I would love to hear your coments on the Virgin earth contest.?

Question

Does this seem too impossible to accomplish as far as amounts to be removed and competition? or any coments in particular I am thinking of joining. sheck out www.virginearth.com for contest and details.

yes one in the same dude.

Answer 1

It doesn't seem impossible - in fact, it's not impossible.

There have already been several schemes that have been developed to prototype level, both before and after Branson launched the Challenge, that have demonstrated that greenhouse gases can be removed from the atmosphere.

The question isn't really whether it can be done but more a question of - can it be done on a large enough scale and at a realistic price.

One particular idea which is making headway comes from a team headed by Professor Klaus Lackner. In this idea a device, which looks like a large Venetian blind on top of a pole, and is nicknamed the Artificial Tree, uses a chemical (sodium hydroxide) to react with carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. The by-product of the reaction can be passed through further chemical reactions and the sodium hydroxide recovered for re-use and the 'sludge' converted into synthetic gasoline and diesel. Each one of these artificial trees can remove 90,000 tons of CO2 from the atmosphere each year.

There are variations of this scheme and other approaches that are being examined. If you'd like more details about Prof. Lackner's idea please let me know. A technical white paper has been published but it's pretty heavy going in places, particularly if you just want the basics.

- - - - - -

I particularly admire Sir Richard Branson for his responsible approach to global warming. He has very successful airlines and train companies and is aware that these contribute to global warming, consequently he has committed $3 billion of his own money to fight global warming.

- - - - - - - - - - -

PS, I hope you do join and I wish you all the best. Maybe you already have some ideas of your own, several people have come up with ideas but it's quite amazing just how many ideas have already been thought of and are in development. A lot of them aren't in response to Branson's Challenge and have been around for a good few years now. If you want to know if a specific idea has already been thought of please feel free to add more details or email me (you don't need to give specific details if you don't wish to), I can probably tell you if the idea has been though of, who by and what stage of development it is at.

Answer 2

I sent in my application for Branson's Competition 6 months ago and haven't heard a word back from Branson

Branson has good intentions but zero background in emissions. Every time you see him lobbying, the Virgin Logos are everywhere so he is optimizing his corporate profile for the media.

I sent in my application because my group has several avenues to realistically reduce global warming including vehicle emissions immediately by 75%.

We will see if Branson is serious, I hear the hype buy no response. Al Gore is one of the judges so I have entered the Save Al Gore Contest at http://ultimateglobalwarmingchallenge.com/entries.htm

Answer 3

Oh cripes is this what it's come to? What a mind blowingly stupid contest.

My question is exactly which species of tree should I enter?

Mother nature came up with the solution long before we did. They are called TREES. The money should bloody well be awarded to the Arbor Day foundation, since they have been trying to get everyone to plant trees for YEARS.

I think it is beyond stupidity and conceit when mankind tries to improve upon and top what evolution, mother nature, or God has given us (take your pick of whichever term you like best).

Cripes....I thought the guy who owned Virgin was a smart fellow. Apparently he thinks himself smarter than evolution/mother nature/God.

~Garnet
Homesteading/Farming over 20 years, AND planting trees for years now.

Answer 4

Uh, would this be the same Virgin person whose jet airliners are burning raw kerosene in the upper atmosphere??

Answer 5

as long nothing will go wrong.