Google: Cheaper than Coal

As you know, Google isn't just a search engine, the company is also helping the world in our global warming crisis. On the 27th of November, Google unveiled a "hundreds of millions US Dollar" plan to develop energy cheaper than coal. The plan's name is currently named as an inequality (as in mathematics), (Renewable Energy Cheaper than Coal). [Sorry, I can't use the greater than symbol, Blogger thinks it's a HTML error, so I used an image]

"Our Goal is to produce 1 Gigawatt [which is enough to power a city the size of San Fransisco] of renewable energy capacity that is cheaper than coal. We are optimistic this can be done in years, not decades," said Larry Page (co-founder of Google).

In order to succeed in the plan, the renewable energy must range from 1 to 3 US cents per kilowatt-hour to "beat" coal, the dirtiest, but cheapest energy source available.
Although they are working to improve electricity consumption, the web search leader would not disclose the energy consumed in powering its online services. Local energy experts claim it is one of Silicon Valley's [Google's HQ] biggest energy customers. Even though it's a con, 1 GW is more than enough to fuel Google and they're still ahead [in terms of friendliness to the environment] of Yahoo Green, in which they don't do anything, only news about climate change. It's action we need!!!

KMB lowers fares

Hong Kong's largest double-decker bus operator, KMB is now lowering fares. Back in September, KMB applied for a 9 percent fare hike to counter rising fuel costs and maintenance fees. The fare hike was rejected by the Transport Department because it was too high and unacceptable. Now, Hong Kong residents are amazed and overjoyed that there would be a decrease in fares a few months after the risk of the fare hike.

Operations Director Tim Ip has denied that KMB has been thinking of strategies to counter the fare reduction of the railway merger (refer to my post before). Tim Ip also claims that they have been studying the scheme for a long time and making preparations. Coincidentally, the day of the fare decrease would be on December 2, the same day as the railway merger.

Example of Fare Decreases (Comparision)

Ping Shan Heritage Trail

It's been so long since I've been to the Yuen Long area, well, I rarely go there anyway (3 times since I've gotten to Hong Kong). This time, I went with my class, when I heard the words "Ping Shan Heritage Trail (屏山文物徑)" a month ago, I thought we were going hiking.

The Trip

Finally, at 9:00 we left in a coach (with a tour guide hired by our school) and headed for Tin Shui Wai. We passed Ting Kau Bridge (汀九橋) via Tsing Yi Island and arrived at Ping Shan. The whole village was quiet and as we got off, the village was suddenly deafening. We did cause trouble, but we also helped (a lot), there was a little shop run by villagers and they just opened, after 3 minutes, sold out. They were amazed and thanked us. The village had a lot of temples and other historical buildings but it was still boring. As we were leaving, the tour guide told us about their water supply (see picture) which was very vulnerable to diseases (I wouldn't want to live there). Well, I have to admit, transportation there is state-of-the-art, buses to many places and two train stations.

BBQ

After that we went to a BBQ, but it was a disaster, nobody was full because we didn't have patience. One person from another class didn't know how to cook food over a grill, so he ate a chicken wing with blood (UGH!!!). I think I've written enough.....

Let's take the MTR

On December 2, Hong Kong will say goodbye to the century-old KCRC. The two railway companies in HK will merge and become 港鐵路公司 (literal translation: "Kong Railway Corporation"), but in english, the name will still stay the same, MTR. All passengers in Hong Kong will benefit from it, when assuming that a adult passenger takes the train around 20 km every day, they'll save up to HK$100 (US$13) in a year. Still, it's a shame to see KCR's history vanish in thin air, only to save a few dollars everyday. Mong Kok KCR Station will also have a name change, after 2 December, it will be Mong Kok East (旺角東). Below are also some "before and after" photos of KCR made by me and from BVEHK.net.

Don't play with your food MTR

KCR Light Rail renovation

Even the news channel logo (Newsline Express) needs to be changed