Guildford, England — The first dispenser in Europe of drinks using new technology is unveiled at the University of Surrey June 26 by its inventor American entrepreneur Mitchell Joseph.

Professor Roland Clift, of the Centre for Environmental Strategy (CES) at the University of Surrey, has been working with the Joseph Company of California in developing a way to deliver cooled drinks without refrigerated storage: the Chillcan technology. To chill the drink to about 15 degree(s) C below ambient temperature, the consumer just has to push a button on the base of the can. This releases pressurized carbon dioxide which is adsorbed onto activated carbon contained in an inner can. The release absorbs heat (the “heat of desorption”) which cools the drink, contained in the space between the inner and outer cans. The liquid is then ready to be poured or drunk from the top of the can in the usual way.

The Chillcan is much more climate-friendly than drinks stored in refrigerators. It avoids the power consumption and also leaks of refrigerant which represent contributions to greenhouse gas emissions causing climate change. The carbon dioxide is recovered from waste gases which would have gone into the atmosphere anyway. The activated carbon comes from biological waste – coconut shells, at present.

Roland Clift, Emeritus Professor at the University of Surrey and Executive Director of the International Society of Industrial Ecology, said: “Helping the development of the Chillcan has been a unique opportunity to apply the kind of systems thinking we have developed in the Centre for Environmental Strategy to a potentially disruptive high-volume consumer product.

“We have been able to help Mitchell Joseph by using Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) to ensure that the whole supply chain is environmentally sound. LCA has also shown where best to launch the can: to replace drinks dispensers which may be badly maintained, leaking energy and refrigerant.”

“It also shows the importance of recovering and re-using the chiller units, which is the next important stage in developing the Chillcan system.”

The Centre for Environmental Strategy at the University of Surrey is celebrating its 20th anniversary and the new drinks dispenser was launched at a special event to mark the occasion.

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Traveling for many people means spending a lot of money for leisure and fun. It can also mean harming the environment. The fact is, it is entirely possible to travel in an environmentally responsible way while saving money. Walking is the simplest and easiest option to save money, improve your health, and help the environment.

By leaving the car behind and simply walking or riding a bicycle, you are doing both your health and the environment a favor. Of course, walking for long distances is not a good option for far away destinations. Renting a bicycle for those trips rather than renting a car can strengthen muscles, improve cardiovascular health, reduce congestion, and generate zero emissions.

Public transportation is widely considered to be the holy grail of environmentalism. Buses, trains, metros, subways, and trams are great ways of getting around. Most towns and cities have adequate coverage. Furthermore, the tourist will not get lost as easily because the driver knows where they are going.

It would be an adventure from buying tickets to finding a seat to knowing when to get off plus saving energy. Also, public transportation is the cheapest method to travel around the city compared renting a car or hiring a taxi during the trip. Tram and metro networks can be found in a lot of cities around the world such as Tokyo, Vancouver, Baku, Rome, Valparaíso, Paris, San Francisco, Dubai, Kuala Lumpur, and Pittsburg.

Many airports have good public transportation links, which means getting a bus or train to reach to the airport instead of driving there is easy. In some countries, carrying a bicycle onto public transportation is accepted, especially in Scandinavian countries and the Netherlands. In cities that do not allow bicycles on their public transportation systems, using foldable bicycles is a good choice.

Simply choosing an electronic ticket rather than a paper ticket would reduce the wasted papers and inks. It can also help in reducing the number of trees cut. If you are flying, it is better to bring light luggage rather than a large suitcase. The more a package weighs, the more fuel the plane uses, which affects the surrounding enviornment.

Many airlines also have a weight limit, and will charge you for luggage that exceeds the limit. That might lead to unexpected charges to the travel budget you have planned. Selecting a green hotel during the trip is also a great way to save the environment. Tourists can find numerous environmentally friendly hotels, B&B’s, and lodges for different budgets and rates on the Internet.

While staying in the hotel, try not to waste resources. You can do this by turning off the TV, switching off all the lights off, and turning off the air-conditioner or heat down when no one is in the room. Opting for short showers and using your own toiletries instead of the small and usually over-priced toiletries provided by the hotel can also help reduce your carbon footprint.

Last, try to avoid disposable cameras and bring your own digital camera. Like other modern devices, which takes loads of energy to make and only get used once before being dumped, disposable cameras can be wasteful.

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