling food and gear, setting ropes, and rescuing sick and injured climbers.
Unfortunately even though climbers pay thousands of dollars for permits and guides, Sherpas still often live in impoverished conditions. And it is their children who suffer most when a Sherpa guide is injured or killed in a climbing accident
In order to honor their heroic feats, Sherpa Adventure Gear has partnered with Alpine Ascents to donate up to $.50 for every item sold to The Sherpa Education Fund. We are also in the process of setting up additional non-profit partnerships to benefit the health, education, and welfare of underprivileged Sherpa children.
In addition to this, Sherpa Adventure Gear employs local Sherpas in their office in Katmandu, and contract with Sherpa artisans (some of whom are their own cousins) to create the beautiful, hand knit Sherpa wool hats. Every product you buy makes a direct impact on the lives of these amazing people.
To see more of what this innovative company has to offer, be sure to browse the rest of our Sherpa Adventure Gear Clothing.
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
More Waterproof Gear protection at Powderfin.com
Our latest addition to our product mix is more waterproof gear from Watershed. There are several new waterproof duffels to choose from, including some waterproof backpack duffel bags. Regardless of your outdoor activity, if you'll be around water, it's a good idea to keep it protected. Nobody likes showing up at camp and putting on wet clothes! Watershed Waterproof Dry-bags are made with super durable material, and feature amazingly strong welds. 
The Waterproof Shotgun bag has overlapping radio frequency welds, which turns multiple fabric pieces into one single piece of material for unparalleled waterproof protection for your shotgun.
Between Aquapac, Otterbox, Pacific Outdoor, and Watershed, we now have a good piece of equipment for any piece of equipment you may have at Powderfin.com. From individual personal electronics cases, to small waterproof camera cases, to HUGE waterproof duffels...there's a product to fit your waterproofing needs.
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