“At Nissan, the inverter is regarded as one of the key technologies in electric-powered vehicle development along with the motor and the battery,” the automaker said in a statement.

Nissan said it has kicked off tests using an X-Trail fuel-cell vehicle with the new technology, which it calls the SiC inverter.

Simply put, the SiC inverter helps to strip weight out of the vehicle and gives engineers more freedom in creating a vehicle layout. The inverter controls the electricity coming from the power source in electric-powered vehicles, which also dramatically improves reliability, Nissan says

This step should allow for greater flexibility when it comes to the design of alternative fuel vehicles.

Whether consumers are looking to purchase products made from recycled or natural materials, buy organic or support artisan women in developing nations, WorldofGood.com brings a new level of confidence and transparency to the socially responsible shopping experience. WorldofGood.com is a one-stop-shop where the products, producers and sellers are verified by various third parties called Trust Providers — like TransFair USA (Fair Trade Certified), Co-op America and Aid to Artisans — to meet a core set of ethical and environmental standards.

“WorldofGood.com by eBay gives shoppers who care about making a difference access to great products that help people and the planet,” said Lorrie Norrington, president of eBay Marketplaces. “Socially responsible shopping just got bigger and better.”

The idea is that behind Ebay’s clout, people will be able to purchase products that have been proven to be beneficial.

“This generation of kids seems to be hard-wired for environmental awareness,” said Leah Schmalz, the group’s legislative and legal affairs director.

Nearly 1.2 million people up to 21 have registered with People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, the activism group known for its provocative ways of advocating vegetarian lifestyles. Among those are 30,000 kids aged 6 to 12. The organization has also recruited another 200,000 youths this summer while tagging along with the music and sports festival Warped Tour, said Lara Sanders, the group’s head of youth marketing.

“Kids have been making the connection between the environment and a vegetarian diet and knowing that going vegetarian is the best thing that you can do for the environment,” she said.

Basically these children are learning by example. If parents tend to hold values that are eco-friendly, they will likely be passed down to their children. If the kids are very young when they see these messages being re-inforced, they’re very likely to continue being “green” later in life.

It’s great to think our youngest generation could also be our “greenest.”

“I’m building a hotel there. It is environmentally friendly. I went there with the Make a Wish Foundation and met some great people. The royal family were really friendly.”

According to Anderson, her new hotel won’t use any fossil fuel.

“It’s going to be built with no fossil fuel at all in Abu Dhabi where they have all that oil.”

Anderson is not the only star linked to an eco-friendly project in Abu Dhabi. Brad Pitt was listed as a design consultant for a project announced in June by Zabeel Properties.

“Many American consumers, even in the face of economic uncertainty, express a willingness to pay more for environmentally friendly products,” said Anthony Leiserowitz, director of Yale Project on Climate Change. “Toyota can’t make the Prius fast enough to meet consumer demand, to cite just one example, and many see ‘green’ products as the wave of the future.”

Although the majority of people who responded said they’d pay up to 15% more, they want better labeling to ensure they’re getting what they bargained for.

In what can be described as good news for the current eco-labelers, 75% of all survey respondents said they trust the current labeling programs.

“These results suggest that manufacturers who offer high-quality and credibly labeled eco-friendly products will have opportunities to gain a competitive edge,” said Graeme Auld, a doctoral candidate at Yale School of Forestry & Environmental Studies.

A staggering number of Canadians want to buy green, but don’t trust the label.

More than 85 per cent of those surveyed said that there need to be labelling regulations, so that when green claims are made, consumers know what they mean. And almost as many said governments should provide clear guidelines for corporations, so that everyone is on the same page when claims are made that a product is “green,” “organic” or results in “low emissions.”

I couldn’t agree more. In fact, labeling is a huge issue and trust even bigger. The companies that short change consumers and misrepresent products not only hurt the customer, they hurt themselves and the overall green movement.

These consumers are even convinced it doesn’t cost more to make green products, so they aren’t sure why they should pay more. I think these are all valid complaints and anyone pushing eco-friendly products will have to answer these questions at some point.

David Bonta, the founder and president of USA Solar Store based in Perkinsville, is building a national chain of independently owned stores that promote energy efficiency and sustainable living. His company sells conservation and power generation products – solar hot water systems, point-of-use heaters, corn and wood pellet stoves and composting toilets – wholesale to retail outlets.

This type of interest is exactly what’s needed in order to help citizens make the switch to sustainable energy. There’s no question consumers will do it naturally when price points near traditional energy costs.

There are more signs than ever that such a shift is happening.

“This plan will … more than pay for itself,” Bloomberg said. “By 2015 we project that we will have saved more on our energy bills than we have spent on all of our planned investments to that point.”

The city government of New York already accounts for 6.5% of all energy use in NYC, so it seems like a no-brainer that the same people should lead the push towards a greener future.

Bloomberg is not afraid to tackle problems with big solutions. He has already implemented proposals to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 30% by the year 2030.

Among the cars available for test drive was Mazda’s Hydrogen Re, which is touted as the world’s first commercially available eco-car equipped with a hydrogen rotary engine.

A social worker of Rusutsumura, who took a test ride in the car, said: “It was so quiet and comfortable. Compared with my regular small car, it was a paradise.”

Another vehicle available for test driving was Toyota’s Personal Mobility i-Real, a lithium ion battery-powered vehicle that operates something like a chair on wheels, with cruising and walking modes.

Considering how many influential media members and politicians will be at the event, it will probably be a great boost for the advancement of green tech.

Planet Green is the first and only 24-hour eco-lifestyle television network with a robust online presence and community. Launching in June 2008, on-air content will reach 50 million homes with more than 250 hours of original green lifestyle programming. Both online and on-air, Plant Green’s content is entertaining, relevant, and accessible to people of all ages and backgrounds. By representing a broad range of ideas and perspectives, Planet Green is taking an active role in generating conversation and motivating individuals to take action when it comes to improving the environmental status of our planet.

Green programming has been turning up more and more lately, but Planet Green is the first attempt at eco-friendly programming being released 24 hours a day 7 days a week.

Whether viewers enjoy the channel remains to be seen, but it seems like a step in the right direction.