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On the Road Back to Rio, Green Direction Has Been Lost

noreply@blogger.com (Planet Berry) — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 12:26:00 +0000

Twenty years ago, an historic environmental summit in Rio de Janeiro produced groundbreaking treaties and high hopes that pressing issues would be addressed. But as organizers prepare for the Rio+20 conference in June, there is little on the agenda to suggest any substantive action will be taken.

It is easy to be cynical. Back in 1992, more than 100 world leaders, including George H.W. Bush, showed up for the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro. It was a two-week mega-event that attracted huge attention, highlighted by the signing of two groundbreaking treaties on climate change and biodiversity and grand declarations about creating a future green and equitable world.

To put it mildly, the subsequent two decades have not lived up to the promises. George W. Bush effectively broke the climate treaty signed by his father, refusing to sign up to the Kyoto Protocol. Emissions have soared, resource plundering has intensified, nature is still on the retreat, the world has become less equitable, and climate change has gone from distant prospect to frightening reality. While the population bomb may be being defused, the consumption bomb is primed to destroy us all.

The 1992 Rio summit's aspirations were left in the hands of a new body: the UN Commission on Sustainable Development (UNCSD). You have probably never heard of it. That's not a good sign, since the commission is now in charge of a new event, Rio+20, which is being billed as the next step in making the planet fit for future generations.

The truth is we have gone backwards in the last two decades.

Rio+20 will be held in the Brazilian megacity this June. It is hard to escape the conclusion that the hearts of our leaders are not in this. It will last for just three days (June 20-22), rather than the 14 days of its predecessor. President Obama isn't going. The organizers are so scared nobody of note will turn up that, when they learned a few months ago that the event would clash with Britain and its former empire celebrating Queen Elizabeth’s diamond jubilee, they postponed the summit for a week.

It probably won't help much. Even British Prime Minister David Cameron refused to take the hint and show any signs that he might attend.

It has to be said that maybe Cameron is right. The "zero draft text" (don't you just love UN-speak?) issued by the UNCSD at the end of January suggests leaders will not be asked to sign on to anything of substance that was not in the original Rio declaration 20 years ago. There will be no new treaties — plenty of pious words, but no action plan.

It is fine and good to call for a "green economy," of course. But as the Green Economy Coalition — a grouping of NGOs, research institutes, UN organizations, businesses and trade unions — puts it, the text fails to address the fundamental issues involved in achieving it. "How are we going to kick-start the finance of a green and fair economy?," the coalition asked in a statement issued last month. "How can we ensure the poorest benefit?… How will a green economy improve the management of our natural world?"

Many Western politicians may feel that the current economic crisis means that 2012 is not a good time to address environmental issues. But the counterargument is that rapacious use of the world's natural resources over the past 20 years is one reason we got into this mess — causing sharp rises in commodity prices, for instance — and that "green economics" is the only long-term solution.

We need new environmental governance. It's time to reboot the Rio+20 summit agenda.

The truth is that we have gone backwards in the past two decades. The growing power of big developing nations like China and Brazil is often putting the international agenda on sustainability into reverse. Their governments see even current weak international guidelines on social and environmental standards in development projects, such as those developed by the World Bank, as undermining their national sovereignty and impeding economic development, rather than enhancing and sustaining them.

As a result, notes Andy White, coordinator of the Washington-based Rights and Resources Initiative, "there is nothing in the draft Rio+20 text that even mentions the rights of poor people to their land and their forests, even though we know they are far better custodians of nature than governments or private corporations."

Tinkering with business as usual is not enough. What is needed is new environmental governance for a crowded planet running on empty. It is time to reboot the Rio+20 summit agenda.

The world's environmental scientists are doing their best. They know best how the planet's life support systems have deteriorated since 1992 and the imminent dangers of runaway ecological and climatic disaster.

The International Council for Science (ICSU), which represents science bodies in 140 countries including the U.S. National Academy of Science, has organized a meeting in London in March to put pressure on the politicians to get real in Rio. The event, Planet Under Pressure, is one of the formal pre-Rio preparatory meetings, and it won't pull its punches.

The starting point for the scientists, says ICSU, is that "stark increases in natural disasters, food and water security problems, and biodiversity loss are just part of the evidence that humanity may be crossing planetary boundaries and approaching dangerous tipping points."

We need something like a UN environmental security council to drag us back from the tipping points.

The March conference will hear, for instance, how researchers are developing early warning systems to spot those approaching tipping points. If such systems had been in place 40 years ago, they might have warned of the sudden emergence of the ozone hole over Antarctica. A decade ago, they might have predicted the collapse of Arctic sea ice. Next up could be the explosive growth of nitrogen-gorged "dead zones" in the oceans, or runaway emissions of methane from melting permafrost.

But the scientists don't just want to predict disasters. They want to stop them. To do that, they will insist that politicians have to be wrenched from their comfort zones. New priorities will require new institutions and new actors. Frank Biermann of the Free University Amsterdam, who heads ICSU's Earth System Governance Project, will tell the conference that incremental steps will not be sufficient and that "we have to reorient and restructure our national and international institutions."

We need, he says, a "constitutional moment… akin to the major transformative shift after 1945 that led to the establishment of the United Nations and other international organizations," like the World Bank. At the very least we need something like a UN environmental security council — with real muscle to call the big polluters, ecosystem trashers, and resource plunderers to account and to drag us back from those tipping points.

Climate change will affect most people's lives most dramatically through changes to the water cycle, with wet areas set to become wetter and dry areas drier. So, to take one specific recommendation, the scientists want Rio+20 to pledge a new system of global water governance that would be charged with protecting international rivers for downstream users and maintaining irreplaceable underground water reserves for future generations.

Rio+20 needs to give teeth to its predecessor's vague promises about sustainable development.

Thankfully — for they do not always do this — the scientists have embraced a democratic vision that wants the environment to work for people. The new environmental governance, ICSU says, needs to build greater
resilience for humans to survive what is almost certainly looming, especially for the poorest, who need protection from climate change, food shortages, natural disasters, and failed states. That means developing crops that are more drought tolerant, helping poor communities prudently harvest forests and other ecosystems for their own day-to-day needs, and ensuring that communities are better protected against floods and other natural disasters.

Other independent researchers take a similar view about the need for Rio+20 to give teeth to its predecessor's vague promises about sustainable development. Alex Evans of New York University's Center on International Cooperation, a co-founder of globaldashboard.org, says Rio+20 needs to address three fundamental challenges. The first is the greening of growth, especially in emerging economies — "not because they have the greatest responsibility, but because they have the greatest opportunities to be laboratories of the future."

The second is creating greater equity in a world of growing tensions over access to energy, land, water, and the diminishing "carbon space" in the atmosphere if we are successfully to tackle climate change. The third is building resilience to inevitable shocks, whether from crossing thresholds in natural systems or from market dysfunction, as food and other resources grow scarce.

Evans agrees this is unlikely to be achieved by existing world leaders alone. Nor should it be. The world's seven billion people need to be asked what they think. That's us. Evans proposes harnessing the Web for an instant "global outsourcing process" during the 100 days leading up to the summit. Starting with the scientists' conference, those hundred days could rewrite the politicians' flaccid agenda, and pick peoples' delegates to attend on behalf of the real world.

The summit badly needs outside input. Right now, the official Rio+20 agenda and draft text show few signs that politicians are willing to go beyond the green-sounding rhetoric we heard from their predecessors in the same city two decades ago. It wasn't enough then. It certainly isn't enough now.

Article by Fred Pearce, appearing courtesy Yale Environment 360.

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AORA Cuts Blue Ribbon on Europe's First Hybrid Micro CSP Demonstration

noreply@blogger.com (Planet Berry) — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 12:21:00 +0000

The AORA Tulip was launched Feb 7, 2012 in Almeria, Spain

I had the privilege of being at the unveiling of the first hybrid modular concentrated solar power (CSP) system to operate in Europe. AORA had developed and launched this incredible "Tulip System" – located at the expansive Platforma Solar de Almeria (PSA) outside the southern Spanish city of Almeria. This appealing renewable energy infrastructure using modular and affordable CSP systems, can be deployed either off-grid or on the grid.

Four things are particularly impressive regarding the launch of this particular CSP platform:

The electricity generated from this system is regarded as "utility-grade" energy
The system will distribute clean electricity 24/7
In the absence of sunshine, electricity is still generated
The entire plant is a compact modular design

As Pinchas Doron, AORA's chief technology officer, said, "It's not a power plant, it's an energy solution." This technology is unprecedented and may be the solution to numerous energy requirements worldwide.

Tulip's solar thermal technology has been configured in compact, modular units of 100kWe each. The net result is a scalable model, which can be configured for many different applications, and budgets.

As Donon pointed out, developers will be able to build renewable energy solutions in phases, without having to go through extraordinary financial stages required for building most renewable energy systems, especially ones that can deliver utility grade electricity.

AORA puts it this way:

"The modularity of the system enables a constant supply of electricity, even while individual units are undergoing repairs or routine maintenance."

The Tulip can operate 24/7 by using alternative fuels to continue powering the micro turbine housed on the inside of the tulip. As such, quick response heat augmentation provides a constant in heat input to the turbine that produces electricity.

The Tulip is fed by 52 tracking mirrors – commonly referred to as heliostats – which are located on 2,000 square meters, or about half an acre. The tower has a height of 35 meters (about 120 feet).

The Tulip may be a first for Europe but a predecessor to the Almeria platform already operates in Israel and feeds power to the grid, says Doron.

More will be written in coming issues about the impressive Tulip system, including detailed looks at how this solar technology operates, how much it costs, and where it might next be seen.

Source: CleanTechnica

T3 Motion Launches International Consumer Electric Vehicle Line

noreply@blogger.com (Planet Berry) — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 12:17:00 +0000

Yes, we’ve mentioned these interesting electric vehicles (EVs) before. They probably aren’t for everyone, but what is? T3 Motion has traditionally provided these EVs to security companies and police forces around the world (as well as the Pentagon, CIA, and FBI), but it has determined that it’s worth bringing them to the international consumer market now, as well.

T3 Motion is unveiling itsÂ international consumer product line this week at the Big Boys Toys show inÂ Dubai.

“We have made great headway with law enforcement in the UAE and theÂ Middle East, opening the door for a successful launch into the consumer market as a luxury brand,” stated Ki Nam, T3 Motion CEO.

And luxury is one of the key words there. Last time I posted on these, a commenter noted that they seemed to be selling for aboutÂ $12,500 each in contracts with US police departments in 2009. I haven’t seen prices on the consumer model yet, but there’s this note from T3 MotionÂ on a page for the product: “With an operating cost of less than a penny per mile, T3 products can achieve the equivalent of over 400 miles per gallon of gasoline, allowing users to have fun without high fuel costs and emissions.”

Here’s some more info on the vehicle from the company:

“The T3 Power Sport product is 100% electric, powered by lithium-polymer batteries that have the capability to drive up to 40 miles on a single charge. The vehicle touts a highly customizable look, incorporating customizable colors, graphics, and even offers optional camera/GPS and iPhone/iPad docking stations. Additionally, the T3 Power sport product has a top speed of 12 mph, an elevated 9-inch platform and high intensity LED lighting.”

Electric Vehicle:	Zero gas emissions, Clean energy vehicle
Easy to Operate:	Simple and intuitive to drive
Economical:	Operates for less than one penny per mile
Unlimited Range:	Field swap-able battery modules
Charge Time:	3 – 4 hours
Enhanced Visibility:	9-inch raised platform offers visibility above the crowd
Agility:	0-degree turning radius
Integrated LED Lighting:	Headlights, Brakelights, Running lights, and Emergency lights
Speed Range:	User Selectable — 5 mph, 8 mph, 10 mph, 12 mph
Load Capacity:	400 pounds (rider + equipment)
Street Legal:	Classified as an electric bicycle–legal in most states
Driver’s License:	Not required (check local listings)
Vehicle registration:	Not required (check local listings)

Source: CleanTechnica

New iPhone 4S Siri commercials take you on a Road Trip and call your Rock God

noreply@blogger.com (Planet Berry) — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 02:53:00 +0000

Apple has released two new iPhone 4S ads, and like most of the previous commercials, they focus on Siri, the virtual personal assistant.

Road Trip shows a couple planning a cross-country trip, and using Siri to learn the best route, to find the best barbecue and find out about rodeos along the way, to find out where they are, to learn how big the Grand Canyon is, to find gas stations within walking distance (d’oh!), to learn what the constellation Orion looks like, and to remind them to do it all again.

Rock God shows a young man planning a music carrier, and using Siri to find out where to buy a guitar, how to play certain songs, creating lists of potential band names, to send messages to the ladies about when and where his band will be practicing, and to call him “Rock God”.

With Siri still in beta, there have been arguments raised against Apple making it the staple feature of their iPhone 4S advertising, saying it doesn’t work in real life anywhere nearly as well. However, Siri is also the most impressive, most demonstrable, most advertise-able feature of the new iPhone.

Source: iMore - The #1 iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch blog

Optimizing Solar Projects to Maximize Return on Investment (ROI)

noreply@blogger.com (Planet Berry) — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 00:27:00 +0000

The solar industry is facing new realities as the economics of solar are changing. Predicting photovoltaic (PV) panel pricing is 'iffy' at best. The US Treasury 1603 cash grants are history. Optimizing the energy produced and making the most of available land have become increasingly important as investors and project developers look for a viable economic model to maximize ROI. With fossil fuel energy prices on the rise, government incentives for solar wavering, and a solar trade war being waged over the price of Chinese solar panels – delivering innovative, high-performing solar power solutions is more critical now than ever before.

Source: Renewable Energy News - RenewableEnergyWorld.com

Solar Panels From Grass Clippings: Researchers Make Progress on "Biophotovoltaics"

noreply@blogger.com (Planet Berry) — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 00:22:00 +0000

It's chore day. You've raked the leaves, taken out the recycling, and emptied out the old junk in your garage. But wait — don't toss it all out! You have all the ingredients for your very own homemade solar system.

Source: Renewable Energy News - RenewableEnergyWorld.com

Connecticut to Vote on New Residential Solar Program

noreply@blogger.com (Planet Berry) — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 00:20:00 +0000

Homeowners in Connecticut will soon have access to a new pool of funds to help them go solar, if the CT Clean Energy Finance and Investment Authority (CEFIA) Board of Directors is feeling the love at their Valentine’s Day meeting.

The new incentive program was authorized in a broader state energy bill passed in July 2011, which established CEFIA as a new quasi-public agency to replace the Connecticut Clean Energy Fund. The Residential Solar Investment Program builds on the success of Connecticut's existing solar rebate program, which has been fully subscribed.

As proposed, the new program will feature:

An expected performance based buy-down (EPBB) for PV systems purchased outright

A performance-based incentive (PBI) for systems that are leased to the homeowner or that the homeowner buys the electricity from under a power purchase agreement (aka third-party-owned systems)

Open access of all incentive funds to both systems purchased outright, and third-party owned systems. This means the money will flow to whichever financing model consumers prefer.

A transparent, web-based incentive application and tracking system supported by innovations in metering and monitoring technology

A marketing program designed to lower customer acquisition costs for solar contractors

We like CEFIA's inclusive approach to incentive program planning and think they've worked with stakeholders to come up with a pretty smart design. Now we've asked the CEFIA Board to give the green light on Tuesday so Connecticut homeowners can start putting these funds to work!

Read more about the program here. Voice your support to CEFIA with an email.

Doesn’t get much more romantic than that!

Source: Vote Solar

DOE Requests Information on Commercial Readiness of Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technologies

noreply@blogger.com (Planet Berry) — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 00:17:00 +0000

The U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Fuel Cell Technologies Program has issued an RFI (Request for Information) seeking feedback from stakeholders regarding the commercial readiness of fuel cell and hydrogen technologies.

DOE is interested in industry information about transportation electrification using fuel cells, specifically on board refrigeration auxiliary power for heavy duty road vehicles, fuel cell rechargers for battery electric vehicles used for transporting cargo or passengers, and technology deployment opportunities for other on- or off-road transportation markets.

The governmental agency said in order for fuel cell costs become lower, we'll need to see higher volume deployments in emerging markets. The Program collaborates with industry to overcome hurdles related to this technology and its economics, with hopes it will eventually become a commercial reality.

To help the DOE, click here. The deadline is 11:59pm EST on March 2, 2012.

Article by Antonio Pasolini, a Brazilian writer and video art curator based in London, UK. He holds a BA in journalism and an MA in film and television.

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Mass Effect: Infiltrator coming to iPad and iPhone, will offer unlockable content for console game

noreply@blogger.com (Planet Berry) — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 14:55:00 +0000

Gamers in the house will be well aware that Mass Effect 3 is launching next month, and it will be adding a lot of new tricks to the established sci-fi game franchise. One of those tricks is going to be a third-person shooter for iPad and iPhone called Mass Effect: Infiltrator, and playing it will not only be a lot of fun in its own right, but will advance your progress in the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and PC game as well. As far as I’m concerned, this is the single best implementation of cross-platform gaming I’ve seen to date.

I’ve seen way too many game developers simply try to drag and drop the experience from consoles and PCs to mobile, but it’s obvious that Mass Effect’s developer, BioWare, understands that gaming on mobile is a different experience. Infiltrator looks like it will still be action-packed, but the fact is, gamers aren’t going to be spending hours on end playing it as they might on their proper gaming rigs. Datapad in particular looks like it will be a great way to stay involved in the game even if you can’t dedicate the laser focus needed for pitched combat. The closest any other developer has come to giving this high-quality interplay between gaming platforms is Call of Duty: Elite, and even that hinged on a subscription service to get the full functionality.

Mass Effect: Infiltrator involves rescuing prisoners from a human supremacist group on a hostile arctic planet, while collecting evidence to advance a war effort spanning lightyears. You’ll find a bunch of the same weapons and powers in Infiltrator as you would in any Mass Effect game, and likewise, you’ll be able to unlock items in the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, or PC versions of the game by playing on your iPhone or iPad.

Gameplay in Mass Effect 3 will be extended in multiple directions through a system they’re calling Galaxy at War. The game’s single-player story involves you fighting an intergalactic threat called the Reapers. By playing Mass Effect: Infiltrator on iOS (or co-operative multiplayer in the full game) you increase a score called Galactic Readiness, which will ultimately influence the final conclusion of the core campaign against the Reapers. There will also be an iOS app called Datapad to keep tabs on your Galaxy at War progress, and allow you to deploy troops to particular regions of space, as well as get messages from in-game characters.

Combined with the cool Xbox Kinect controls Mass Effect 3 is going to offer, I’ll be having a really hard time saying “no” to this game when it comes out March 6. Be sure to check out some of the sweet trailers at BioWare’s site.

Source: BioWare, IntoMobile, Kotaku

Source: iMore - The #1 iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch blog

Anti-Obesity Drug Now In Clinical Trials May Cause Rapid Bone Loss

noreply@blogger.com (Planet Berry) — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 14:51:00 +0000

An endocrine hormone used in clinical trials as an anti-obesity and anti-diabetes drug causes significant and rapid bone loss in mice, raising concerns about its safe use, UT Southwestern Medical Center researchers have shown...

Source: Diabetes News From Medical News Today

NLP Solar Sales Training Live Webinar February 22nd & 23rd

noreply@blogger.com (Planet Berry) — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 12:31:00 +0000

Source: Renewable Energy News - RenewableEnergyWorld.com

Community Solar – Trending in 2012

noreply@blogger.com (Planet Berry) — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 12:26:00 +0000

As the home of some pioneering community solar projects, Maryland's clean energy champions are seeking to establish a platform on which these renewable energy arrangements can flourish.

Recently introduced as Senate Bill 595, state lawmakers will be considering a proposal that would enable Maryland residents and small-businesses to join together in sharing the costs and benefits of renewable energy.

Most commonly conceived as a single renewable energy system in which individuals can invest in a portion of a facility's clean generating potential, these arrangements offer a direct experience for those unable to install on-site renewable energy. For those that have a shaded roof or rent, community solar offer the promise of renewable energy access.

As an increasing number of jurisdictions look to broaden accessibility to the solar economy through this concept (e.g., here), we applaud these efforts for bringing solar into the mainstream. We look forward to this trend.

Hats off to Maryland for getting out of the gate early.

Vote Solar is a non-profit grassroots organization working to fight climate change and foster economic opportunity by bringing solar energy into the mainstream.

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10 Fastest-Growing Solar Cities in California

noreply@blogger.com (Planet Berry) — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 12:21:00 +0000

While solar is blooming fast in many other states now, California’s still the U.S. leader and continues to install solar at a rapid clip. There is actually hardly a country on earth with as much solar as is installed in California.

PV Solar Report, “an authority on California solar market data,” and SunRun, “the nation's leading home solar company,” recently released a list* of the California cities growing the fastest in solar power installations.Â It’s a list, not much more than that, but who doesn’t love a list!

But here are some insights from SunRun and PV Solar Report on the rankings before revealing the list below:

“While steady solar growth continues in traditional solar hot beds like San Jose, new solar leaders like Hemet and Apple Valley indicate increasing solar adoption on a broader geographic scale. In addition, the majority of homeowners in these cities chose to go solar without buying the panels, known as solar power service.” (In other words, as reported many times here on CleanTechnica, solar leasing is popular… like it or not.)

“For example, top city San Jose had 648 homeowners choose solar service in 2011 versus 312 opting for panel purchase. In December 2011 solar power service was over 70% of the home solar market.”

SunRun is eager to note that it invented this solar option way back in 2007 and leads the market with about twice the market share of the next largest provider. But here are the really amazing statistics, in my opinion: “SunRun now installs over $1.5 million in solar every day, completing one rooftop installation every 11 minutes of the business day by letting American families switch to solar without spending $30,000 or more to buy panels.” Wow, $1.5 million/day, one rooftop every 11 minutes! Impressive.

Now, though, let’s get to the top 10 list!

San Jose
Bakersfield
Simi Valley
Lancaster
Fresno
Corona
Murrieta
Rocklin
Hemet
Apple Valley

*The list is “based on the California Solar Initiative’s (CSI) database of residential rebate reservations for calendar year 2011.”

Source: Business Wire
California solar roof installation viaÂ Lauren Wellicome

No related posts.

Source: CleanTechnica

Google Tops Cool IT Climate Ranking

noreply@blogger.com (Planet Berry) — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 12:17:00 +0000

OK, full disclosure, I’m a huge Google fan. I love Google+, Gmail, Google Docs, Google Reader,.. and have you ever tried to do a search in something other than Google?! Additionally, it’s a clear clean energy leader. So, I’m both happy and not surprised at all to see that it is topping Greenpeace’s latest Cool IT ranking of IT companies,… based on how green they are, of course.

Greenpeace released theÂ 5th edition of its Cool IT Leaderboard today, February 8 (India time, since it was released inÂ New Delhi, India). The analysis evaluates 21 major IT companies, and it’s the first time Google has topped the list.

You can see in the graphic above that it Google got big points for its energy impact. No doubt, this was largely due to the numerous big investments it has made in solar and wind energy. It was no laggard in the other two categories either, though (compared to other companies, that is). “Google topped the table for its clear support of stronger US clean energy policy and the strengthening of the EU's current 20% greenhouse gas target of 30% by 2020,” Greenpeace writes.Â I imagine it also got some points for its support of geothermal energy research in the US.

"Technology giants have a real opportunity to use their power and influence to change how we produce and use energy – Google tops the table because it's putting its money where its mouth is by pumping investment into renewable energy," said Greenpeace International IT analyst Gary Cook. "The IT sector might like to consider itself forward-thinking, but it is keeping far too quiet while the dirty energy industry continues to exert undue influence on both the political process and financial markets."

Yep, I know we all love our new technologies, but the IT industry really needs to step it up in this regard. A big thanks to Greenpeace for making this push.

Some More IT 2012 Leaders

Overall, Google is the clear winner. But, a couple of other companies led in certain sectors.

“Japanese telecommunications company Softbank has received the Leaderboard's highest political advocacy score ever for its post-Fukushima Japan, demand for a rapid shift towards renewable energy and away from nuclear power.”
“Google, Cisco, and Dell all stand out for sourcing over 20% renewable energy globally for each company's infrastructures.”

Meanwhile, Oracle was a huge flop, receiving the lowest ranking overall for not supplying any info on its renewable or dirty energy use. Also, notably absent is a certain company with the odd name of Apple and the world-leading social networking site Facebook (heard of that one?).

Greenpeace explains:

Apple was not included because its efforts do not meet the Leaderboard criteria;

It has Â not demonstrated leadership or elected to pursue market opportunities to drive IT energy solutions that many of its competitors have,Â despite record profits and large cash reserves.

Yikes!

Facebook was not included in the previous Leaderboard for similar reasons, but has recently changed its policies and committed to a renewably powered Facebook (9), and announced a partnership with Opower to use the Facebook platform to help its users compare their energy usage.Â Facebook will be included in next year's Leaderboard (10).

Looking forward to seeing how it’s ranked.

Drop in Advocacy

I was expecting this—I haven’t seen almost anything in the news about IT climate advocacy this past year, and Greenpeace took note of that, commenting that it “found a significant drop-off in policy advocacy leadership by IT companies.”

"The IT industry must use its influence, innovative spirit and technological know-how to overcome the dirty energy companies who are holding on to the status quo, and holding us back from a transition to a renewable energy economy," said Cook. "What we're seeing is a lot of talk from companies about moving toward clean energy, but so far, not much of action."

You can see in the graphic at the top that the overall rankings had these companies as the top 10:

1. Google
2. Cisco
3. Ericcson & Fujitsu (tie)
5. Vodafone
6. Alcatel-Lucent
7. Sharp & Softbank (tie)
9. Microsoft
10. HP

Source: Greenpeace

Source: CleanTechnica

Fotopedia Women of the World for iPhone and iPad is a tribute to the diversity, beauty and strength of women on this earth

noreply@blogger.com (Planet Berry) — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 02:55:00 +0000

“Women make up 50% of the global population, 40% of the global workforce, yet women own only 1% of the world’s wealth”. This fact is the first thing you read upon launching Fotopedia Women of the World before diving into this tribute to the diversity, beauty and strength of women on this earth.

Fotopedia Womeon of the World is filled with hundreds of beautiful images and stories of women from 75 different countries. Through photographer Olivier Martel’s art, you will witness the fighting spirit of these women in the face of human, political, religious or dramatic events. In her words,

It’s about giving people their dignity in a photographic homage that takes the form of a search for beauty.

Some of the women you will discover in Fotopedia Women of the world include a woman whose daughter had just been saved from malaria, girl-soldiers in Mozambique, nuns in the convents in France, and Ivory Coast healers who are feared for their power.

This is a must have app for any photojournalism lover. Even if you don’t have time to read all the stories or flick through every photo, Fotopedia has equipped the app with a slideshow so that you can enjoy seeing the images displayed on your iPhone or iPad while going about your day.

Free – Download Now

Source: iMore - The #1 iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch blog

Sh*t People Say to Photogs

noreply@blogger.com (Planet Berry) — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 02:51:00 +0000

You may have seen our post about Sh*t PhotoGraphers Say and now there is finally a video about things that people say to photographers. See if you recognize any of the things said in this video. If so, let us know!

Source: SilberStudios.tv

A Shining Star of Bipartisan Cleantech Support

noreply@blogger.com (Planet Berry) — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 00:27:00 +0000

Amid all the negative publicity that Solyndra’s failure has brought to the Administration’s cleantech efforts, one cleantech program has received broad bipartisan support: DOE’s Advanced Research Projects Agency – Energy (ARPA-e). In 2012, ARPA-e will receive $275 million, a 53 percent increase from the prior year with

Source: Renewable Energy News - RenewableEnergyWorld.com

Assessing the Risks in Solar Project Development

noreply@blogger.com (Planet Berry) — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 00:22:00 +0000

Over the next four years, 5.7 GW of utility-scale solar PV projects is expected to be built in the U.S. and another 1.3 GW in Canada for a total of 7 GW. Both amounts represent a significantly larger volume than what has been installed to date and is expected to be the dominating type of solar installation for that period of time. Yet, 7 GW only represent a fraction of the total capacity of large-scale solar PV projects initiated and under development in the same period, illustrating that solar project development still is a high-risk undertaking.

Source: Renewable Energy News - RenewableEnergyWorld.com

Webinar: How to effectively participate in the FHFA rulemaking process on PACE

noreply@blogger.com (Planet Berry) — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 00:19:00 +0000

A recent court decision has forced the Federal Housing and Finance Authority to initiate an official rulemaking process and allow for stakeholder input in regards to its actions on PACE energy financing programs. This gives PACE advocates an opportunity to rebut misinformation, set the record straight, and make the case for PACE on the merits.

To help folks participate in the rulemaking, PACENow, NRDC, and Vote Solar are hosting a webinar. This webinar will describe the court order, explain the rulemaking process, and provide participants with the information and tools necessary to effectively participate in the process.
The webinar is designed for city and state officials, renewables and energy efficiency professionals, advocacy groups, and concerned citizens.

Wednesday, February 15
10:30–11:30 PST / 1:30–2:30 EST

To register:
https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/440604225

Your go-to for more information:
http://pacenow.org/blog/

Please share widely–the more participants the better.

Source: Vote Solar

Top Ten Sustainability Initiatives of Kroger

noreply@blogger.com (Planet Berry) — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 00:18:00 +0000

The Kroger Co., often just referred to as Kroger, is a popular American supermarket chain first founded in 1883 in the Ohio city of Cincinnati. It is one of the largest grocery store chains in the United States with more than 3,600 stores. Kroger comes in a variety of shapes and sizes, including supermarkets, department stores, hypermarkets, and convenience stores. Just like a majority of other supermarket chains throughout the United States, Kroger is taking a number of necessary steps to bump up its sustainability record and become more environmentally friendly. This includes opening up a lot of recycling ports in grocery stores and initiating a program to limit the utilization of plastic bags for groceries. Listed below are just a few of the ways that Kroger is taking a stand to become more sustainable and protect the environment for generations to come.

1 ) Sustainable Seafood Policy. As one of the largest traditional grocery retailers in the United States, Kroger realizes the important role it plays in the responsible sourcing of all seafood for products. As such, Kroger will not purchase seafood that has been illegally caught or comes from unregulated fisheries. In 2009, Kroger partnered with the World Wildlife Fund to find adequate sustainable fisheries to source seafood from. Kroger also complies with the Global Aquaculture Alliance's Best Aquaculture Practices Program in regards to industry accepted guidelines for all farmed raised seafood.

2 ) Carbon Footprint and Energy Reduction. Kroger has been using a lot of new technology in their stores to increase energy efficiency and decrease their carbon footprint. For example, all stores built after the year 2000 consumer 30 percent less energy. All stores are equipped with LED lighting and motion sensors. There are also skylights to increase natural lighting, control systems for all HVAC and lighting systems, and a number of Energy Star appliances.

3 ) Reducing Waste. One of the primary sustainability priorities for Kroger's is waste. Since 2010, the grocery chain has been making a number of strides in reducing waste, including reducing packaging, diverting waste from landfills, and recycling plastic bags. For example, all food scraps from meat and deli departments are picked up by local companies along with old produce to be composted. As well in 2010, Kroger manufacturing plants have been able to reduce waste sent to landfills by more than 20 million pounds – a 30 percent reduction since 2009.

4 ) Reducing Plastic Bag Use. Kroger is always looking for ways to reduce the number of plastic bags used and help customers make the transition to reusable bags. By 2014, Kroger wants to save one billion plastic bags via education, signage, and aiding in changing customer habits. Kroger has a "Fill the Bag" training to teach employees how to optimally fill plastic grocery bags so not too many are used, reducing the number of plastic bags at retail locations. In 2011, over five million reusable bags were sold.

5 ) Transportation Efficiency. Kroger is always looking for new, more efficient ways to transport products to stores throughout the United States. The company's fleet consists of 8,200 trailers and 1,200 tractors, plus there are over 2,500 third party tractors and trailers utilized for product deliveries. By 2010, Kroger was able to improve fleet efficiency by almost ten percent. The goal is to improve total fleet efficiency by 40 percent by the year 2014 by employing fuel-saving strategies, routine maintenance to ensure all equipment is at peak performance, and reducing the total number of miles traveled.

6 ) Food Safety. Kroger believes food safety to be a top priority in all stores; ensuring customers receive fresh, wholesome, and safe food. The supermarket chain has put in place a number of best practices to ensure the safety of all food items. For example, bi-monthly food safety review audits are done in every store to ensure food safety.

7 ) Animal Welfare. Kroger has made a strong commitment to their business practices, including the human treatment of all animals from the farm to the table. Kroger does not currently operate farms or animal processing facilities, but ensure that all suppliers meet the Food Marketing Institute's Animal Welfare standards and guidelines.

8 ) Renewable Energy. In 2010, Kroger completed its very first wind energy project with two new installed wind turbines in Lancaster, Pennsylvania for Kroger's Turkey Hill Dairy. The turbines will supply 25 percent of all annual electricity needs, enough to produce 15 million gallons of ice tea and six million gallons of ice cream. In terms of solar energy, in 2011 Kroger completed the first phase of installing solar photovoltaic systems on the roofs of four stores and one distribution center. It will produce around 900 kilowatts of solar energy capacity.

9 ) Customer Sustainability. Kroger Manufacturing operates a number of certified organic processing facilities. Kroger has also partnered with HarvestMark to enable customers to learn about where produce sold at all Kroger stores is grown. Kroger also works with a number of local farmers and suppliers to provide locally produced goods to all grocery stores. Customers can look for "locally grown and produced" signs around the stores.

10 ) Portland Kroger LEEDs the Way. A Kroger store in Portland, Oregon was able to reach LEED Silver Certification as it reached the environmental sustainability guidelines set up by the United States Green Building Council. It is the first store to achieve this rating and features items like increased insulation along exterior walls to decrease energy costs, water-saving fixtures in kitchens and bathrooms, skylights, efficient refrigeration and ventilation systems, and concrete floors that do not necessitate chemicals for cleaning. While the renovations cost more than normal renovations, the store will make it back tenfold in energy savings. According to Justin Doak, the manager of the LEED for Retail program, "[Supermarket] energy bills are so high because of refrigeration that they are constantly looking for ways to become more efficient. So, it's a little more money upfront in construction costs but tremendous savings in the long run. And it's the right thing for the environment."

Article by Shawn Lesser, Co-founder & Managing Partner of Atlanta-based Watershed Capital Group – an investment bank assisting sustainable fund and companies raise capital, perform acquisitions, and in other strategic financial decisions. He is also a Co-founder of the GCCA Global Cleantech Cluster Association "The Global Voice of Cleantech". He writes for various cleantech publications and is known as the David Letterman of Cleantech for his "Top 10″ series. He can be reached at shawn@watershedcapital.com.

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Hasbro's new Lazer Tag guns use your iPhone or iPod touch for augmented reality and heads up display

noreply@blogger.com (Planet Berry) — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 14:53:00 +0000

Hasbro has announced that its next release of Lazer Tag guns will use your iPhone or iPod touch to provide augmented reality and a heads up display. The Lazer Tag guns can accept an iPhone or iPod touch which is slotted into the gun in a purpose made holder. The user can then download an app from the App Store which can keep track of your gear, power levels and also setup multiplayer games with up to 23 other players.

To experience the LAZER TAG game, players download the free LAZER TAG app to their iPhone or iPod touch device, connect their device to their LAZER TAG blaster, and find themselves immersed in a world where video games and real life connect. Using either single or multi-player mode, players can engage in a LAZER TAG match featuring either real life worlds or virtual opponents. Each LAZER TAG blaster equipped with a device has a virtual firing range of over 250 feet and contains a ‘Heads Up Display’, or HUD, which allows players to keep track of their gear and remaining power, while also providing a view of the augmented reality targets and enemies in the area. A virtual leaderboard keeps track of each player’s profile and, with every successful mission, players will gain in-game access to upgradeable attacks, missions and gear. With LAZER TAG blasters, the stakes are high, the game is real. Don’t just play it, live it.

The Lazer Tag system is a very popular game for many but the thought of letting your children run around the streets with your iPhone or iPod touch inside their gun is not that appealing. These guns probably take a lot of stick and get thrown around a lot too, hopefully the holder within the gun will offer plenty of protection for the iPhone or iPod touch.

The Lazer Tag blasters will be available in August this year. A single gun will cost around $39.99. The app will be available as a few download.

Source: Engadget

Source: iMore - The #1 iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch blog

Nearly Half of Electricity at UK Businesses Wasted During Off Hours

noreply@blogger.com (Planet Berry) — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 12:27:00 +0000

A UK report says that nearly half of the electricity consumed by British businesses is wasted when employees are not at work.

In an analysis of more than 6,000 smart meters, British Gas found that 46 percent of electricity use occurs from 6 p.m. to 8 a.m., when most businesses are typically closed. Common examples of unnecessary electricity use include the lighting of parking areas during weekends, keeping the lights on at retail stores even after shopping centers are closed, and running vending machines around the clock.

The UK utility also released a series of thermal images illustrating how much energy is lost from energy-inefficient buildings in London, Manchester, and Liverpool during the evening hours. According to British Gas, the average business could save £1,200 ($1,900) on its annual electricity bill by simply switching off the lights at parking lots during weekends.

A recent report by Oxford University's Environmental Change Institute suggested that reducing energy waste will be a critical component of UK efforts to achieve its climate change targets.

Article appearing courtesy Yale Environment 360.

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Source: CleanTechies Blog - CleanTechies.com

Stanford Geophysicist: More Environmental Rules Needed for Shale Gas

noreply@blogger.com (Planet Berry) — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 12:21:00 +0000

Gas drilling tower on the Marcellus shale

We recently decided to team up with Stanford in order to get more of their valuable work and resources out to the public. This first piece is not a typical subject for CleanTechnica, and it’s a highly controversial one. For the most part, we’ve torn into the problems associated with natural gas production today. The following piece is a much more gas-friendly one, but it’s also promotes taking a cautious approach to natural gas production (something that looks like it’s going to happen whether we like it or not) and is focused on the opinions of a true natural gas expert and scientist not associated with any natural gas companies. I almost passed on publishing this one, but I think it is really worth a read, so check it out:

In his State of the Union address, President Barack Obama praised the potential of the country’s tremendous supply of natural gas buried in shale. He echoed the recommendations for safe extraction made by an advisory panel that included Stanford geophysicist Mark Zoback. The panel made 20 recommendations for regulatory reform, some of which go well beyond what the president mentioned in his address.

The topic is controversial. Breaking up rock layers thousands of feet underground with hydraulic fracturing has unleashed so many minuscule bubbles of methane that shale gas now accounts for 30 percent of U.S. gas production, an increase in supply that has pummeled the commodity’s price. The gas industry will support more than 600,000 jobs by the end of the decade, Obama said.

But environmental concerns about the technology behind the boom – specifically hydraulic fracturing – receive near daily news coverage, with opponents saying that toxic additives in the water used for the fracturing have found their way into household tap water, among other concerns.

Obama said natural gas producers will have to reveal the chemicals they add to the fracturing slurry of water and sand when they are working on federal lands. The Secretary of Energy’s seven-person advisory group on shale gas, of which Zoback was a member, called for such disclosure by shale gas operators on all lands. The advisory group further recommended that data on a well-by-well basis be posted on publicly available, searchable websites.

“The problem is that the president only has jurisdiction over federal lands, while states regulate development on private land, where most of the shale formations are found,” Zoback said. “The so-called ‘Halliburton exclusion’ passed by Congress says gas companies don’t have to disclose the chemicals in fracturing fluids. That was a real mistake because it makes the public needlessly paranoid.”

Real Problem: Dealing With Used Water

The chemical additives used during hydraulic fracturing are really not a serious issue, Zoback said at the Precourt Institute for Energy‘s weekly Energy Seminar. The problem lies elsewhere: Once operators inject water into the shale, it can pick up naturally occurring selenium, arsenic and iron, a lot of salt and even radioactive particles. Thus, when this water flows back up the well, it must be disposed of properly. What gas companies do with that water is a serious regulatory problem. Typically, they either reuse it or inject it into deep saline aquifers, Zoback said, and regulators must monitor the safe disposal of the water.

“In western Pennsylvania, the gas companies initially said that recycling water used for hydraulic fracturing couldn’t be done economically,” Zoback said. “But because there were really no good options for safe disposal, they now recycle 95 percent of the water used, and it’s not a big deal.” Scientists and engineers still have much to learn about the rapidly expanding technology, Zoback said.

“I think it is fair to say that the bigger producers have no problem with our 20 recommendations. The question is whether state regulators will implement them and whether small companies will be forced to follow them as well as large ones,” Zoback said. “That’s of great concern to us.”

Federal R&D Funding Success

Obama cited shale gas development as justification for federal investments in clean energy technology, which have been under attack since the bankruptcy of solar panel manufacturer Solyndra, which received federal loan guarantees on about $500 million it borrowed.

“Public research dollars, over the course of 30 years, helped develop the technologies to extract all this natural gas out of shale rock – reminding us that government support is critical in helping businesses get new energy ideas off the ground,” the president said. “Payoffs on these public investments don’t always come right away. Some technologies don’t pan out; some companies fail. But I will not walk away from the promise of clean energy.”

If well regulated, the enhanced gas supplies could cheaply supplant coal as the main source for electricity generated by burning fossil fuel, which would go far in reducing the threat of climate change, Zoback said. Gas produces half the carbon dioxide of coal per kilowatt-hour of electricity produced. And major oil companies are investing heavily to develop natural gas liquids to displace gasoline and diesel fuel in transportation, which could improve economic and national security.

“Gas is the bridge fuel to a decarbonized future, not a way of sustaining business as usual,” Zoback said.

Mark Golden works in communications at the Precourt Institute for Energy at Stanford University.

Photo credit: Ruhrfisch

Source: CleanTechnica

German-Saudi Partnership to Build Polysilicon Plant in Red Sea City

noreply@blogger.com (Planet Berry) — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 12:17:00 +0000

Germany’s Centrotherm Photovoltaics, the world’s second-largest manufacturer of solar photovoltaic (PV) equipment, has signed an agreement with IDEA Polysilicon to construct a polysilicon solar PV manufacturing facility in the Saudi Arabian Red Coast city of Yanbu, according to a Reuters News report. The agreement aims to provide IDEA the technology and know-how it needs to become a market force in the Middle East-North Africa (MENA) region, a market that’s attracting more and more interest from industry players globally.

The value of the contract wasn’t disclosed, though the project’s anticipated cost is more than 4 billion Saudi riyals ($1.1 billion), according to Reuters. Created by a group of Arabian Gulf investors, IDEA Polysilicon’s polysilicon plant will be the first in the Middle East. Planned capacity is 6,000 tons per year of high-quality polysilicon, according to the company.

Solar power investment is growing in Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, with German industry participants particularly active of late. By far the largest country and economy in the region, prospects for solar energy are particularly attractive in Saudi Arabia, though the country has been slow to capitalize on them.

Centrotherm in China; Strong Solar Performance in 2011

For its part, Centrotherm, along with its peers in Germany’s solar energy sector, is looking to expand its international business. In December, the Blaubeuren-based company, announced that it’s supplying equipment for expansion of polysilicon fabrication operations with Shaanxi Tiahong Silicon Industrial Corp. (STSIC) as part of a “cooperation venture.”

STSIC began producing silicon ingots in mid-2011 using a Centrotherm multi-crystalline ingot furnace. The first phase of expansion is to realize production capacity of 1,250 metric tons of semiconductor-grade polysilicon. A second phase is to take that up to 3,000 metric tons.

In addition to fabricating polysilicon, Centrotherm and STSIC are working on technology and systems to manufacture silicon ingots and wafers. Two solar cell production lines with a combined 60-MW production capacity were being commissioned in December.

Revenue generated by Centrotherm’s Solar Cell & Module unit leapt 85.1% to 546.5 million euro (~$683.13 million) and operating earnings, as measured by EBIT (Earnings Before Interest and Taxes), leapt 70.2% to 102.3 million euros (~128.88 million) in the first nine months of fiscal 2011, management reported in November.

Consolidated 2011 revenue surged 38.7% year-over-year, to 635.7 million euros (~$795 million) in the first nine months of fiscal 2011. EBIT operating earnings dropped from 54.2 million euros (~$67.75 million) as EBIT margin was squeezed from 11.8% down to 4%, however. Consolidated net income fell to 16.6 million euros (~$20.75 million), down from 37.4 million euros (~$46.75 million) for the first nine months of fiscal 2010.

Source: CleanTechnica

iPhone and iPad gifts for Valentine's Day

noreply@blogger.com (Planet Berry) — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 02:53:00 +0000

Valentine’s Day is coming up fast, and if your lover loves their iPhone, iPod touch, or iPad, you’re in luck, there are some fantastic device, app, accessory, and media gifts to thrill them and score you major brownie points. Whether you’re romantic enough to prepare well in advance, or if you’re scrambling to stay off the couch, sit back and get your groove warmed up — Rene and I decided to do a little written ZEN and TECH this week and help you pick out the perfect Valentine’s Day gifts for your special someone.

Dream devices for the person of your dreams

On the off chance the love of your life doesn’t yet have an iOS device to call his or her own, that’s a great place to start. An iPod touch can be the perfect travel or exercise companion. An iPad can entertain and inform at home or away. An a iPhone can keep you both in touch no matter where you are. And Apple TV is perfect for all the couple movie classics.

And hey, if you’re in a long distance romance, just wait until they discover FaceTime.

Apple iOS device gift guide

Awesome accessories

If your significant other already has their iOS device needs met, then accessories are your next best bet. There’s something about a tangible gift — something about receiving a gift, opening it, seeing and feeling it for the first time. It’s… real.

There are a ton of great iPhone and iPad accessories to choose from. Here are some of our favorites.

Case-Mate Barely There Brushed Aluminum Case for iPhone

Year after year, Case-Mate melts my heart with a shiny, sexy case for the iPhone and this year is no exception — the Barely There Brushed Aluminum Case is simply spectacular. As always, it’s light as a feather, extremely low profile, and the finish is fabulous. Girls will love the heart red or stunning silver, guys the basic black. Both will appreciate the aircraft-grade aluminum inlay, gunmetal hard shell, and awesome good looks of the Barely There Brushed Aluminum.

$29.95 – Buy now

Pad & Quill Little Black Book for iPhone and Contega for iPad

Little Black Book‘s are usually reserved for hot little numbers, and Pad & Quill’s take on the classic is no exception — it wraps your high tech iPhone in old word craftsmanship. It fits both the iPhone 4S and iPhone 4, it’s precision cut and framed from Baltic Birch, covered in Italian leather, bound in book cloth, with an extra pocket inside for credit cards or ID. If pink is your thing, Pad & Quill is offering the Little Black Book in just that special edition color, just in time for Valentine’s. If not, they have a rainbow of other colors to choose from, from red to blue and everything in between.

Contega brings the same hipster vibe and quality construction to the iPad with even more features, notably a fold-up stand to make it easier to type or just watch your movies.

$54.99 and up – Buy now

Jawbone JAMBOX

You put down your wine glasses, take each other’s hands, walk over to the dance floor, hold each other close — and hear the tiny, tinny sound of your iPhone’s speaker. Grrrrr. Jawbone’s JAMBOX makes up for Apple’s still disappointing audio with the best Bluetooth sound ever. It’s rich. It’s deep. It’ll keep you dancing until dawn.

$179.99 – Buy now

8-Bit Dynamic Life Shirt

These light-up shirts from Think Geek will normally show two-and-a-half glowing hearts. But when you and your special someone come together, your heart bar glows full and you power up. Get one for yourself, one for your love, and whenever you’re together, your shirts will light up.

$17.99 – $24.99 – Buy now

Amazing apps

You know if there’s an app for just about everything, a large portion of those just have to be for love! Whether you’re deeply in love, trying to keep the home fires burning, or still trying to kindle the flame, there are most definitely apps for all that.

Online dating apps

If you’re still searching for that special someone, why not harness the power of your iPhone and iPad? Many of the popular online dating sites have apps in the app store, and since our lives are increasingly mobile, there’s no reason our love lives shouldn’t be as well. (The apps are usually free, as is browsing, but there are typically fees associated with messaging.)

Free – eHarmony

Variable – More online dating apps

Romantic apps

If you’re already in a relationship, especially if you’ve been in one for a while, and you need or simply want something sexy to spice up your Valentine’s day, the App Store has plenty to offer.

$1.99 – iKamaSutra

Interlude: A romantic rant

We looked for more apps we could recommend, but frankly most of them looked terrible. The icons were horrible, the screenshots were horrible, and the reviews were horrible. We’re long past the time lazy, opportunistic “developers” should be able to put out junk and make money off iPhone and iPad users. This should be a good market. There should be a great developer who can make a gorgeous looking, fabulous working dice game, spin the bottle, truth or dare, or something — anything — else for adults who simply want to have some fun. Take this as a challenge — by next Valentine’s Day, have some amazing stuff in the store for couples!

More apps

We offer up what we think are simply the best apps day in and day out here at iMore, just because it’s Valentine’s doesn’t mean you need to get a Valentine’s specific app. Sometimes something thoughtful, something that shows you’ve listened, learned your significant other’s interests, and found them something delightful is the way to go.

iMore’s best app lists

Last minute gift ideas

If you’re reading this with only minutes to spare before your special someone comes to the door, or comes downstairs, all hope is not lost. In addition to the apps listed above, all of which can be bought in an instant, there are also several sweet services and certificates that are yours to be had, only a few clicks away.

Netflix, Hulu Plus, Slacker and other subscription

You’ll be stuck watching romantic comedies, chick flicks, or something racy, but you won’t be stuck on the sofa or the dog house!

iTunes, App Store, iBooks gifts and gift certificates

If romance is still fresh and new and you don’t want to risk gifting the wrong app or iBook or iTunes music, you can get them a gift certificate. Don’t just hand it over, however. Take their hand and go online shopping with them!

iTunes gift certificates

Amazon gift certificates

Amazon has a ton of digital content all there own, but they also have old school media — paper books, plastic CDs and Blu-Rays, games that come on cartridges… Gift certificates let your special someone pick just exactly the goods — real or virtual — they want, and Amazon will deliver it straight to the door or the device. Again, shop with them!

Amazon gift certificates

Your Valentine’s gift ideas?

Did we miss any of your favorite Valentine gift ideas, past, present, or future? Anything that especially made your heart melt or soar or skip a beat? Please share in the comments!

Source: iMore - The #1 iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch blog

Planet Berry LLC

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iPhone and iPad gifts for Valentine's Day

Dream devices for the person of your dreams

Awesome accessories

Case-Mate Barely There Brushed Aluminum Case for iPhone

$29.95 – Buy now

Pad & Quill Little Black Book for iPhone and Contega for iPad

$54.99 and up – Buy now

Jawbone JAMBOX

$179.99 – Buy now

8-Bit Dynamic Life Shirt

$17.99 – $24.99 – Buy now

Amazing apps

Online dating apps

Free – eHarmony

Variable – More online dating apps

Romantic apps

$1.99 – iKamaSutra

Interlude: A romantic rant

More apps

Last minute gift ideas

Netflix, Hulu Plus, Slacker and other subscription

iTunes, App Store, iBooks gifts and gift certificates

Amazon gift certificates

Your Valentine’s gift ideas?