At Toyota greenhouse, C02 emissions no villain

0 Comments | AFP, June, 2008

ROKKASHO, Japan (AFP) — In a sprawling greenhouse with shiny silver ducts running through, stacks of cardboard boxes feature prints of a flower alongside the distinctive red Toyota logo.

In an experiment aimed at putting to use some of the carbon dioxide blamed for global warming, the giant auto group is using Asia's largest greenhouse for potted flowers, stretching across 20,000 square metres (five acres).

"Nowadays you automatically think of C02 as a villain. But it's what plants need to grow," said Teruo Takatomi, president of unit Toyota Floritech Co. Ltd.

The system generates power by burning natural gas, with electricity used for lighting over plants, "waste" heat for warming water, and emitted carbon dioxide falling on plants to promote their...