A new report released by the administration of Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal projects that the state’s already vulnerable coastline could face 3 feet of sea level rise by the end of the century. Based on current sea rise models, a science panel with the state’s Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority suggests that rising seas and coastal land changes will increasingly expose lowlands to storm surges, with some regions facing as many as 4 feet of sea level rise. Their report, part of ongoing efforts to guide coastal zone management, urges state officials to integrate the latest data on…
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Louisiana Report Urges State to Brace for 3 Feet of Sea Level Rise
Yale Environment 3608 Feb 2012 | 8:21 am -
The Business of Risk – Insuring Against Climate Change
DeSmogBlog8 Feb 2012 | 12:28 pmInsurance_Photo.jpg When it comes to assessing risk, the insurance industry is one of the leaders in the field. Whether it is health insurance, car insurance, or homeowner’s insurance, the industry is forced to analyze every possible scenario for a given person or structure, and impose a fee based on the likelihood of events for the situation. So when an entire industry that bases their profitability on reducing risk starts factoring climate change into their equations, it's probably a good idea to pay attention. Earlier this month, insurance commissioners in three separate U.S. -
A new Native American village based on tradition helps a Tribe reclaim its sustainable roots
Switchboard, from NRDC8 Feb 2012 | 5:30 amKaid Benfield, Director, Sustainable Communities, Washington, DC The Ohkay Owingeh Tribe and Pueblo in New Mexico has returned to its roots with an award-winning, mixed-income housing project based on traditional Native forms. It's an exciting and inspiring project. Built by the Ohkay Owingeh Housing Authority explicitly as an alternative to sprawl-type housing, Tsigo Bugeh Village is a $5.3 million residential community that reflects traditional pueblo living with attached units divided around two plazas, one oriented to the solstice and the other to the equinox, as the… -
Is this tattoo infographic the real deal? [infographic]
Holy Kaw!8 Feb 2012 | 8:05 pmSo, the question is, did Polish artist Paul Marcinkowski make his infographic love permanent as part of a school project? We doubt it, but if the unthinkable is true, he’ll just have to point to that spot under his belly button to explain. Via Forbes. Like infographics? Not that much. Permalink | Leave a comment » -
Is Your Microwave A 'Vampire?'
Latest News8 Feb 2012 | 3:18 pmThanks to new energy efficiency standards proposed last week, DOE Secretary Steven Chu has a new credential on top of his Nobel Prize: he’s a vampire slayer – one that specializes in eliminating “vampire” energy waste while saving consumers billions of dollars.
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Yale Environment 360
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Louisiana Report Urges State to Brace for 3 Feet of Sea Level Rise
8 Feb 2012 | 8:21 amA new report released by the administration of Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal projects that the state’s already vulnerable coastline could face 3 feet of sea level rise by the end of the century. Based on current sea rise models, a science panel with the state’s Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority suggests that rising seas and coastal land changes will increasingly expose lowlands to storm surges, with some regions facing as many as 4 feet of sea level rise. Their report, part of ongoing efforts to guide coastal zone management, urges state officials to integrate the latest data on… -
Russian Scientists Confirm They Have Reached Ancient Antarctic Lake
8 Feb 2012 | 7:51 amRussian researchers say they have drilled through more than 2 miles of ice on Antarctica’s polar plateau and reached an ancient subglacial lake that has been sealed off for as many as 15 million years. Reaching the lake caps a two-decade drilling effort at Russia’s Vostok Station in Antarctica, which in 1982 recorded Earth’s coldest temperature of -129 degrees F. The chief of the Vostok Station, A.M. Yelagin, confirmed in a statement that Russia’s drilling team had reached the lake on Sunday, when water shot up from 12,365 feet below the surface and froze as it reached the -67 degree… -
Interview: California’s Car Rules Help Remake U.S. Auto Industry
8 Feb 2012 | 5:33 amWith the passage last month of strict new auto emission and air pollution standards, California once again demonstrated its role as the U.S.’s environmental pacesetter. The driving force behind these new “clean ARB Mary Nichols car” rules — which require that 15 percent of all new cars sold in California by 2025 emit little or no pollution — is Mary Nichols, chairwoman of the California Air Resources Board. As a result of the rules, 1.4 million zero- and low-emission vehicles are expected be in California auto showrooms within a dozen years. In an interview with Yale Environment… -
California’s ‘Clean Car’ Rules Help Remake U.S. Auto Industry
8 Feb 2012 | 5:32 amWith the passage of strict new auto emission and air pollution standards, California has again demonstrated its role as the U.S.’s environmental pacesetter. In an interview with Yale Environment 360, Mary Nichols, chairwoman of the California Air Resources Board, explains how her state is helping drive a clean-car revolution. BY PAUL ROGERS -
Nearly Half of Electricity at UK Businesses Wasted During Off Hours
7 Feb 2012 | 9:20 amA UK report says that nearly half of the electricity consumed by British businesses is wasted when employees are not at work. In an analysis of more than 6,000 smart meters, British Gas found that 46 percent Click to enlarge British Gas Evening energy use, Manchester of electricity use occurs from 6 p.m. to 8 a.m., when most businesses are typically closed. Common examples of unnecessary electricity use include the lighting of parking areas on weekends, keeping the lights on at retail stores after shopping centers are closed, and running vending machines around the clock. The UK utility also…
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DeSmogBlog
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The Business of Risk – Insuring Against Climate Change
8 Feb 2012 | 12:28 pmInsurance_Photo.jpg When it comes to assessing risk, the insurance industry is one of the leaders in the field. Whether it is health insurance, car insurance, or homeowner’s insurance, the industry is forced to analyze every possible scenario for a given person or structure, and impose a fee based on the likelihood of events for the situation. So when an entire industry that bases their profitability on reducing risk starts factoring climate change into their equations, it's probably a good idea to pay attention. Earlier this month, insurance commissioners in three separate U.S. -
Santorum Calls Global Warming a “Hoax,” Suggesting a Full-Fledged Climate Conspiracy Theory
8 Feb 2012 | 6:19 am501px-Rick_Santorum_by_Gage_Skidmore.jpg Conservatism is a political philosophy that is, at its most fundamental, about resisting change. So perhaps we shouldn’t be surprised that an outrageous and absurd line uttered about global warming in 2003—Oklahoma Senator James Inhofe’s assertion that it is the “greatest hoax ever perpetrated on the American people”—has not, nearly a decade later, been discredited on the right. Instead, this idea has persisted. Indeed, the “hoax” charge was recently reiterated by Rick… -
China Looks To Stephen Harper For Lessons In Dirty Energy Exploitation
7 Feb 2012 | 9:14 pmoilyleaf.jpg Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper is in China this week to meet with Chinese leaders about how both countries can profit big by exploiting China’s shale gas reserves, as well as by importing Canadian tar sands oil. Harper is scheduled to meet with both Chinese officials, as well as heads of oil and gas companies during his four-day visit to the country. More on the specifics of who will be attending these meetings, from Reuters Canada: During his trip Harper will meet President Hu Jintao and Premier Wen Jiabao as well as two important regional players - Chongqing… -
Here We Go Again – Republican Attacks On EPA Kick Off 2012 Agenda
6 Feb 2012 | 9:56 ambusiness-anti-environment.jpg With the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) set to finally enact stricter air pollution standards in accordance with the Clean Air Act and two subsequent U.S. Supreme Court decisions requiring them to do so, powerful Republicans in the U.S. House of Representatives are working to make sure that the new standards never see the light of day. The specific measures being targeted are the EPA’s new standards for carbon emissions from power plant smoke stacks. Fred Upton (R-MI), chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, along with Republicans… -
A Conservative Ignores the Science on Why…Conservatives Ignore the Science
6 Feb 2012 | 7:38 amdiscoveryGlobeHeader.jpg David Klinghoffer, of the anti-evolutionist Discovery Institute, has a revealing article in the conservative American Spectator entitled: “Republicans and Science (as opposed to liberals and the science they’ve politicized).” Why “revealing”? Klinghoffer seeks to explain the real reason why conservatives like himself resist certain scientific findings. But in the process, he shows a surprising, er, inattentiveness to the scientific research on this very topic. At the same time, Klinghoffer also strikingly affirms the results of…
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Switchboard, from NRDC
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A new Native American village based on tradition helps a Tribe reclaim its sustainable roots
8 Feb 2012 | 5:30 amKaid Benfield, Director, Sustainable Communities, Washington, DC The Ohkay Owingeh Tribe and Pueblo in New Mexico has returned to its roots with an award-winning, mixed-income housing project based on traditional Native forms. It's an exciting and inspiring project. Built by the Ohkay Owingeh Housing Authority explicitly as an alternative to sprawl-type housing, Tsigo Bugeh Village is a $5.3 million residential community that reflects traditional pueblo living with attached units divided around two plazas, one oriented to the solstice and the other to the equinox, as the… -
Canada Uses Dangerous Sonar in Waters Protected by U.S.
8 Feb 2012 | 4:53 amMichael Jasny, Senior Policy Analyst, Vancouver, B.C., and Santa Monica On Monday morning, a Canadian Navy frigate ran a sonar exercise in the waters of Haro Strait and the Strait of Juan de Fuca, Washington. Incredibly, a good portion of that exercise took place on the U.S. side of the border – in waters we have designated as critical habitat for killer whales under the Endangered Species Act. Environmentally, there are few worse places off our coasts to run a sonar exercise, and not just because of the killer whales. The straits and channels beyond Puget Sound… -
China Environmental News Alert
8 Feb 2012 | 1:24 amGreenlaw from NRDC China, NRDC China Program, Beijing NRDC has been working in China for over fifteen years on such issues as energy efficiency, green buildings, clean energy technologies, environmental governance and public participation, and green supply chain issues. This China Environmental News Alert is a weekly compilation of news from around the world on China and the environment. February 1, 2012 – February 8, 2012 EU Continues with Emissions System, Despite China's New Law The New York Times (February 6, 2012) The executive body of the European Union announced that it was… -
Weekend in the Woods: Tracking Wolverines
7 Feb 2012 | 2:15 pmWhitney Angell Leonard, Wildlife Advocate, Livingston, Montana I think I might be hooked on wolverines. Last weekend I had the amazing opportunity to join a group of volunteers tracking wolverines and lynx in western Montana, and now I can’t stop searching for Google images of these awesome and elusive creatures. (I promise I am not just looking for pictures of Hugh Jackman’s “X-Men” character of the same name – but more on that later.) The trip was organized by our friends at Adventurers and Scientists for Conservation, who we partnered with on several similar… -
BEE Raising the Bar: Increased Appliance Efficiency Standards Rolled Out Across India
7 Feb 2012 | 1:40 pmAnjali Jaiswal, Senior Attorney, San Francisco It may be blizzarding in Europe but here in India, including Hyderabad and Ahmedabad, cars, office buildings, and hotels are blasting their air conditioners. Last week, NRDC’s president, Frances Beinecke, Radhika Khosla and I toured the building boom in High Tech City, Hyderabad, where we saw more and more split air conditioning (A/C) units being installed. Although Southern India, and especially Hyderabad, is currently leading the nation’s market for energy efficient split air conditioners (as A/C window units are losing…
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Holy Kaw!
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Is this tattoo infographic the real deal? [infographic]
8 Feb 2012 | 8:05 pmSo, the question is, did Polish artist Paul Marcinkowski make his infographic love permanent as part of a school project? We doubt it, but if the unthinkable is true, he’ll just have to point to that spot under his belly button to explain. Via Forbes. Like infographics? Not that much. Permalink | Leave a comment » -
Harry Potter in 60 seconds [video]
8 Feb 2012 | 7:49 pmYou resisted the hype for so long, but now, curiosity has gotten the better of you and it’s simply not possible to live another minute without knowing what all the excitement was about. Lucky for you, catching up won’t involve spending a valuable week’s vacation holed up with a ten-pound book in hand thanks to the efforts of Ian Holliday and company. If you like what you see, be sure to follow the YouTube link and give them a hand winning the Virgin Radio Fake Film Festival 2012 contest. It’s what Dumbledore would have wanted. Full story at YouTube via The Mary Sue. -
SYNC: Even in a backwards world, love finds a way [video]
8 Feb 2012 | 7:20 pmDirected by Alberto Corral and filmed with an iPhone 4 and Steadicam Smoothee, SYNC takes a unique approach to retelling a classic story of love at first sight. Full story at YouTube via PetaPixel. Unique movies. Permalink | Leave a comment » -
Every nerd’s worst nightmare: World’s largest dodgeball game [video]
8 Feb 2012 | 6:57 pmIf dodgeball day in gym class left you nursing wounds both physical and psychological during the eternity that is a bad grade school experience, you might not appreciate the efforts of 4,979 people at the University of Alberta trying to set a new world record. On the other hand, if dodgeball marked the high point of your glory days, revel in the chaos… Full story at Vimeo via Official Hype. Games from the good old days. Permalink | Leave a comment » -
Text while you walk (safely this time)
8 Feb 2012 | 6:18 pmIf you’re ever twisted your ankle off a curb, bumped a stranger, or walked into a street post while texting—you need this app. ‘Transparent Screen’ for Android allows you to look through your device so you can anticipate any dangerous obstacles in your way while you’re texting on-the-go by harnessing the power of your camera to create the illusion of transparency. Just watch out for your battery life while using the app, as it’ll drain quickly. Full story at GeekOSystem. All the top tech. Permalink | Leave a comment »
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Latest News
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Is Your Microwave A 'Vampire?'
8 Feb 2012 | 3:18 pmThanks to new energy efficiency standards proposed last week, DOE Secretary Steven Chu has a new credential on top of his Nobel Prize: he’s a vampire slayer – one that specializes in eliminating “vampire” energy waste while saving consumers billions of dollars. -
House Dems: Drilling Fines Are 'Pocket Change' For Oil & Gas Companies
8 Feb 2012 | 3:04 pmWASHINGTON (AP) — Federal policing of oil and natural gas drilling on public lands is lax and inconsistent, with only 6 percent of violations resulting in monetary fines over 13 years, House Democrats said in a report Wednesday. Fines over that time totaled less than $275,000, an amount that the Democratic staff of the House Natural Resources Committee characterized as little more than "pocket change" for oil and gas companies. The report said federal regulators issued no fines in the period studied, February 1998 to February 2011, in eight of the drilling states. The report released… -
Purple Squirrel Released Back Into Wilderness
8 Feb 2012 | 2:50 pmA purple squirrel captured on Sunday by a couple from Jersey Shore, Pa., has been released back into the wild, AccuWeather.com reports. Jersey Shore residents Percy and Connie Elmert found the squirrel in a humane animal trap they had set in their backyard to catch the pesky critters. Percy would later release the squirrels far from the house so they wouldn't return to the property and get into the birdfeeders. "I kept telling my husband I saw a purple one out in the yard. 'Oh sure you did' he kept telling me," Connie Emert told Accuweather.com. "Well, he checked the trap around noon on… -
LA City Hall Lawn Makeover
8 Feb 2012 | 2:27 pmThe Los Angeles City Council voted today to approve a plan for restoring City Hall Park that would reduce turf by half, replacing it with more environmentally friendly plants. -
Consumer Groups Demand Tougher Probe Of Engineered Salmon
8 Feb 2012 | 2:01 pm* Strict FDA review needed for public health-consumer groups * Would be first gene-altered animal for U.S. consumption * No timeline for Food and Drug Administration decision WASHINGTON, Feb 7 (Reuters) - Three U.S. consumer groups petitioned the Food and Drug Administration on Tuesday to subject a new genetically engineered salmon to a more rigorous review process than is now in place before the fish can be approved as safe to eat. The fish at issue, AquaBounty Technologies' AquAdvantage salmon, is currently classified as a new animal drug for the purposes of FDA review. The FDA considers…
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ScienceDaily: Earth & Climate News
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January 2012 fourth warmest for contiguous United States, but Alaska extremely cold
8 Feb 2012 | 12:34 pmDuring January, warmer-than-average conditions enveloped most of the contiguous United States, with widespread below-average precipitation. The overall weather pattern for the month was reflected in the lack of snow for much of the Northern Plains, Midwest, and Northeast. This scenario was in stark contrast to Alaska where several towns had their coldest January on record. -
Report on Texas fire urges firefighters to consider wind effects
8 Feb 2012 | 10:28 amWind conditions at a fire scene can make a critical difference on the behavior of the blaze and the safety of firefighters, even indoors, according to a new report. -
Octagonal window of opportunity for carbon capture
8 Feb 2012 | 10:28 amScientists have gathered new insight into the performance of a material called a zeolite that may filter carbon dioxide far more efficiently than current industrial "scrubbers" do. -
Arsenic criticality poses concern for modern technology
8 Feb 2012 | 10:27 amRisks related to the critical nature of arsenic -- used to make high-speed computer chips that contain gallium arsenide -- outstrip those of other substances in a group of critical materials needed to sustain modern technology, a new study has found. Scientists evaluated the relative criticality of arsenic and five related metals. -
Lull in ship noise after Sept. 11 attacks eased stress on right whales
8 Feb 2012 | 10:27 amExposure to low-frequency ship noise may be associated with chronic stress in whales, according to a new study. The study, conducted in Canada's Bay of Fundy, has implications for all baleen whales in areas with heavy ship traffic, and for the recovery of the endangered North Atlantic right whale population.
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The Good Human
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Revenge of the Electric Car Available on Netflix Instant
7 Feb 2012 | 2:55 pmIf you are a fan of electric cars and the future of transportation, and have a Netflix Watch Instantly subscription, I have the perfect documentary for you to check out. Revenge of the Electric Car is the follow-up to Who Killed the Electric Car?, and is presented 12 years after General Motors killed their EV1 electric car project. The film covers the explosive growth in the electric car industry, as companies ranging from the guy making EV conversions in his garage, to the truly innovative upstarts (Tesla Motors), and to the massive (GM and Nissan), compete to release an affordable EV for… -
Set-Top TV Boxes use Equivalent Energy Output of Six Coal-Fired Power Plants.
5 Feb 2012 | 6:00 amQ: Is it true that cable and other pay TV boxes that sit atop television sets consume massive amounts of energy, in part because they are always on, even when the TV is off? We hear a lot about how much energy modern day flat screen TV sets consume, but the innocuous set-top boxes that drive them, along with their built-in digital video recorders, may be even more to blame. A recent analysis conducted by the consulting firm Ecos on behalf of the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) found that “the average new cable high-definition digital video recorder (HD-DVR) consumes more than half… -
Treat a Cold the Natural Way
4 Feb 2012 | 12:29 pmIf it’s wintertime where you live, then you know what that means – it’s time to bring out the supplies needed to treat a cold! Cold and flu season brings on all sorts of maladies, from the sniffles all the way to the flu and pneumonia. But the most common aiment people come down with is the common cold, and thankfully there are ways to treat a cold without resorting to all sorts of pills and cover-ups. Here are the most popular ways you can naturally treat a cold this season. Blow Your Nose – Blowing your nose regularly throughout the day is one of the best ways to… -
Quick Green Reads For The Weekend Volume 248
3 Feb 2012 | 6:00 amA weekly roundup of important green news stories from around the web… We are very fortunate to live in a time where we have nearly instant access to food of all kinds. That is why when I talk about starting a vegetable garden and growing your own food people give me a strange look. Why spend your time dealing with a garden when you can go to the grocery store and get whatever you want for cheap? This is why. We need to develop a new economy because the current version is not working. The industrial economy is destroying every aspect of the living planet. And, as it turns out, we need a…
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Home
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UNFCCC launches online climate adaptation guide for businesses - Published 2 Feb 2012
2 Feb 2012 | 12:50 pmThe UN's climate agency, the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) this week released a new online tool to assist companies and communities in planning for climate adaptation.
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EcoGeek
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Solar Panel Startup Achieves Amazing 33.9% Efficiency
7 Feb 2012 | 12:12 pmSemprius, a startup company manufacturing tiny concentrated solar cells that forgo any cooling systems has achieved a truly amazing leap in solar cell efficiency. The company was able to hit 33.9 percent efficiency with their solar panel, the first time a commercially-viable solar technology has passed the one-third mark. Semprius's solar cells use gallium arsenide, rather than silicon, which is able to absorb sunlight and dissipate heat far better. The solar panel that scored this major efficiency record is made up of hundreds of these tiny cells that are about the width of a pen-drawn line. -
Wireless EV Charging Could Be Embedded in Highways
6 Feb 2012 | 12:56 pmStanford University researchers are working on a wireless EV charging technology that could eventually lead to highways that automatically charge vehicles as they drive over them. Such a technology could lead to a basically infinite range for EVs. The wireless power transfer that the scientists are working on uses magnetic resonance coupling. Two copper coils are placed a few feet apart and tuned to resonate at the same frequency. One coil is connected to an electric current that generates a magnetic field that causes the other coil to resonate. This process leads to an electric current being… -
Nissan Builds Energy-Efficient Car Transport Ship
2 Feb 2012 | 6:12 amNissan has unveiled a new energy-efficient cargo ship for carrying its cars around the world. The Nichioh Maru features solar panels for powering the ships LED lighting system, a low-friction coating on the hull and an electronically-controlled diesel engine that optimizes fuel consumption. Compared to a conventional car carrier of its size, the Nichioh Maru will save 1,400 tons of fuel and prevent the emission of 4,200 tons of CO2 each year. The Nichioh Maru is the first Japanese cargo ship to be outfitted with solar panels. The ship's deck is covered by 281 panels for powering the LED… -
Warmer Temperatures Will Slash Wheat Yields
31 Jan 2012 | 11:29 amRising temperatures around the world are affecting many food crops and according to a new study done by a Stanford University scientist, wheat will be particularly vulnerable. David Lobell looked at nine years-worth of images captured by the MODIS Earth-observation satellite to analyze the growing season of wheat in the Ganges plain of India. What he found was that in the years with higher average temperatures, the wheat fields turned brown earlier meaning that they were no longer growing. Previous studies have predicted that wheat yields would fall by about 30 percent by 2050 in places… -
NASA Releases Updated Video Showing Warming Temperatures Since 1880
31 Jan 2012 | 6:06 amLast year was the ninth warmest year on record (since 1880). Global average surface temperatures has continually risen since 1950, when the average global temperature was 0.92 degrees F (0.51 C) cooler than in 2011. An updated video compiled by NASA's Goddard Institute for Space Studies illustrates this warming trend in colorful detail. Red in the video represents temperatures higher than the average during the 1950 - 1981 baseline period while blue represents temperatures lower than that average. While 2011 was the ninth warmest year, 2010 was the warmest year on record. The difference in…
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Dot Earth
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Other Voices: The Emptied Forests of Sarawak
8 Feb 2012 | 7:32 amThe world's richest forest, in plant species, loses its animals to unchecked hunting and surrounding development. -
Obama Pushes for Investing in Young, Inquiring Minds
7 Feb 2012 | 7:58 amPresident Obama welcomes dozens of young achievers in science and technology to the White House. -
What's a Science Teacher to Do?
6 Feb 2012 | 12:41 pmA look at the issues confronting teachers trying to explore climate science amid heated public debate. -
In Overheated Climate Fight, a Search for Common Ground
4 Feb 2012 | 9:45 amA search for common ground among people deeply split over greenhouse-driven global warming. -
A Shameful Attack on Free Speech by a Group Claiming to Speak for Coal-Dependent Workers
2 Feb 2012 | 8:34 pmA coal-backed group pushes for the cancellation of a lecture by a Pennsylvania climate scientist.
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Buildings & Facilities
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Greenpeace's Cool IT Leaderboard, Version 5: Feb. 2012
7 Feb 2012 | 2:03 pmThe latest edition of the ranking of IT companies' efforts to reduce their own energy use and advocate for clean energy policies finds Google and Cisco in the top spots. -
Greenpeace Puts Google, Cisco, Fujitsu at Top of Green IT Rankings
7 Feb 2012 | 1:03 pmThe fifth version of the advocacy group's Cool IT Leaderboard ranks global computing giants on their efforts to embrace renewable energy as well as push for global clean energy policies. -
What Companies Can Learn From Cities on Climate Change
7 Feb 2012 | 4:45 amCynthia Rosenzweig, a world-renowned urban climate change expert, explains what businesses and cities can do to help each other prepare for the threats posed by the warming planet. -
How Can Business Leaders Accept the Challenges of the New Energy Era?
6 Feb 2012 | 4:45 amA relatlively large number of business leaders are shifting their firms to be ready for the new energy economy, but important questions remain, including how to measure success and how to convince others to join in the quest. -
Using the Arts to Inspire a Sustainable Generation
5 Feb 2012 | 2:00 amThe co-founder of Artists for Humanity talks about training in the arts, and all it entails in terms of community, responsibility and hard work, helps to set them up as future leaders of a more sustainable world.
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The Blog
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MeiMei Fox: The Life Out Loud: Change Starts With Your Underwear
8 Feb 2012 | 7:54 pmHave you ever thought about where your underwear comes from? If you're an eco-conscious, socially responsible shopper like me, you probably buy organic dairy and free-range grass-fed meats, as well as earth-friendly dish soaps, detergents, and shampoos. You might also have your fruits and vegetables delivered each week from a local farm. If you're at the far end of the spectrum, you might not purchase leather products. You might even try to stick with (and to) t-shirts, hoodies, and yoga mats made from organic materials. But underwear, socks, and undershirts? I bet most of us still pick those… -
Jessica Cumberbatch Anderson: Is DIY Dead?
8 Feb 2012 | 1:45 pmWhen it comes to design, having a point of view is everything, and this time of year it seems like everybody has one. New year trends are picking up steam and what was deemed "so 2011" is moving further into the past. Honeysuckle pink, rainbow bookcases, those ubiquitous "Keep Calm And Carry On" signs, I get. But DIY? Dead? I've been a fan of Sheila Bridges traditional design and her one-of-a-kind "Harlem Toile" collection for some time. She's been a go-to source on everything from how well President Obama decorated his White House digs, to giving Gayle King's kitchen a sunny new look. So it… -
Veronique Pittman: Students Cut Energy Use By Up to 17%
8 Feb 2012 | 1:44 pmStudents across the U.S. are reporting impressive energy savings on their school campuses during the third week of meter readings for the 2012 national Green Cup Challenge® (GCC), with some schools reporting cuts as high as 17%. "This is extremely positive news for America, which makes up just 5% of the world's population but consumes 24% of the world's energy," says Peg Watson, Founder and President of the Green Schools Alliance (GSA). The GSA sponsors the GCC, which is now in its fifth year; 116 GCC schools in 22 states are competing to reduce their electricity consumption during peak… -
Bruce Friedrich: 2012: The Best Year Yet for Farm Animals (If You Want It)
8 Feb 2012 | 12:43 pmThe past few months have been deeply encouraging for Americans who care about the worst abuses of farm animals, as legislation has been introduced that would -- once and for all -- relegate the barren battery cage to the dust bin of history and the two most well-known pork producers have pledged to stop using gestation crates by 2017. Battery Cages Battery cages (aka "conventional cages") are tiny cages that confine five hens per cage, with more than 100,000 hens in a shed. In these tiny cages, the animals can't spread a single wing or do anything else that is natural to them (well, beyond… -
Tom Kiernan: Taking Care of America's Best Idea
8 Feb 2012 | 12:38 pmNational parks are very popular because they protect the unique and extraordinary places of history and natural wonder that define our country. They provide affordable vacations for American families, and they attract visitors from around the world. National parks are also economic hubs that provide jobs inside and outside their boundaries -- these are full, part-time and seasonal positions that exist because of tourism. A recent study commissioned by the National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA) found that national parks ensure more than four dollars in economic returns to local…
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Yahoo! News: Environment News
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BP wins exclusion of emails from oil spill trial (Reuters)
8 Feb 2012 | 2:53 pmReuters - BP Plc won a court order keeping several potentially damaging emails out of a scheduled trial to determine responsibility for the 2010 Gulf of Mexico oil spill. -
Lawsuit filed over Jesus statue on public land (AP)
8 Feb 2012 | 1:23 pmAP - The battle over a 57-year-old Jesus statue at a northwest Montana ski resort escalated Wednesday with a new federal lawsuit arguing that the Forest Service needs to remove the relic from its mountaintop perch. -
EPA: US needs $300B in sewer, water work (AP)
8 Feb 2012 | 12:21 pmAP - A federal study shows municipalities nationwide need more than $300 billion worth of essential upgrades to long overlooked water and sewer systems over the next 20 years. -
Scientists melt mystery over icecaps and sea levels (Reuters)
8 Feb 2012 | 10:06 amReuters - U.S. scientists using satellite data have established a more accurate figure of the amount of annual sea level rise from melting glaciers and ice caps which should aid studies on how quickly coastal areas may flood as global warming gathers pace. -
EPA Honors Military Facilities (ContributorNetwork)
8 Feb 2012 | 10:06 amContributorNetwork - The Environmental Protection Agency honored two Department of Defense facilities for achieving emissions reductions and energy savings with their Combined Heat and Power systems at the 25th Annual IDEA Campus Energy Conference in Arlington, Va. Here are the details.
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Environmental News Network
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Slash-and-burn 'improves tropical forest biodiversity'
8 Feb 2012 | 6:28 amSlash-and-burn agricultural practices, banned by governments because of the risk of uncontrolled fires, provide better growing conditions for valuable new trees than more modern methods of forest clearance, a study suggests. -
Rare Moroccan Argan Oil – Now Made In Israel
8 Feb 2012 | 6:18 amArgan oil, rich in vitamin E and fatty acids, has become the sensation of the decade, sought after by chemists, dieticians, hair salons, chefs and cosmeticians. Until recently, it was a rare product grown only in the Atlas Mountains and traditionally made by Moroccan tribes, as the Argan tree could not grow outside of Morocco. Now, Israeli company Sivan is developing "Argan 100" – a super strain of Argan that is tolerant of the Mediterranean climate and can produce ten times more nuts than the average tree in Morocco, they say. -
Bahamas' Blue Holes harbor strange lifeforms
8 Feb 2012 | 4:19 amClues to how life evolved, not only on this planet but also possibly on alien worlds, might be found in underwater caves in the Bahamas, researchers say. The caves in question are called "blue holes," so-named because from the air, their entrances appear circular in shape, with different shades of blue water in and around them. There are estimated to be more than 1,000 such caves in the Bahamas, the greatest concentration of blue holes in the world. -
Rising ocean acidity worst for Caribbean and Pacific
7 Feb 2012 | 12:35 pmThe current trend of increasing ocean acidification, which threatens fisheries around the world, is driven mainly by man-made changes and is higher even than that seen at the end of the last ice age, some 11,000 year ago, a study has said. Much of the carbon released by human activity ends up in the oceans, increasing their acidity and reducing the growth of corals and molluscs, which in turn may affect fisheries and aquaculture. -
Dune Flows
7 Feb 2012 | 7:00 amSand dunes flow over the land subject to the winds like ocean waves or rivers. What makes them move? What makes them start or stop? In a study at the White Sands National Monument in New Mexico, University of Pennsylvania researchers have uncovered a unifying mechanism to explain the beautiful dune patterns that occur. The findings may also hold implications for identifying when dune landscapes like those in Nebraska's Sand Hills may reach a tipping point under climate change, going from valuable grazing land to barren desert.
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NYT > Environment
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Green Blog: Hatcheries vs. Wild Salmon
8 Feb 2012 | 6:00 pmSalmon populations in California's Mokelumne watershed are on the rise, but it turns out that only 4 percent are of wild origins. -
Green Blog: Surplus Renewable Energy: An Update
8 Feb 2012 | 3:05 pmFrom interregional sharing to the development of batteries, the energy secretary offers ideas for coping with a sudden oversupply of power to the grid. -
Green Blog: From 2 Satellites, the Big Picture on Ice Melt
8 Feb 2012 | 1:28 pmResearchers calculate that from 2003 to 2010, the world's glaciers and ice caps lost about 150 billion tons of ice each year. -
Observatory: Marine Turtles’ Mating Habits Make Up for Male Shortage
8 Feb 2012 | 12:33 pmA vast majority of babies are female, but the disparity fades as a factor by the time green turtles are old enough to breed. -
Joy Reidenberg, Anatomist, Builds a Following on ‘Inside Nature’s Giants’
8 Feb 2012 | 12:23 pmA chance call made Joy Reidenberg, a researcher at Mount Sinai School of Medicine who has performed hundreds of dissections on various mammals, a TV celebrity.
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The Oil Drum - Discussions about Energy and Our Future
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After The Gold Rush: A Perspective on Future U.S. Natural Gas Supply and Price
8 Feb 2012 | 7:05 amOn January 23, 2012, Chesapeake Energy announced that it would curtail drilling in shale gas plays in the United States. Subsequently, other operators have followed suit. While the outcome of this announcement is unclear, it is a signal that the industry is in distress. One can argue that this distress stems from a lack of discipline as market price began to decline. After gas prices collapsed in mid-2008, U.S. operators continued to drill as if price did not matter. Many reasons were given to justify the economics of ongoing activity including to hold acreage by production, to fulfill… -
TheOilDrum.com Archive 2005-2011
8 Feb 2012 | 7:00 amDuring the past seven years, TheOilDrum.com has hosted analysis and discussion surrounding the possibility and implications of a near term peak in global oil production and importance of energy to society in general. Out of the ~8,500 articles posted here (all searchable by keyword in upper left), the list below comprises what each author considered some of their most relevant content. The list is in alphabetical order, by last name of Oil Drum contributor. Click on the author's name to go to their list of selected articles. At the end of each section, a link is given to the complete list of… -
Drumbeat: February 8, 2012
8 Feb 2012 | 6:34 amOil, Food, Water: Is Everything Past Its Peak? An unprecedented crisis faced America. Oil production was going to peak in just three to five years, resulting in foreign oil addiction and economic calamity. The scientist responsible for slapping the nation into consciousness implored industry and government to act: "The smug complacency that habitually blinds the American public must be torn," wrote David White, chief geologist of the U.S. Geological Survey. It was 1920. More than 90 years later, tempers still flare over the prospect of global "peak oil." Last week a commentary in the… -
Gas Boom Goes Bust
6 Feb 2012 | 6:15 amThe current boom in drilling for ‘unconventional’ gas has helped raise US production to levels not seen since the early 1970′s. This has been an incredible boon to consumers and has kept spot prices contained below $5 per million BTU for the past year, recently dropping below $3/mmbtu. Unfortunately, this price is below the cost of production for many of these new wells. When the flood of investment currently pouring into natural gas drilling operations dries up, the inevitable bust will be as scary as the boom was exciting. The Problem A well written and realistic overview… -
Tech Talk - Oil and Natural Gas in Eastern Siberia
5 Feb 2012 | 3:05 amIn the last post on Russian oil production, I discussed the amounts of oil produced from Western Siberia, the region with the highest current production, which in its prime contained the second largest producing oilfield in the world at Samotlor. Those fields are now in decline, and while modern technology is seeking to retain as much production as possible, Russian investment is moving further East to the region known as Eastern Siberia. It is not the most hospitable of places, even when compared with Western Siberia. The cold is staggering, even for Siberia: winter temperatures can fall to…
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EcoSalon | Conscious Culture and Fashion
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EcoSalon at NYFW: ORGANIC by John Patrick
8 Feb 2012 | 3:21 pmORGANIC by John Patrick gives us his “beautiful vision” of sustainable fashion. To the toe-tapping tunes of The Beatles, designer John Patrick debuted his Fall 2012 ORGANIC collection at a boutique event space in the Garment District for New York’s Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week. Under the heading “A Beautiful Vision,” the show featured a romantic collection inspired by a Julia Margaret Cameron photograph called A Beautiful Vision, Julia Duckworth, taken of Cameron’s niece (and future mother of painter Vanessa Bell and writer Virginia Woolf) in 1872. -
Just 1 Super Bowl Ad Could Give 140,000 People Water for Life
8 Feb 2012 | 1:06 pmReally. With population growth, industrialization and limited resources, access to freshwater has become a crisis. 1.1 billion people lack access to safe drinking water – that’s more than one out of six people. Every 20 seconds a child dies from a water-related illness. Water is such an issue that it is a key component in achieving the United Nation’s Millenium Development Goals. These statistics are hard to grapple with, but for perspective, consider that this past weekend, a 30-second advertising spot during the Super Bowl ran for $3.5 million. According to Water.org, the… -
30 Gorgeous Photos of Winter Snowscapes
8 Feb 2012 | 10:59 amLet it snow, let it snow, let it snow. So far, the winter of 2011-2012 ranks as the fifth-warmest on record. And if temperatures continue to hover around the 40s through February, we’re set to break that record. For some, winter is as full throttle as it always has been. In fact, in some parts of the world, winter is even more hellish than it’s ever been. For those of you craving that white stuff, here’s some pretty reminders of what you could have if you were in the right place. (above) Utah, USA Vail, Colorado Füssen, Germany Nozawa, Japan Wallpack Center, New Jersey,… -
Behind the Label: Levi Strauss’ E-Valuate Program
8 Feb 2012 | 8:49 amGreen jean, baby. In 1873, Levi Strauss & Company invented the first blue jeans, a durable pair of trousers that could hold up to the task of constructing America. The rest is history. Today, Levi’s 501 jeans are the world’s best-selling item of clothing, and the blue jean, whether skinny or bell-bottomed, has been a global fashion staple for as long as most of us can remember. Levi’s commitment to social responsibility has similar historical clout. During the Great Depression, for instance, Levi’s instituted shorter work weeks to prevent the massive lay-offs that were happening… -
10 Ways to Use a Dryer Sheet
8 Feb 2012 | 7:08 amFrom debugging the grill of your car to cleaning pots and pans, there’s more than one way to use a dryer sheet. You’ve probably heard the tip about putting dryer sheets in your vacuum or bottom of the trash can to keep things smelling fresh. You haven’t? Well, it’s true. And here are ten additional ways of fluffing up your abode with downy freshness (we always suggest using non-toxic dryer sheets!) 1. Dusting Use dryer sheets to dust blinds, fans or almost any surface. The anti static properties in the sheets will help repel the dust. They are easy to hold and you…
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Top news for Digg Alternative Energy & Green Newsroom
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Scientists Invent Robot That Powers Itself By Eating Organic Matter, Then Pooping
8 Feb 2012 | 7:43 amScientists working out of the Bristol Robotics Laboratory have invented a robot that powers itself by collecting its own food and water, digests it, then poops out the waste, according to Scientific American. It may sound unconventional, but scientists hope that a new generation of these "ecobots" will not only be self-sustaining, but may even help recycle and reuse food waste. -
5 Amazing Places in the US in Danger of Being Destroyed by Dirty Energy
8 Feb 2012 | 6:54 pmWe've won a temporary reprieve from the Keystone XL Pipeline, but there are still places greatly at risk in the country. -
Chevy Volt Vs. Nissan Leaf: Compare Cars
8 Feb 2012 | 6:40 pmFor now, they're the only two mass-market electric vehicles on the road. So, which one should you buy: the Chevrolet Volt, or the Nissan Leaf? -
Bill Gates exposed for funding research, promotion of spraying geo-engineered 'chemtrails' across globe
8 Feb 2012 | 4:56 pmBill Gates exposed for funding research, promotion of spraying geo-engineered 'chemtrails' across globe -
Membership in Unions Supporting Obama on Keystone Rejection Outnumbers Those Against | Truthout
8 Feb 2012 | 7:13 pmUnions with a substantially larger membership base are supporting the president's environmental caution, despite partisan outcry.
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Reuters: Environment
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Airlines seek swift end to row over EU CO2 scheme
8 Feb 2012 | 10:24 amLONDON (Reuters) - British Airways, Qantas and other airlines are calling on governments to find a swift resolution to a political dispute over the European Union's carbon scheme, because the deadlock may create competitive distortions. -
Scientists melt mystery over icecaps and sea levels
8 Feb 2012 | 10:10 amSINGAPORE (Reuters) - U.S. scientists using satellite data have established a more accurate figure of the amount of annual sea level rise from melting glaciers and ice caps which should aid studies on how quickly coastal areas may flood as global warming gathers pace. -
Blizzards push SE Europe energy grids to limits
8 Feb 2012 | 9:26 amLONDON/SARAJEVO (Reuters) - Blizzards and ice-laden power lines in southeastern Europe pushed gas and electricity networks near to breaking point Wednesday as consumption soared, while some western countries scrambled to prevent similar breakdowns. -
Grand Canyon to ban bottled water sales
8 Feb 2012 | 8:56 amPHOENIX, Arizona (Reuters) - The Grand Canyon will soon ban the sale of bottled water, responding to concerns that empty plastic bottles scattered around the park are spoiling views of the natural wonder. -
Swiss nuke plant briefly shut after maintenance
8 Feb 2012 | 8:40 amZURICH (Reuters) - Switzerland's Muehleberg nuclear power plant was shut down safely on Wednesday after maintenance work caused the feedwater system to stop, the operator said.
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msnbc.com: Environment
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WWF: Toilet paper destroys tiger, elephant habitat
8 Feb 2012 | 3:12 pmIs your toilet paper wiping out forests used by tigers, elephants, orangutans and other wildlife? The World Wildlife Fund alleged that a major paper supplier is clearcutting in Indonesia. -
Satellites show how our icy world is melting
8 Feb 2012 | 11:47 amThe melt-off from the world's ice sheets, ice caps and glaciers over eight years of the past decade would have been enough to cover the United States in about 18 inches (46 centimeters) of water, according to new research based on the most-comprehensive analysis of satellite data yet. -
Calif. mine owner told he's operating illegally
8 Feb 2012 | 11:14 amCalifornia's Gold Rush was more than a century-and-a-half ago, but its Wild West spirit lives on in a dispute between government agencies and a landowner in the Sierra Nevada foothills. -
Quieter oceans make for less-stressed whales
8 Feb 2012 | 10:38 amQuiet oceans make for calmer right whales, new research suggests. When fewer ships sail the Bay of Fundy, the big baleen whales are less stressed — as evidenced by hormone levels in their poop. -
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7 Feb 2012 | 3:37 pm
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greenUPGRADER
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An Upcycled Valentine: Plantable Pansy in a Newspaper Pot!
8 Feb 2012 | 11:25 amWhat is black, white and read (or red) all over? This sweet and earthy Valentine! Using my PotMaker and a new batch of pansies, I rolled 3.5" x 10" strips of newspaper to form the pots and popped a singular, cheerful viola inside each one. A few scraps of lace, ribbon and a sticker embellish this gift. There is no glue involved, just twisting and tying! Pansies are perfect cool-weather flowers with their velvety, heart-shaped petals. When Valentine's day is over, your sweetie can transplant the flower; recycle, compost, or even reuse the newspaper; and reuse the embellishments on her next… -
Craft Recycled: Upcycled Lamp from a Wire Waste Basket
8 Feb 2012 | 4:00 amFor folks who are into cross-stitch or weaving, the texture of a wire waste basket begs to be fancied up with stitched or woven fiber, and Poppytalk did an awesome job transforming a wire waste basket into a lamp! They used strips of fabric, but you could also use yarn or grouped strands of embroidery thread - this is a great project for busting that fiber stash. You can check out the full instructions on how to do it over on Poppytalk! The folks at Poppytalk used a new waste basket, but you can hunt at thrift stores for a second hand one to make this an upcycled project! The trick is… -
10 Awesome Wine Cork Craft Projects
6 Feb 2012 | 4:00 amIf you know me, you know I like a glass of red wine on a chilly winter evening. After quite a few chilly winter evenings, though, what I have is a big bowl full of wine corks. Don't judge. Let's get crafty instead! There are companies that will take your corks back to recycle them, and if you're not feeling crafty that's a great way to make sure your wine corks don't end up in the landfill, but before recycling, they get shipped to some central location, and you have to consider the carbon footprint that comes with all of that transportation. With a little crafty love, you can transform your… -
Make Your Printer Ink Last Longer
3 Feb 2012 | 4:00 amIf you're trying to live a greener lifestyle, chances are you avoid printing at all costs. Between the energy, the paper, and the ink, printing is not the most eco-friendly thing you can do. Sometimes, though, there are things we have to print out. Maybe it's paperwork for our taxes or something for work where an electronic document just won't do the trick. If you do have to print, stretching your resources is a great way to green up that process. You probably already know to print on both sides of your paper or maybe you even fish junk mail out of the bin and print on the back of that. But… -
Craft Reycled: Vintage Book Page Heart Garland
1 Feb 2012 | 4:00 amIf you're a regular around here, you know that I love a handmade holiday, and Valentine's Day is no exception! I'm loving this sweet heart garland that I ran across on Pinterest. The Pinterest user who shared this photo didn't include instructions or a link to where you can buy your own, but this would be super simple to make yourself! Here's how. Materials Scrap paper. You can use book pages, junk mail, or any other scrap paper that you like! Scissors Stapler Embroidery thread and a needle Twine Ribbon Directions Cut out 3 strips of paper that are 1/2" wide in varying lengths. Try 9", 10"…
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DeSmogBlog
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The Business of Risk – Insuring Against Climate Change
8 Feb 2012 | 12:28 pmInsurance_Photo.jpg When it comes to assessing risk, the insurance industry is one of the leaders in the field. Whether it is health insurance, car insurance, or homeowner’s insurance, the industry is forced to analyze every possible scenario for a given person or structure, and impose a fee based on the likelihood of events for the situation. So when an entire industry that bases their profitability on reducing risk starts factoring climate change into their equations, it's probably a good idea to pay attention. Earlier this month, insurance commissioners in three separate U.S. -
Santorum Calls Global Warming a “Hoax,” Suggesting a Full-Fledged Climate Conspiracy Theory
8 Feb 2012 | 6:19 am501px-Rick_Santorum_by_Gage_Skidmore.jpg Conservatism is a political philosophy that is, at its most fundamental, about resisting change. So perhaps we shouldn’t be surprised that an outrageous and absurd line uttered about global warming in 2003—Oklahoma Senator James Inhofe’s assertion that it is the “greatest hoax ever perpetrated on the American people”—has not, nearly a decade later, been discredited on the right. Instead, this idea has persisted. Indeed, the “hoax” charge was recently reiterated by Rick… -
China Looks To Stephen Harper For Lessons In Dirty Energy Exploitation
7 Feb 2012 | 9:14 pmoilyleaf.jpg Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper is in China this week to meet with Chinese leaders about how both countries can profit big by exploiting China’s shale gas reserves, as well as by importing Canadian tar sands oil. Harper is scheduled to meet with both Chinese officials, as well as heads of oil and gas companies during his four-day visit to the country. More on the specifics of who will be attending these meetings, from Reuters Canada: During his trip Harper will meet President Hu Jintao and Premier Wen Jiabao as well as two important regional players - Chongqing… -
Here We Go Again – Republican Attacks On EPA Kick Off 2012 Agenda
6 Feb 2012 | 9:56 ambusiness-anti-environment.jpg With the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) set to finally enact stricter air pollution standards in accordance with the Clean Air Act and two subsequent U.S. Supreme Court decisions requiring them to do so, powerful Republicans in the U.S. House of Representatives are working to make sure that the new standards never see the light of day. The specific measures being targeted are the EPA’s new standards for carbon emissions from power plant smoke stacks. Fred Upton (R-MI), chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, along with Republicans… -
A Conservative Ignores the Science on Why…Conservatives Ignore the Science
6 Feb 2012 | 7:38 amdiscoveryGlobeHeader.jpg David Klinghoffer, of the anti-evolutionist Discovery Institute, has a revealing article in the conservative American Spectator entitled: “Republicans and Science (as opposed to liberals and the science they’ve politicized).” Why “revealing”? Klinghoffer seeks to explain the real reason why conservatives like himself resist certain scientific findings. But in the process, he shows a surprising, er, inattentiveness to the scientific research on this very topic. At the same time, Klinghoffer also strikingly affirms the results of…
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Clean Edge News
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Wind Energy Powers Ahead Despite Economic Turmoil
9 Feb 2012 | 4:00 am -
Renewable Energy Deals Buck Uncertainty to Rise 40%, PWC Says
9 Feb 2012 | 12:00 am -
Electric Car Tops Greenest Vehicle List for First Time in 12 Years
8 Feb 2012 | 4:00 am -
Wind Power Blowing Up in California
8 Feb 2012 | 12:00 am -
DOD Announces $18 Million Fund to Improve Battlefield Energy Security
7 Feb 2012 | 4:00 am
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Matter Network - Clean Technology, Sustainable Business and Green News
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Solar Space Tugboat Considered by NASA Crowd
7 Feb 2012 | 9:44 pmby Steve Duda We recently reported on Elon Musk’s (of Tesla Motors fame) and his commercial rocket/space vehicle company’s use of solar power in its spacecraft. That mission, which used solar panels and battery storage to power parts of the craft, had full NASA backing. Now, we learn that NASA’s commitment to the use of solar as an important source of power while in space is strengthening. The space agency recently put out a request for proposals looking for a company to prepare a high-power solar electric propulsion flight system technology for NASA deep space and human… -
Wind Power: Putting the Wind in the Sails of Peace
7 Feb 2012 | 9:38 pmby Michael Shank and Melissa Powell With last month’s climate talks in South Africa postponing specific carbon cuts until 2020, it is clear that something more than mere nation-state commitments will be needed to counter climate change and reduce global warming. With nations reluctant to recommit to another climate treaty, replete with binding targets and a global trading scheme for carbon emissions, it will be up to the private sector to pick up the slack. Thankfully, it seems up for the challenge. WindMade: A New Consumer Label Supporting Wind Energy Take, for instance, WindMade. This… -
German-Saudi Partnership to Build Polysilicon Plant in Red Sea City
7 Feb 2012 | 9:31 pmby Andrew Burger Germany’s Centrotherm Photovoltaics, the world’s second-largest manufacturer of solar photovoltaic (PV) equipment, has signed an agreement with IDEA Polysilicon to construct a polysilicon solar PV manufacturing facility in the Saudi Arabian Red Coast city of Yanbu, according to a Reuters News report. The agreement aims to provide IDEA the technology and know-how it needs to become a market force in the Middle East-North Africa (MENA) region, a market that’s attracting more and more interest from industry players globally. The value of the contract… -
In Smart Buildings, Co-opetition is on the Rise
6 Feb 2012 | 9:36 pmby Eric Bloom The building equipment and services industries have always been highly fragmented. While leaders such as Honeywell and Johnson Controls have large, multinational presences, most of the market is divvied up among thousands of smaller companies with a relatively narrow regional or technological focus. Even CB Richard Ellis, the real estate firm with the largest footprint of space under management (2.9 billion square feet), has only captured less than 1 percent of the world’s 400 billion sf of commercial space. The result is an industry that has historically consisted of… -
The Wonderbag: Low-Carbon Slow Cooking
6 Feb 2012 | 9:30 pmby Jeff Jeff McIntire-Strasburg Cooking packs a wallop in terms of health and environmental impact in the developing world: I’ve seen the numbers time and time again as I come across new appropriate technology for addressing that impact. Various social enterprises have played with clean, efficient cookstove models to address respiratory disease and deforestation that results from cooking with wood. I’ve been fascinated by these approaches: from rockets stoves to cogeneration concepts, there’s been a lot to admire on this front… and not just because these ideas are…
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Deep Climate
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Open Thread, February 2012
6 Feb 2012 | 7:44 amHere are a couple of items currently in the news. Fallout from the Wall Street Journal 16 op-ed continues. The Journal printed a response from actual climate scientists, apparently drafted by NCAR scientists Kevin Trenberth. Meanwhile Patrick Michaels weighs in at Forbes. There are many other takedowns of the WSJ 16 piece out there; here is one from Media Matters. There has also been a ragged rollout of the plan for a more rigourous oil sands monitoring program, with attendant confusion about whether there will be independent governance. As far as I can tell, Alberta is willing to go along… -
Joe Oliver recycles debunked EthicalOil.org talking points on oilsands emissions, refuses to accept climate science
31 Jan 2012 | 8:30 pmRecently I noted that planned expansion of the Alberta oil sands can not possibly be reconciled with the Harper government’s promises to reduce greenhouse gas emissions over the next few decades. (And Simon Fraser climate policy researcher Mark Jaccard apparently agrees). And I also exposed the ever mounting number of evident links between the Conservative government, including Natural Resources Minister Joe Oliver, and the pro-oilsands EthicalOil.org PR group (a.k.a the Ethical Oil Institute). From: Quesnel Cariboo-Sentinel Now Oliver has upped the ante on both contentions… -
Mark Jaccard calls out Stephen Harper on oil sands
26 Jan 2012 | 1:46 pmMark Jaccard is arguably Canada’s foremost climate policy researcher. He was a key architect of British Columbia premier Gordon Campbell’s landmark climate change program, featuring North America’s first comprehensive escalating carbon tax. And he led a comprehensive 2007 modeling study, Climate Leadership, Economic Prosperity that detailed the path for Canada to meet, or even exceed, its GHG emissions target for 2020. So when Jaccard has something to say, politicians and interested citizens on all sides of the climate policy debate generally listen. And Jaccard is… -
Open Thread, January 2012
19 Jan 2012 | 12:37 pmA couple of timely topics suggest themselves: 1) The Keystone XL application has been turned down by the Obama administration, but the applicant Trans Canada has been invited to reapply and will do so. In other words, a final decision has been delayed until 2013, which was the situation before the Republicans tried to force the issue. 2) Hansen et al have released their 2011 review, “Global Temperature in 2011, Trends, and Prospects”. -
Ethical Oil political connections, part 1: Conservatives “Go Newclear”
13 Jan 2012 | 9:27 amAs a once in a generation Canadian pipeline review process gets underway, the rhetoric around the massive Northern Gateway project has heated up noticeably. The Conservative government and the Ethical Oil pro-industry group seemed to take turns ratcheting up attacks on environmental groups opposing the project almost daily. Natural Resources Minister Joe Oliver may have set a new low in his recent attacks on those who would “hijack our regulatory system to achieve their radical ideological agenda”, backed by “foreign special interest groups”, not to mention…
