FILE - In this Sept. 15, 2009 file photo, a Toyota Motor Corp.'s plug-in hybrid Prius concept vehicle is displayed at the Toyota Tokyo design center in Tokyo, Japan. Toyota Motor Corp.

A Toyota Prius may save drivers serious cash when it comes to fill-ups at the gas station, but those same fuel-efficient cars are gutting state transportation budgets and leaving infrastructure and maintenance projects hanging in the balance.

Now several states, which heavily rely on gas taxes to fund transportation infrastructure projects, are looking for other ways to fund road repair projects, and it could mean the government is about to get a little nosier about your driving habits.

Some policymakers are toying around with the idea of taxing drivers based on the number of miles they travel as opposed to how much gas they usea vehicle miles traveled or "VMT" tax. How the state will collect this information is still up in the air, with Oregon's Department of Transportation currently trying to come up with a solution.

"The public didn't particularly like that we used a GPS receiver to count miles," says Jim Whitty, manager of the Office of Innovative Partnerships and Alternative Funding at the Oregon Department of Transportation.

[Read: House Hunters Flocking to Foreclosures For Value.]

A new incarnation of the pilot program set to launch this fall eliminates any "government box" installed on vehicles, Whitty says. The program will instead rely on information culled from in-car navigation systems and other driver assistance systems, such as OnStar and SYNC. The state is also experimenting with some lower-tech options, such as allowing motorists to report data through their mobile phones or having drivers prepay for the miles they drive.

"The gas tax is dying a slow death with these highly fuel efficient vehicles coming into the marketplace that don't pay any gas tax or hardly any gas tax, [the flat gas tax] just will not survive," Whitty says. "That's being recognized by almost everybody."

According to the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy, states have seen revenue from gas taxes plummet a combined $10 billion a year thanks to a combination of factors, including the increased fuel efficiency of today's vehicles.

[Read: Democrats Brace for A Month Of Bad News.]

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Eco-Friendly Vehicles Draining State Road Repair Budgets

06-06-2012 12:19 April 19, 2012 - Session developed by Brad Ewing (Alaska Coastal Rainforest Center). Presentations by Trista Patterson (USFS PNW Research Station), Colin Beier (SUNY), Steve Colt (U. of Alaska Anchorage), David Saah (Spatial Analytics Informatics Group), Marc Conte (Stanford University), and Sarah Klain (U. of British Columbia) Session Abstract: The Pacific coastal temperate rainforest of North America provides a wide range of ecosystem services that are vital to human health and livelihood. Collectively, these services can be grouped into the following categories: provisioning (eg food, forest products, and fresh water), regulating (eg carbon sequestration, purification of water and air, and pest control), supporting (eg soil formation, nutrient cycling, and primary production), and cultural services (eg recreation, scientific discovery, and spiritual enlightenment). This session will include presentations on (1) incorporating demands for ecosystem services—alongside studies that focus on increasing or maintaining the supply of ecosystem services—to increase the value of various initiatives throughout the region, (2) integrating supply-side and demand-side measures of ecosystem services to inform adaptive management, (3) utilizing ecosystem service valuations to inform policy decision making, (4) quantifying, throughout the chain of production, the impacts from shifting to wood-based energy in rural communities, (5) utilizing economics and ecosystem services to inform ...

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Ecosystem Services in the Pacific Coastal Temperate Rainforest of North America - Video

TAIPEI, Taiwan--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

With the theme Smart Green Life and an eco-friendly and energy-saving tree house the Delta Group demonstrated their latest green consumer products and services at the 2012 Computex show in Taipei. Featuring mobile power, LED lighting, video conference image systems and network application systems, Delta demonstrated highly efficient energy-saving solutions via scenario applications. Also, the Magic Cable Trio 3-in-1 charge & sync cable from Deltas consumer power brand, Innergie, also received the highest honor Gold Award at the COMPUTEX TAIPEI design & innovation awards today.

Deltas Vice Chairman and CEO Yancey Hai indicated that the theme Smart Green Life and the Delta tree house represent how people can coexist with nature through intelligent green building technologies and energy-saving technologies. The smart green life scenarios at Deltas exhibit demonstrate its latest green products and services, and communicates the Delta brand spirit Smarter. Greener. Together. through actual applications.

At the exhibition Delta is also promoting tips on energy-saving from the Delta Electronics Foundation. Visitors may scan a QR Code using a smart phone or flat panel mobile device to obtain the seven energy-saving tips.

In the living room area, Deltas Seamless Screen Switchable Multimedia System allows anywhere-to-anywhere enjoyment of audio and visual entertainment wirelessly and with multimedia control in the kitchen, study or other areas. For lighting, Deltas LED lighting designs are used for the outdoor energy-saving lighting system and for the indoor light source reducing electricity consumption by 90%. Deltas wind power system and solar energy modules supply endless green electricity. Deltas electric vehicle is also charging on the lawn with charging facilities that conform to various international specifications.

In the studio, the combination of Deltas extreme short throw projection and interactive sensing frame projection technology projects a 97-inch picture within just around 7cm. The extreme short throw projection design is convenient for presentations or discussions and keeps the user free from the projected light source. In the study, the portable Qumi-Q5 HD micro-projection system, projects a 90-inch picture, while Deltas uninterruptible power system protects personal computers and peripheral accessories even in an environment with unstable voltage.

Innergie Magic Cable Trio for Smarter Mobile Power

The Magic Cable Trio from Deltas consumer power brand, Innergie, has received the Gold Award for the COMPUTEX TAIPEI design & innovation awards. The design of the smart 3-in-1 connector combines three types of connectors for Mini USB, Micro USB and Apple products onto one single USB cable. The single cable may be used for charging or synchronized operations for smart phones, flat panel computers, iPod, iPhone, iPad, and other Mini or Micro USB devices. The Magic Cable Trio is another innovative power solution product from Innergie that allows mobile users to easily charge anytime and anywhere.

Intelligent Wireless Multimedia Convenience

Delta displayed its family and vehicle entertainment system, the Seamless Screen Switchable Multimedia System for the first time. The new system integrates video conference and network systems allowing the user to relocate and enjoy multimedia anywhere-to-anywhere via wireless transmission and multimedia control. With support for various portable devices and smart phones, the user can edit and operate the interface with just one touch. The Seamless Screen Switchable Multimedia System is also ideal for vehicles and tourist coaches, meeting rooms, and family entertainment systems.

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Delta Tree House Demonstrates “Smart Green Life” at Computex

"The status of all these wetlands is poor. Consequently, there has been a decline in the number of migratory and the resident birds, over the past few years," said Ashok Ghosh, the head of the environment and water management department, AN College.

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Drive to save wetlands and waterbodies

Will Edmontonians spend an extra $50,000 for a high-efficiency home that saves them $300 a month in energy costs, has no furnace and offers fresh air ventilation - even on the coldest winter days?

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Super efficient eco homes come at a premium price

DETROIT – The 2013 model-year Chevrolet Malibu Eco has drawn double honors for safety, including a 5-Star overall vehicle score from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and a 2012 Top Safety Pick award from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. Both are the highest ratings given.

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Chevrolet Malibu Eco Draws Double Safety Honors

The Global Innovation Series is presented by BMW i, a new concept dedicated to providing mobility solutions for the urban environment. It delivers more than purpose-built electric vehicles -- it delivers smart mobility services. Visit bmw-i.com or follow @BMWi on Twitter.

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Slay 'Vampire Power' With These Eco-Friendly Chargers

(From left) Tan Sri Liew Kee Sin, Alexander Romanenko, Laszlo Gonczi and Vyacheslav Semenenko.

ONCE again, property developer SP Setia Bhd Group has added another International Real Estate Federation prize under its belt.

At the FIABCI Prix d'Excellence Awards 2012 held in St Petersburg in Russia recently, the group's Eco Greens Gallery in Setia Eco Gardens, Johor, emerged the winner in the Specialised Project (Purpose-Built) category.

SP Setia has clinched the international recognition four times, making it the only developer in Malaysia to have achieved such a feat.

A total of 14 developers from seven countries took part in the event this year.

Previous FIABCI awards went to the group's Setia Eco Park in Shah Alam for Best Master Plan (2007) and Best Residential (Low-Rise) Development (2011) and Setia Eco Gardens for Best Master Plan (2009).

As for the Setia Eco Gardens, it is the second FIABCI award for the eco-themed development in Johor.

SP Setia chief executive officer and president Tan Sri Liew Kee Sin said the award has marked another milestone for Setia Eco Gardens, which has shown its commitment to sustain an eco-themed development.

"Located in Iskandar Malaysia, Setia Eco Gardens is a sustainable residential development and the Eco Greens Gallery is known as a landmark building with a leisure park and green wall," said Liew.

The gallery, built on a green lung spreading 11 hectares, provide residents of Setia Eco Gardens the luxury of living amid a healthy natural environment.

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FIABCI award for Setia Eco Gardens

04-06-2012 20:40 http UVIC - The waters between Vancouver Island and the mainland are a marine scientist's paradise. From micro-organisms, to octopus, to killer whales - some of the world's most fascinating creatures live in the waters between Vancouver Island and the mainland. And the University of Victoria's "VENUS Project" is leading the way in marine research with help from BC Ferries. VENUS mounted equipment on the Queen of Alberni, a ferry that runs from Duke Point to Tsawwassen. A hole was cut in the hull, and meteorological equipment was mounted on the deck. Dr. Richard Dewey says data collected from close to the surface will help scientists understand how the eco system works. Follow Louise Hartland on Twitter:

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VENUS Project Expands with BC Ferries - Video

First announced at CES, the Earth-friendly Samsung Galaxy Exhilarate goes on sale June 10 for about $50.

The Samsung Galaxy Exhilarate is eco-conscious.

AT&T typically isn't the carrier you think of to promote its handsets in an eco-light, but that's about to change with the Samsung Galaxy Exhilarate, a 4G LTE Android 2.3 smartphone we first saw at CES.

The $49.99 phone (with a new two-year contract) has components made from 80 percent post-consumer waste material and comes with a more efficient charger, AT&T says. It will go on sale June 10.

In addition to 4G LTE, the affordable phone features a 4-inch Super AMOLED screen, a dual-core 1.2GHz Qualcomm Scorpion processor (based on ARM Cortex-A8 architecture), a 5-megapixel rear-facing camera with 720pHD video capture, and a 1.3-megapixel lens up front.

AT&T and Samsung will also add their own apps, including AT&T's subscription-based U-verse Live TV.

The Exhilarate is the first of a string of phones that AT&T plans to certify in its new eco-rating system launching this summer.

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AT&T's Samsung Galaxy Exhilarate is LTE, budget, 'eco'

04-06-2012 15:53 Thoughts from Shawn Rogers of EMA on the Hybrid Data Ecosystem.

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Thoughts From Shawn Rogers of EMA on the Hybrid Data Ecosystem - Video

Kumar added: "We have ordered for adequate number of eco-friendly carry bags. The revenue would depend on the number of people visiting the zoo every day."

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Green bag 'gift' at zoo on World Environment Day

Alter Eco proudly adds coupons to CommonKindness to help generate new funding for America’s favorite nonprofit organizations. Alter Eco is a world class sustainable food importer that works only with producers who employ contemporary and traditional fair trade and organic farming practices to bring the world wholesome, unique flavors.San Francisco, CA (PRWEB) June 05, 2012 Alter Eco has joined ...

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Sustainable Food Leader Alter Eco Joins CommonKindness.com to Create Sustainable Funding for Nonprofits

The Hindu conducts awareness programme sponsored by Srinivasa Sales and Service

Ecological balance is crucial to sustainable development and unless the government and people themselves stick to stringent norms of not violating the eco-norms, it will be a planet difficult to live on said speakers at awareness programme for faculty members of PVP Institute of Technology.

The programme, sponsored by the Srinivasa Sales and Service Private Limited in association with The Hindu, brought out some interesting facts that made the teachers think about the environmental issues on the college campus on Monday. The worst part of reducing pollution is not adhering to the implementation schedule or norms, said Acharya Nagarjuna University Department of Environment Head A.V.V.S. Swamy. The government, instead of looking after the benefit of people, was allowing unhindered exploitation of material like bauxite, which acts as a sponge to retain water while it rains and releases slowly, flowing into the perennial rivers.

Bauxite mining would destroy many rivers, he opined. I strongly demand stopping of bauxite mining, the professor said. While 2.5 lakh engineers are produced every year from the state, only 1 per cent work for the State and none bothers about the ecology and does not make a research for sustainable development, he said.

Producing alternative energy is the need of the hour and year-after year the annual environment days come and go and promises are made, but dependence of Petroleum and Coal reserves has not reduced, said Regional Environmental Engineer S. Venkateswarlu. Change in lifestyle has given boost to the GDP, but at the same time it has led to global warming, affects of which the entire world is facing, he opined. The environmental engineer pointed out that massive food wastage at marriages and at home will lead to loss of energy and also production of large amount of garbage. Vast plastic waste was also acting against the protection of nature, he opined. The human lifestyles were moving away from the nature to a large extent and though an effort was being made, it was not sufficient, he opined. The Groundwater Department Deputy Director A. Varaprasada Rao made the faculty members to take an oath to protect the eco-system and conserve water in all possible ways. He gave a PowerPoint presentation on the various aspects of water conservation taking the help of photographs published in The Hindu and other vernacular dailies. Others who attended included Srinivasa Sales vice-president operations commander Gopi, and PVPSIT principal P. Venkateswarlu.

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Stop bauxite mining to save eco-system, says expert

Taiwan PC makers Acer and Asus on Monday took another shot at gaining a foothold in the tablet market, unveiling several new products running on Microsoft's much-anticipated Windows 8 operating system.

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Taiwan PC makers unveil tablets with Windows 8

Taiwan's leading personal computer maker Acer Monday took another shot at gaining a foothold in the tablet market, unveiling two new products running on Microsoft's much-anticipated Windows 8 operating system. Acer showed off the tablets -- named W510 and W700 -- on the eve of Computex, Asia's largest IT fair, which is held in Taipei this week for the 32nd time, with Windows 8 expected to be a key focus.

"Windows 8 is a historic moment for the worldwide Windows eco-system," said J. T. Wang, Acer's chairman, at a briefing in Taipei where the company also unveiled its new Aspire S7, a small laptop that runs on Windows 8.

Acer, which has been struggling to branch into the tablet computer sector, cut several hundred jobs in Europe last year to reduce operating expenses.

While Apple itself is not present at Computex, the fair will nevertheless highlight the company's importance, since much of what happens there will be in response to market trends set by the American brand.

Windows 8 is touted as Microsoft's long-awaited riposte to the rise of Apple and mobile devices powered by Google's Android operating system. There is no official release date but reports have predicted an October launch.

"In our view, the touchscreen experience enabled by Windows 8 is a massive step forward -- simply because it makes computing more intuitive," said Jim Wong, corporate president of Acer.

Computex features more than 1,800 exhibitors registering 5,400 booths, up two percent from a year ago.

The organisers estimate that the IT fair will draw 36,000 foreign buyers who may place bulk orders worth up to $28 billion.

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CALGARY, June 4, 2012 /PRNewswire/ - EVOLUTION WELL SERVICES offers a new system and method of providing on-site electrical power along with a totally electrically powered frac spread. A patent pending technology allows for the use of electrical power to deliver fracturing fluids to the wellbore during fracturing operations. This process technology eliminates the use of conventional diesel engines, transmissions along with their associated emissions, eco-footprint, maintenance issues and manpower.

Eldon Schelske, President, says, " A natural gas turbine generator provides the source of electrical power. This process allows us to power the entire system electrically, including our blenders and auxiliary equipment, giving us unprecedented levels of control during the fracturing process as well as enhanced safety features."

Todd Coli, Senior Vice President adds, "Natural gas is considered to be the cleanest, most efficient fuel source available. By designing and constructing "fit for purpose equipment", using a system that is powered by natural gas, it is expected that the fracturing footprint, manpower, and maintenance requirements can be reduced by over 60% when compared with traditional diesel-powered operations."

The advantages of electrically driven equipment become readily apparent when compared to conventional diesel powered fracturing assets. Safety concerns such as the need to "Hot Fuel" equipment are eliminated, manpower requirements are reduced dramatically, the overall footprint of the equipment package is reduced dramatically and the efficiency of the operation is increased exponentially. These advantages and others, along with an eco-friendly fuel source, give Evolution Well Services the ability to provide our customers an economical solution to the issues associated with large scale Fracturing operations worldwide.

About Evolution Well Services

Evolution Well Services is an oilfield technology company that provides the industry with state-of-the-art mobile, modular, electrically powered systems for use in hydraulic fracturing.

Image with caption: "Evolution Well Services advances fracturing operations with an electrically powered system (CNW Group/Evolution Well Services)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20120604_C5530_PHOTO_EN_14585.jpg

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Evolution Well Services Advances Fracturing Operations with an Electrically Powered System

Taiwan's leading personal computer maker Acer Monday took another shot at gaining a foothold in the tablet market, unveiling two new products running on Microsoft's much-anticipated Windows 8 operating system.

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Taiwan's Acer unveils tablets that use Windows 8

Feelings of betrayal dividing friends, lovers, and political allies have provided grist for Shakespeare and Verdi, among other great scrutinizers of the human condition.

It's intriguing to ponder what they would have made of the breakup between the Natural Resources Defense Council and Anschutz Entertainment Group, the would-be developer of a downtown Los Angeles football stadium.

Last September, the NRDC's Los Angeles office did the stadium developers a big favor by throwing its weight behind a gift bill streamlining the environmental review process for the stadium project, and only for the stadium project. The bill, SB 292, eliminated one whole level of court review otherwise provided for by the California Environmental Quality Act. For this project alone, litigation would have to start at the Court of Appeal level, rather than in the lower courts, and the judges would face tight deadlines. That was a big giveaway to the developers, for whom time is money.

The NRDC's involvement in the stadium project grows out of its interest in promoting mass transit and energy efficiency in urban communities, and therefore in seeing that the stadium be "green" in its construction and operational phases, and not encourage more automobile traffic. But its dalliance with the developers roiled environmentalists, many of whom are concerned about the impact of the huge project and anticipated going to court, if necessary, to make sure their views would be heard. The NRDC explained that it had negotiated several safeguards into SB 292, including the commitments from AEG.

"It was our assumption that some form of this would pass whether we liked it or not," NRDC Senior Attorney David Pettit, director of its Southern California air program, said at the time. "So we made the decision to be at the table rather than just say no. At the end of the day, we got what we wanted."

Plainly, NRDC now feels it did not get what it wanted. Earlier this month, Pettit complained in a letter to the city that the draft environmental impact report submitted by AEG for the stadium project lacks numerous commitments the builders had made to the group.

Studies that AEG promised to conduct of alternatives to bringing fans to the stadium by car were missing, for instance. Promises AEG made to the Clinton Global Initiative, a climate change program sponsored by the former president, were mysteriously scaled back; AEG told the Clinton group it would recycle 90% of solid waste produced during construction, NRDC says, but the draft report promises only 50%.

"We also have concerns about air quality, health risk, green construction practices and sustainability relating to the project," NRDC wrote.

"The letter does accurately portray that we're disappointed in what we see in the [draft environmental impact statement]," Pettit told me last week, "when you compare it to what AEG promised to do in connection with SB 292." This sounds like a tactful way of saying "we got rooked," though Pettit says he still favors the stadium project.

But he also acknowledges that the absence of some studies AEG had committed to conducting for the report means leaving the public in the dark about many of AEG's environmental plans. That's something that Pettit thought he had negotiated into SB 292 in return for shutting the courthouse door to the public at the ground floor.

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Hiltzik: An eco-stadium? Promises, promises

01-06-2012 09:45 In COD MW2 you have different kinds of people. I'll show you in this video what I mean. Clanbattle? check and challenge us! Probably you guys won't even dare, so... MUSIC: Rap song on the background: e-dubble - Sidelines Dubstep song with the BOSS ecosystem: Modestep - Sunlight

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MW2|| The NUUB MW2 ECOSYSTEM - Video