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Transport for the Future

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Changing our energy infrastructure may seem daunting, but remember, it's only 100 years old - and that in life, the only real constant is change.

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Swiss Re Rebates Employees to Reduce Carbon Footprint

As part of the Clinton Global Initiative, Swiss Re, one of the world’s largest reinsurers, has decided to support measures taken by its employees that contribute to the reduction of CO2 emissions. Under it’s new “COYou2 reduce and gain” program, which runs through 2011, Swiss Re will pay for half the costs for employees to implement measures that reduce their greenhouse gas emissions, particularly in relation to mobility, heating and electrical energy. Qualifying measures include the purchase of hybrid cars, use of public transport, and the installation of solar panels or heat pumps. According to Ivo Menzinger, Head of Sustainability & Emerging Risk Management, who is in charge of the “COYou2 reduce and gain” programme, “Swiss Re is actively engaged in mitigating climate change and its consequences. This programme is an investment that will encourage our employees to make a personal contribution and further raises awareness of the issue.” In 2003, Swiss Re declared that it would make its own operations carbon neutral by 2013. Website: http://www.swissre.com     

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SunOpta Projects Strong Growth for 2007

SunOpta Inc. (NASDAQ:STKL; TSX:SOY) announced its financial guidance for the calendar year 2007. Revenue is expected to be in the range of US$740 – $760 million, an increase of about 25% over projected 2006 results (prior to acquisitions). SunOpta intends to continue its current acquisition program which has added $100 – $125 million in annual revenue each year over the last several years. Net profit per diluted common share, prior to any acquisitions, is expected to be in the range of $0.35 – $0.40 per share in 2007 reflecting continued growth, further leverage in selling, general and administration costs, and improved margins resulting from product mix, cost reduction projects including automation and high plant utilization. About SunOpta Inc. SunOpta Inc. is an operator of high-growth ethical businesses, focusing on integrated business models in the natural and organic food, supplements and health and beauty markets. The Company has three business units: the SunOpta Food Group, which specializes in sourcing, processing and distribution of natural and organic food products integrated from seed through packaged products; the Opta Minerals Group, a producer, distributor, and recycler of environmentally friendly industrial materials; and the SunOpta BioProcess Group which engineers and markets proprietary steam explosion technology […]

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General Motors Selects Battery Supplier for Plug- ins

A123Systems announced that it will supply General Motors Corp. advanced Lithium Ion batteries optimized for plug in hybrid vehicles through its Tier 1 partner, Cobasys LLC. A123Systems’ batteries will be evaluated in prototype Saturn Green Line Vue plug-in hybrid SUVs later this year. GM recently announced its intention to produce a Vue Green Line plug-in hybrid SUV that has the potential to achieve double the fuel efficiency of any current SUV. “We are committed to offering commercially viable, sustainable and safe alternative vehicles,” said Denise Gray, GM’s newly appointed director of hybrid energy storage systems. “In order to do so, we need battery suppliers that can provide us with durable and reliable batteries that help us accelerate production-ready designs. We look forward to the testing and development stages with A123Systems.” Last month, A123Systems was awarded a $15 million development contract by the United States Advanced Battery Consortium, an organization composed of DaimlerChrysler Corporation, Ford Motor Company and General Motors Corporation. USABC awarded the contract in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to optimize the A123Systems proprietary doped nanophosphate battery technology for hybrid electric vehicle applications with a focus on systems that are high-power, abuse-tolerant, long lasting and cost […]

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