A US-themed Green Gauge this week, with the country belching CO2 and Ted Turner belching hyperbole

Site of the week

The problem with CO2 is that, damaging though it is, you can’t see it. Project Vulcan from Purdue University, is an attempt to put a stop to that excuse. Its animation of CO2 hovering over the US is alarming viewing, especially come breakfast time.

Quote of the week

"Not doing it will be catastrophic. We’ll be eight degrees hotter in ten, not ten but 30 or 40 years and basically none of the crops will grow. Most of the people will have died and the rest of us will be cannibals. Civilization will have broken down. The few people left will be living in a failed state — like Somalia or Sudan — and living conditions will be intolerable. The droughts will be so bad there’ll be no more corn grown. Not doing it is suicide." 'Mouth of the South,' CNN founder, Ted Turner on global warming.

Story of the Week

People are often critical of BREEAM as placed next to LEED. Not rigorous enough, runs the argument. But this LEED-certified car park in Santa Monica, California, could be considered something of an own goal by the US standard. Sure, it has a solar PV on the roof, yes it has low e-glazing and has a storm-drain water treatment system. But it is a home for the automobile and cars don't like anything about the environment and aren't afraid to show it.

Opinion of the Week

Jonathan Glancey in BD discusses the hypocrisy of the Government promoting Eco-town "communities" on the one hand while it allows the closure of 2,500 Post Office branches.