Welcome back for another segment of our weekly green news highlights. This week: the future of luxury yachting looks solar; Ian Somerhalder encourages support for Sea Shepherd Paul Watson; and young people are driving less and trending more and more to public transportation. Just click on the links to learn more.
(image credit: Michele Puzzolante Designer mpd-designs.com)
The Solar Future of Luxury Yachting. Michele Puzzolante’s solar floating resort invention is the wave of the future. With responsible opulence as a credo, the solar floating resort (SFR) “will provide an entirely self-sufficient, non-pollutive solution to the holiday “good life”. Michele Puzzolante’s SFR invention is ”a unique building integrated photovoltaic hospitality concept, part habitation, part yacht and part submarine, totally self-sufficient energy generator, non-polluting and in unison with its natural surroundings.” The resort will draw from solar energy, “it’s been designed like a luxury yacht and a luxury hotel suite, with a fully submerged observation bulb because the majority of people are fascinated by watching and photographing exotic fishes, dolphins, sharks and marine turtle.” The design will sleep 6 in two single and two double bedrooms, with a large kitchen, dining area, lounge area, and 6-person Jacuzzi. The most incredible feature will be the submerged observation bulb with accommodates 6 people and “it’s built like a tourist submarine with a thick glass enclosure that provides a 360 degrees view.”
Ian Somerhalder called for support of Sea Shepherd’s Captain Paul Watson yesterday. Ian Somerhalder, The U.N. Goodwill Ambassador and star of TV’s “The Vampire Diaries” tweeted to his more than 2 million followers, “Had great meeting w/Cap Paul Watson of @SeaShepherd -I adore this man&his org.He needs some help&I need you guys to help me-No $ just tweets.” Paul Watson was arrested in Frankfurt last month relating to an initiative against illegal shark finning in 2002, which was a campaign featured in the infamous Sharkwater documentary. Watson has since been released on bail. Somerhalder joined other celebrities defending Watson and offering their support including: Alicia Silverstone, Bridget Bardot (a long-time supporter who even offered to trade places with him in prison), The Red Hot Chili Peppers and champion surfer Kelly Slater. Despite his arrest, Sea Shepherd perseveres and Watson posted a list of the upcoming Sea Shepherd Campaigns for June 1st to Dec 31st, 2012. We encourage you to visit the Sea Shepherd website and learn more about this admirable and important initiative.
Young People Are Driving Less—And Not Just Because They’re Broke. “An April study by the U.S. Public Interest Research Group found that between 2001 and 2009 the average annual vehicle miles traveled by Americans ages 16 to 34 fell by close to a quarter, from 10,300 to 7,900 per capita (four times greater than the drop among all adults), and from 12,800 to 10,700 among those with jobs. At the same time, the amount of bicycling, walking, and public transit ridership increased. And these trends aren’t just among broke millennials. There was an 100 percent increase in public transit usage among young people with incomes over $70,000.” In 2011, the American Public Transportation Association concluded that commuters and ridership continued to climb. Zipcar has also noted a consistent desire in millenials to avoid driving.
Stay tuned for more green news.
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