Penguins Go Green

Fans attending the Pittsburgh Penguins' home opener against the Philadelphia Flyers Oct. 7 will notice that differences between Consol Energy Center and the Civic Arena go beyond the obvious.

Sniff the air; it'll be cleaner, fresher. Look up; sunlight will pour through windows. Check out the faucets and toilets in the restrooms; they'll use less water.

The Pens' new home will be among the most, if not the most, environmentally friendly arenas in the nation, said Jason Carmello, an architect with Populous, the Kansas City, Mo., firm that designed Consol Energy Center.

"We're trying to get to the highest LEED-certified level of any arena in America," Carmello said.

LEED is a green-building certification system, developed by the U.S. Green Building Council in Washington. It verifies a structure was designed and built using methods that improve energy savings and water efficiency, reduce carbon dioxide emissions and conserve resources.

"We're hoping for LEED gold, which would be unusual for a building of this size," said Catherine Sheane the sustainable-design manager for Astorino, a Downtown firm that provides architecture, engineering and landscape and interior design services. The center is about 700,000 square feet, she said.

"We hope to hear before the end of August," said Sheane, who has managed the LEED certification process for Consol Energy Center.

To attain the gold standard, the team that designed and built the arena must score at least 39 points on the Washington-based Green Building Certification Institute's scale, Sheane said.

"We submitted documentation for 43 points," she said. "We're hoping that's enough of a cushion."

Items garnering points include diverting waste from landfills; using recycled building materials; using sustainably harvested and processed wood; and using materials that reflect rather than absorb sunlight, to reduce heat absorption.

Contractors diverted 93.7 percent of the arena's waste from landfills, Sheane said.

"We separated what could be recycled and what could not be," said Theresa McCue, a project engineer, who tracked and logged more than 85 percent of the diverted waste. "The fact that we got that high was amazing. It's wonderful."    read full story




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Green Back To School Tips

The summer is half way over and many kids will be returning to school in the next few weeks, so I thought it would be a good time to share some Green Back To School Tips.
 

Back to school is the perfect time not only for digging out that alarm clock, but also for adopting some greener habits you and your whole family can practice all year long.

Below are some tips worthy of a green star.

1. Take Inventory and Avoid Duplicates

It might be exciting to enter the back-to-school section of your local retailer—so many shiny things and bright colors! But don’t be tempted to buy more than you need. First, check what you already have in stock.
Did your child really use all 500 sheets of paper you bought last year? Is every single pencil worn down to the nub?   Do you really need a new ruler (the measurements haven't changed over the summer, you know) or a package of 68 pens?
Make a list of what you absolutely know you need, what you think you might need, and what you want, and carefully consider which items go in which section of the list. Once your list is complete only buy what you really need for the year and the amount of “stuff” you don’t bring home will be astonishing.

2. Purchase Recycled

It’s unavoidable: You will have to buy some things for the upcoming school year. Many retailers  offer recycled products.  Instead of a regular pencil case, how about one from TerraCycle made out of juice drink pouches.
Just be sure to check your recycled school supplies for durability and minimal packaging.

3. Go the Used Route

Nothing signals the back-to-school season more than a mountain of shiny new books, right?  Not necessarily. If you’re looking to reduce your waste—and the total at the bottom of your receipts—seriously consider buying used, opting for online or renting.
Used textbooks are often available for half off or more in campus bookstores, and Web sites. Amazon carries a broad selection of used titles. Some schools are even experimenting with online textbooks, reducing both your costs and strain on your backpack. Renting textbooks is also another growing option.

4. Swap and Sell

 Somehow in the last year those shorts got way too short. Every school year demands a new wardrobe, but this doesn’t automatically have to mean a shopping spree at the mall. Organize a clothing swap among your friends; you can pass on those tiny shorts to another grateful parent and your child could end up with a Spider-Man T-shirt.

Hand-me-downs are a great place to get started. Thrift stores and second hand stores can be  fun and  a cheap way to send your kiddies back to school in low-impact duds. Style-conscious teens can find gently used but still ultra-hip clothes at  second hand stores. 


Even if your school requires uniforms, everyone will be just as happy to trade in their old for “new.” Same goes for flea markets, consignment shops and thrift stores. Someone’s old skinny jeans could become your daughter’s new favorite fashion statement.

5. Walking, Biking, Busing: Green Transportation to School

Going green while getting back and forth to school offers a familiar refrain: human power -- walking or biking -- is best; riding the bus is next; driving alone is last.  If walking, biking, or busing aren't in the cards, be sure to divide the ride and start a parent carpool.
 You could even arrange a "walkpool,” chaperoning a group on foot to and from school. You’ll save on gas, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, get some exercise and maybe make some new friends in the process.

 6. Think Outside the Lunch-Box
 Don't brown bag it; instead opt for a washable, reusable container to tote your lunch too and from. Just make sure to avoid vinyl lunch boxes which have been shown to contain harmful levels of lead. Instead, invest in a PVC-free, thermally insulated lunch bag. Instead of using baggies and plastic wrap for sandwiches and snacks, use reusable plastic containers.  The Laptop Lunch box system is also a solid choice for reusable lunch-packing, and includes individual containers and beverage holders.
 
Just by eliminating all that daily wasted plastic and paper, your child could save 67 pounds of garbage a year.

7. Do Your Part

Even if you’ve forgotten how to do long division, you can still teach your kids to recycle when you’re not around. Inquire if your school has a recycling program, and if the answer is yes, explain to your children how to use it.

8. Monitor Electronics

Computers, calculators, printers—it seems like a lot of school supplies nowadays plug in or run on batteries. Even if your child has mastered turning the lights out when they leave a room, there are two more ways to conserve energy even when their gadgets are off. Purchase rechargeable batteries instead of new, and invest in a Smart Power Strip.
At $30 to $40, it’s a bit pricier than a typical power strip, but it’s completely worth it. This strip stops drawing electricity from appliances that are turned off, meaning you don’t have to remember to switch the strip on and off every time. Sounds like something that could be useful all over the house, doesn’t it?


 Do This Stuff All Year
Greening your back to school experience is a great way to start the year, and a great way to make progress toward a sustainable lifestyle, but there's no reason to stop after the year has just started. Apply the lessons you've learned preparing to go back to school to other parts of your non-scholastic life, and, when it comes time to re-supply, follow the tips to stay prepared, organized, and green.

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Article sources #2:

On another note  I must say its good to be back. My blog was disabled , I was told it was S**M, I don't even want to use that word on here. Thankfully everything has been straightened out and I hope I haven't lost many followers in past the 19 days.  Anyway, good to be back........

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Solar-Powered Plane Flies for 26 Hours

 As we find more and more ways to save energy and help save the environment we continue to look at the devices we use for everyday travel as a way to implement greener energy. One such device for travel is the airplane.

 The airplane is something that not many people have thought about making greener, but with this new invention it may not be long and we may go off the use of jet fuel as we know it.
  
The solar plane Impulse has landed after over a 26 hour flight in the skies over Switzerland.
The Impulse which has a 210 foot wingspan, was powered by  a bank of 12,000 solar cells, which kept batteries charged for electric power for the engine.

According to the New York Times:

Slender as a stick insect, a solar-powered experimental airplane with a huge wing span completed its first test flight of more than 24 hours on Thursday, powered overnight by energy collected from the sun during a day aloft over Switzerland.

The organizers said the flight was the longest and highest by a piloted solar-powered craft, reaching an altitude of just over 28,000 feet above sea level at an average speed of 23 knots, around 26 miles per hour.

The plane — Solar Impulse — landed where it had taken off 26 hours and 9 minutes earlier at Payerne, 30 miles southwest of the capital, Bern, after gliding and looping over the Jura Mountains, its 12,000 solar cells absorbing energy to keep its batteries charged when the sun went down.

The pilot, André Borschberg, 57, a former Swiss air force fighter pilot, flew the plane from a cramped, single-seat cockpit, buffeted by low-level turbulence after takeoff and chilled by low temperatures overnight.

“I’ve been a pilot for 40 years now, but this flight has been the most incredible one of my flying career,” Mr. Borschberg said as he landed, according to a statement from the organizers of the project. “Just sitting there and watching the battery charge level rise and rise thanks to the sun. I have just flown more than 26 hours without using a drop of fuel and without causing any pollution.”

The project’s co-founder, Dr. Bertrand Piccard, who himself achieved fame by completing the first nonstop, round-the-world flight by hot air balloon in 1999, embraced the pilot after he landed the plane to the cheers of hundreds of supporters.

“When you took off it was another era,” The Associated Press quoted Dr. Piccard as saying. “You land in a new era where people understand that with renewable energy you can do impossible things.”

The project’s designers had set out to prove that, theoretically at least, the plane with its airliner-size, 208-foot wingspan could stay aloft indefinitely, recharging batteries during the day and using the stored power overnight. “We are on the verge of the perpetual flight,” Dr. Piccard said.

The project’s founders say their ambition is for one of their craft to fly around the world using solar power. The propeller-driven Solar Impulse, made of carbon fiber, is powered by four small electric motors and weighs around 3,500 pounds. During its 26-hour flight, the plane reached a maximum speed of 68 knots, or 78 miles per hour, the organizers said.

The seven-year-old project is not intended to replace jet transportation — or its comforts.

Just 17 hours after takeoff, a blog on the project’s Web site reported, “André says he’s feeling great up there.”

It continued: “His only complaints involve little things like a slightly sore back as well as a 10-hour period during which it was minus 20 degrees Celsius in the cockpit.

“That made his drinking water system freeze up and worse of all his iPod batteries die.”
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A Greener Way To Ship

UPS recently became the first small package carrier to offer carbon offsets to customers. Now the shipping company is upping the ante by expanding its carbon neutral shipping program internationally to over 35 countries. The service is cheap, ranging from 5 cents to 75 cents, and easy, too--it requires customers to just check a box during the online shipping process. But does it make sense?

UPS claims that its carbon offsets take all steps of the shipping process into account, including air and ground fleets, emissions from UPS facilities, and fuel used by companies that provide delivery services to UPS. The company is also working hard to ensure the reliability of its program, which purchases Gold Standard, Voluntary Carbon Standard, and Climate Action Reserve (CAR) certified offsets, as well as to European Union Allowances and Certified Emission Reduction offsets. The whole thing is overseen by the Société Générale de Surveillance (SGS) and the Carbon Neutral Company, to boot.

We're skeptical of carbon offsets as a general rule--it's difficult to ensure that offsetting projects stand the test of time and there isn't a quality standard that offsetters have to adhere to (UPS is using a number of different standards). But while some companies believe that offsetting simply encourages customers to consume more, UPS's customers probably won't decide whether or not to ship a package based on the availability of carbon offsets. In this case, it's hard to see a downside to the program--just as long as UPS continues to track its carbon offset projects over the years.   Source  fastcompany



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"Energy Star" Label Graces Churches for Efficiency

 Caring for the Earth and reducing energy expenses are two of the reasons some area churches are focusing on going green.

A church in Massachusetts is the latest to receive the EPA's "Energy Star" label for congregations as the agency pushes to make thousands of houses of worship more energy efficient.

Old and new intersect at First Parish church in Massachusetts, which holds 18th-century timber in its walls and displays proof of its 21st-century energy efficiency with an "Energy Star" plaque by the door.


"Energy Star" status, more commonly associated with dishwashers and refrigerators, is now available to houses of worship as the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency looks to lower energy use at thousands of congregations nationwide.

First Parish in Needham is one of just nine congregations in the nation with the designation, which it won after a recent multimillion-dollar expansion and renovation.

Among its upgrades: temperature controls for each room so energy isn't wasted in areas that aren't being used; a ventilation system that adjusts to the number of people inside by measuring the carbon dioxide being exhaled; new insulation in the meeting house walls, which are partly supported by beams from the church's original 1774 building.

As churches consider new efficiency upgrades, the EPA hopes they tap into the same ancient religious principle - good stewardship of the earth - that drove First Parish.

"It's a spiritual issue," said The Rev. John Buehrens, pastor of the Unitarian Universalist church. "Stewardship of the planet and a realization of the fragility of the creation and our responsibility of preserving its beauty is absolutely central to our religious values."

The United States has an estimated 370,000 houses of worship, nearly the number of its K-12 school buildings.

Some buildings seem primed for big improvement, such as the stately churches with high ceilings and leaky windows that are common in buildings in New England town squares. But Michael Zatz, EPA Energy Star commercial buildings manager, said older churches aren't necessarily far less efficient than newer buildings. Instead, he said, focusing on churches can have broad impact.

"The people sitting in those congregations are workers in ... other places - teachers in the schools, managers of hotels - and they might learn through the congregation about what can be done in buildings in general and take it into their workplace," he said. "They also may take it back to their home."

The EPA has reached out to congregations since 1999. But it just began awarding the Energy Star label in October. Before then, a periodic federal building survey hadn't reviewed enough houses of worship to allow the EPA to draw up Energy Star scores for that building type, Zatz said.

So far nine congregations from Alabama to Michigan have won the label. Variables such as a building's size, location and energy use over a year are plugged into a formula. The building's actual energy usage is then compared to what the formula predicts it will use. If it's more efficient than 75 percent of similar houses of worship, it's eligible for the Energy Star label. A licensed engineer must also verify the numbers.

Montevallo Presbyterian Church in Montevallo, Ala., earned the label after an assembly hall renovation completed in 2008. The work included such changes as installing energy efficient appliances, switching to better insulated windows and putting the water heater on a timer so that it's on only when needed, said the church's "Green Team" leader, Bill Peters.

Peters said the church is heeding Biblical commands to care for creation, but also wanted to decrease the impact of a nearby coal-burning power plant.

"The more electricity we consume, the more that that power plant has to pollute our air," Peters said.

After its efficiency upgrades, First Parish in Needham saw a significant drop in its utility bill, which fell from $20,000 to $12,000 in a year. Even after such significant savings, it will take years to make a dent in what it paid to make energy efficiency a priority in its $3.3 million renovation. But good environmental stewardship was the point, not cutting bills, Buehrens said.

"You don't spend $3.3 million in order to cut your utility bill in half," he said. "You do it for a much bigger set of reasons."

Zatz said congregations generally don't need a lot of money to get big gains in efficiency. Simple steps often mean a lot, he said.

"The most common one you hear, and it sounds silly but many people don't do it, is: 'Turn off the lights when you leave,'" Zatz said.    Via Huffington Post





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Obama Backs Giant Solar Project

As reported by The Associated Press, in this morning’s weekly radio address President Obama has just announced that almost $2 billion in federal funding for solar energy and green jobs is in the pipeline.  The money will go to construct solar power installations in Arizona, Colorado and Indiana.
One of the firms, Abenoga Solar, says that it is planning to build the largest solar power plant in the world in Arizona.

Mr Obama said the projects would provide more than 5,000 new jobs.

The Arizona plant should power 70,000 homes and cut carbon dioxide emissions.

The money will come from government stimulus funds designed to boost the economy during the recession.

Outlining the "Solana" project at Gila Bend near Phoenix, Abenoga said it would have an area of 1,900 acres, using thermal storage-equipped parabolic trough technology, with 280 MW of power output capacity.

According to the company's website, 1,500 new jobs will be created during the plant's construction with 100 positions for staff to maintain it.

The second company, Abound Solar Manufacturing, will manufacture state-of-the-art thin film solar panels, the first time anywhere that such technology has been used commercially, the BBC's Jane O'Brien reports from Washington.

Plants will be built in Colorado and Indiana, creating 2,000 construction jobs and 1,500 permanent jobs, the Associated Press reports.

President Obama had promised during his election campaign for the White House to create manufacturing and construction jobs in the green power industry.

"We're going to to keep competing aggressively to make sure the jobs and industries of the future are taking root right here in America," he said on Saturday.

The renewable energy industry in the US faces tough competition from developers in China.

Mr Obama also acknowledged the loans would not be an instant solution.

Around 125,000 jobs were lost in the last month, the government reported.

Via BBC News

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Being Green Helps Save The Environment

Everyone knows "being green" helps save the environment. However, many still have a misconception that it's impossible to protect the planet and save money, too.

Whether it's turning off the water while brushing your teeth, unplugging electronics when they're not in use or turning off the lights when you leave the room, adopting an environmentally-friendly lifestyle on a budget is easier than you think.


Below are a few simple ideas to make green living a part of your lifestyle.

•  Consider buying locally grown food to reduce the carbon emissions produced by long-distance transport.

•  Install water filters on your tap-water faucets. This reduces plastic bottle waste and may save you money in the long run.

•  Use rechargeable batteries and recycle your disposable ones to keep them out of landfills.

•  Pack lunches to cut down on takeout containers. Taking lunch rather than buying takeout at work or school will also save your family money.

•  Drive Less,  Drive Smart, Car Pool......Every time you leave your car at home you reduce air pollution, lower greenhouse gas emissions, improve your health and save money. 

•  Pay Your Bills Online......Many banks, utilities and other businesses  offer their customers the option of paying bills online, eliminating the need to write and mail paper checks or to keep paper records. By paying your bills online you can save time and money, lower the administrative costs of companies with which you do business, and reduce global warming by helping to prevent deforestation. 

• Switch to Reusable Shopping Bags

• Stop junk mail

There are many more ways to be green and help the environment.
These 8 tips can help you get started.
How many more can you think of?






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Green Schools Growing in California

Los Angeles Unified School District is the second largest school district in the nation, and now they are working toward becoming the greenest.

A year long effort to bring gardens to their mostly concrete and asphalt schools has taken the education of LAUSD students to a new level. By providing hands on experience with gardening, the students -- 77% of whom live in poverty -- are being led by example toward a more sustainable and economically practical future.

In addition to the gardens, LAUSD is installing solar panels at 90 of their campuses which will save the district $5 million in energy costs every year.  Via HuffingtonPost










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China Sweetens Prices of Green Cars to Boost Sales

China will offer new subsidies for fuel efficient vehicles that can boost vehicle sales by more than four million units by 2012, according to the National Development and Reform Commission.

The government will provide 3,000 Chinese yuan ($441) to consumers who buy fuel efficient cars with engine capacities of 1.6 liters or less and use 20 percent less fuel than current models, China.org reported.


The scheme can reportedly generate more than 400 billion Chinese yuan in vehicle sales by 2012, help reduce 3.3 million tons of carbon dioxide emissions and save 750 million liters of fuel.
The commission confirmed that 71 green vehicle models have qualified for the fuel subsidies. These include models from 16 Chinese automobile manufacturers, including BYD Automobile Limited (HKG: 1211) and Chongqing Changan Automobile Company (SZSE:000625), as well as joint ventures involving Hyundai Motor Corporation (LSE:HYUD) and Ford Motor Company (NYSE:F).

China, the world’s largest auto market, is banking on green vehicles to reduce pollution and save energy. The government previously unveiled plans to invest up to 10 billion Chinese yuan to develop new energy vehicles that will help them achieve its target of deploying 500,000 to 1 million green cars by 2015.
Earlier this June, the government rolled out its trial incentive program for fuel efficient vehicles in the cities of Shanghai, Shenzhen, Hangzhou, Changchun and Hefei.

Under the subsidy scheme, buyers of wholly-electric vehicles will receive 60,000 Chinese yuan, while buyers of plug-in hybrid cars will get 50,000 Chinese yuan. However, the incentives will not go directly to the buyers but to the automakers, as they will reduce the actual price of the vehicles accordingly.

While the process is deemed easier, issues in transparency and policy implementation and supervision may arise, said Jia Xinguang, an independent auto industry consultant.

The five-city pilot scheme can cover nearly one-third of the price of BYD’s F3MD hybrid passenger vehicle worth 100,000 Chinese yuan to 130,000 Chinese yuan, said Xu An, the company’s spokesman.

Industry analysts also predict that the program will increase shares of lithium-ion battery manufacturers in the domestic market, particularly between 2011 and 2015 when automakers will have produced first-generation green vehicle models.

However, the scheme will have limited effect on the auto industry as of the moment due to its small coverage. “If the subsidy plan applies only to a few cities, it won’t fully boost new energy vehicle consumption in China,” said Kevin Wale, president and chief executive of General Motors China.

Wang Jianjun, BYD vice president agreed, saying that the growth of the industry also depends on consumers’ familiarity with green vehicles. Businesses also need to establish related services such as recharging stations.

Taking these into consideration, BYD decided to produce only 1,000 green cars this year, with no immediate plans to mass produce.

Another potential problem for the deployment of new energy vehicles is the cost. Even with government subsidies, most green vehicles will cost 200,000 Chinese yuan per unit, which is more expensive than their gas-powered counterparts, noted Zhao Hang, director of China Automotive Technology Research Center.

“The fact that new energy vehicles are still in the trial stage is the major reason why the subsidy program is only carried out in five cities,” he continued.

Mr. Zhao also emphasized that the government should increase subsidies to enable companies to accelerate technical development and help raise the competitiveness of EV’s against conventional fuel cars.   Source Ecoseed


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The Red White and "Green" , an Eco-Friendly 4th of July

 With July 4th just around the corner what better time to get this message out to everyone that caring about the environment is patriotic.

Independence Day, one of the highlights of the summer in the United States, brings to mind flags, parades, fireworks, and of course barbeques.


The 4th of July BBQ is a time-honored tradition, one that in addition to food, fun and fireworks can have negative impacts on the environment.

Fortunately, there many things we can do to help minimize these environmental impacts, while still honoring our nation’s independence.

Here are some tips for greening your 4th of July BBQ, or any other outdoor gathering.

1. Bring a cup: Many of us break out plastic and paper cups at BBQ's to cut down on cleanup and ensure there are enough cups for all the guests. Instead of relying on one-time-use materials that end up taking up space in landfills,  – have your guests bring their favorite cup to use for the duration of the party. You cut down on waste, and everyone knows which cup belongs to them.

2. Buy local: You can have a more environmentally friendly barbeque simply by buying locally-grown foods. In addition to supporting the local economy, you avoid contributing to the carbon emissions that are generated by trucks, trains, and boats that bring food from far-off places.

3. Living decorations: If you like to display flowers on the tables at your events, consider using live, potted plants instead. When the party is over, you can keep the plants at home, and they in turn help the planet by filtering carbon dioxide and producing oxygen for us to breathe.

4. Use recycled paper products: Let’s face it, paper plates and napkins are a lot easier to use for an outdoor event. However, we can still be green by looking for plates made from recycled paper products. In addition to reducing the amount of waste in landfills, recycled products typically take a lot less energy to produce than new products.

5. Encourage volunteerism: Since everyone’s outside enjoying the day anyway, why not do something that will make you feel better about yourself. Encourage your friends and family to spend part of your time together volunteering. For example, get together with your friends and neighbors to clean up a local park or other area – a little light work on a hot summer’s day makes the burgers and beer taste that much better!

6. Buy in bulk: When stocking up for your BBQ bash, consider buying items in bulk if possible. Things like large boxes of utensils and large bottles of soda actually use less packaging materials than smaller, individually packaged items.

7. Don’t sweat it: There’s no need to bake your guests or spend money and energy cramming people into an air-conditioned house. Try scheduling your BBQ for a cooler, more comfortable time of day such as dusk.

8. Carpooling isn’t just for work: If you have a lot of people coming, encourage them to carpool when possible. It’s especially easy for guests that live near each other to share a ride and save gas and emissions in the process.


Using Eco-friendly Forest Stewardship Council certified charcoals means that no trees in endangered woodlands are cut to produce the charcoal for your 4th of July BBQ.  It also means that fewer greenhouse gases  are emitted when your charcoal burns and that no unhealthy additives are released into the air or onto your food during your Fourth of July grilling.

Look for brands of charcoal that are certified by the Forest Stewardship Council.
Cowboy Charcoal, a natural lump charcoal,  is FSC certified. 

Cowboy Charcoal produces a cleaner-tasting food with out a petroleum after taste. It also produces fewer ashes so clean up is easier too.

Don't Forget:  If you're serving bottled or canned beverages, be sure to put out clearly marked recycling bins.

So use these Eco-Friendly Fourth of July ideas to make your red, white and blue cook out a little greener.





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Extreme Recycling

Looking to recycle in a new way!






Chase and Cane from 3Run.co.uk use their skills to help recycle!!
Stay green!




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Steel Workers See Green Jobs

 In a partnership that illustrates the powerful currents at work in today’s environmental movement, the United Steel Workers labor union has joined with the American Wind Energy Association and BlueGreen Alliance, an organization that includes other labor unions, the Sierra Club and the National Resources Defense Council, to produce a blueprint for new green jobs in the wind power industry.


In pushing hard for green jobs, this diverse labor-industry-environmental group puts itself squarely on the side of the U.S. military’s push for alternative energy in the interests of a strong national defense. It also joins a growing number of leading U.S companies calling for national climate legislation and green jobs, in yet another sign that the dominance of fossil fuels is rapidly coming to a close.

The report is titled Winds of Change: A Manufacturing Blueprint for the Wind Industry.
Basically the report details how the wind energy industry has been growing and creating new jobs even without all of the advantages accorded to fossil fuels, such as billion-dollar subsidies and supportive national policies.  More support for alternative energy has been forthcoming from the Obama administration, and the report calls ramping up those efforts through, among other things, a stronger Renewable Electricity Standard of 25%, more tax credits for the renewable energy industry, and strong national climate legislation.  All of these measures would be geared toward creating more jobs in the U.S. wind industry, rather than shipping in components from overseas.

 "Moving to clean energy is just one piece of the puzzle — we need to ensure that America's clean energy economy is built by U.S. workers, and creates good manufacturing jobs," said Leo W. Gerard, International President of the United Steelworkers. "By including common-sense policies like a 25 percent Renewable Electricity Standard (RES), and an extended Advanced Energy Manufacturing Tax Credit, in comprehensive clean energy and climate legislation, we can build a wind energy supply chain in the U.S."    Read Full Story






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Tesla Motors IPO to Test Demand for Green Technology Stocks

The Tesla Motors initial public offering this week will be a bellwether for investor confidence in green technology, analysts say.

Telsa will raise nearly $US200 million ($229m) tomorrow in one of the most eagerly awaited IPOs of the year because it is a "technology velociraptor", according to its founder and chief executive.

Elon Musk does not mean that his electric car company is a dinosaur.

Quite the opposite.

He is counting on the company's image as an agile, Silicon Valley high-tech predator to help it to raise at least $US185m from the sale of 11.1 million shares priced in the $US14 to $US16 range.

Mr Musk has been running a pre-IPO roadshow to drum up business.

"We're closer to an Apple or a Google than we are to a GM or a Ford. There will not be anybody that will bring technology to market faster than Tesla," he said in a video presentation.

Touted as the first American car company to go public since Ford in 1956, the Tesla IPO will be a bellwether for investor confidence in green technology and the future of the car industry, analysts say.

The company, based in Palo Alto, California, has won many admirers for its all-electric Roadster sports car, which sells for $US109,000 in the United States, but questions remain about the company's viability.

Tesla has had years of losses and admits to an uncertain production schedule for its battery-powered cars.
The company sells only the Roadster, a high-end car powered by lithium-ion batteries with a design based on the Lotus Elise two-seater sports car. It has sold only 1063 Roadsters since 2008 and has lost $US290m since the company was founded in 2003.

Revenue has totaled $US147.6m. Tesla has said that it will end production of the Roadster in 2011 and start selling a mass-market luxury sedan in 2012 priced at a more affordable $US49,900. The Model S will have a top speed of about 145km/h and a range of more than 161 km between recharges.

In a 30-page risk-factors entry in its IPO prospectus filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, the company said that it expected continuing quarterly losses until the Model S hit the market.

Tesla has taken $US19.7m in 2200 reservations for the five-seat car, for which it has still to finalize a production-ready prototype. After the Model S, Tesla plans to continue expanding its line-up of electric cars with increasingly cheaper models.

However, the company has been forced to deny that the IPO will be affected by a divorce dispute between Mr Musk, a South African who co-founded the online payments company PayPal, and his estranged wife.    Source theaustralian




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Motivation for Manufacturer's to Go Green

 Motivation for manufacturers to become more energy efficient took a huge step forward recently with announcements by major corporations like Wal-Mart and General Motors that they will require their suppliers to reduce their carbon footprints.

 According  to Jack Healy, director of operations at the Massachusetts Manufacturing Partnership, the impact of these announcements, like Wal-Mart's February decision to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from its global supply chain by 20 million metric tons by 2015, is likely to be seismic in the manufacturing world.

For the first time, businesses are regulating the environment, he said, and their action is likely to have a much more game-changing impact than anything state or federal regulations have achieved, especially for smaller companies.

"Now you have large companies like Wal-Mart, IBM, GE and GM, they're all going back down through their supply chain and they're making demands on (companies) to change," said Healy. "I think you're going to see a very significant change. They are much more capable of affecting change than regulators."

While many large manufacturers have already begun exploring the benefits of increased energy efficiency, especially if they have consumer products that can be branded as sustainable, smaller companies don't always have the necessary time, available capital or similar financial incentives, to do the same.

Now pressure from major corporations means many must begin taking steps in order to keep their businesses alive.

"Smaller companies have always resisted all this stuff, but now if they want to remain in the supply chain, they're going to have to conform," said Healy.

According to Healy, a good number of Massachusetts companies have the potential to be affected with about 69 percent of the state's 7,000 manufacturers falling in the 20-or-fewer employee category.

Part of a national network, MassMEP works with manufacturers to create more efficient manufacturing processes. More recently, it has teamed up with the Environmental Protection Agency to see how Lean manufacturing techniques can be applied to produce more sustainable manufacturing operations.

While these new pressures are getting close attention from manufacturers, Healy said, many are confused about where to place their efforts. In a May 27 blog post on the subject, Healy cited a recent Aberdeen Group survey which shows sustainability has become one of the top five market pressures facing today's manufacturing operations.

But, he noted, the survey suggests manufacturers are still struggling with just where sustainability efforts should be focused — on building facilities, products, manufacturing operations or all of the above.     Click here for full story






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G-8 , G-20, How about G-Buzz

Aware of calls for industrialized economies’ to fund developing nations’ climate-related programs, the Group of Eight wealthy nations clarified its funding commitments.




In the Muskoka Accountability Report, released ahead of G-8’s summit held in Muskoka, Canada from Friday to Saturday, the group said it has engaged in three funds addressing international climate goals, such as adaptation.


Adaptation refers to measures by which vulnerable countries, especially economically poorer ones, could prepare for the impact of climate change. Threats include rising seas, stronger rains and intensified droughts.

These funds are for least developed countries’ national adaptation action programs, for the promotion of longterm adaptation measures and for climate resilience in mainstream development planning.

The G-8 said around $180 million and $129 million have been collected for the least developed countries fund and the special climate change fund respectively. The latter reportedly mobilized voluntary contributions worth $110 million for adaptation and $19 million for technology transfer.


For the pilot program for climate resilience, the G-8 said it has pledged $1 billion and chosen as recipients nine countries in the Caribbean, Pacific and African regions.          Source ecoseed


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FAA Awards $125M to Develop Green Air Technology

The Federal Aviation Administration has awarded $125 million in contracts to five companies, including Boeing Co., General Electric Co., and Honeywell International Inc., to work on technologies to make the aviation industry more environmentally friendly.

The other companies include Pratt & Whitney and Rolls-Royce-America.

Each will be paid $25 million over five years for the work, and each company will at least match or exceed that investment, the FAA said. That means the entire program will be worth more than $250 million, the agency said in a statement Thursday.

The work will be done for the agency's Continuous Lower Energy, Emissions and Noise program -- called CLEEN. The program aims to cut fuel burn by a third, reduce nitrogen exmissions by 60 percent and trim cumulative aircraft noise levels by 32 decibels.

The companies will develop technologies for alternative aviation fuels, lighter engines, optimizing flight trajectories with onboard systems and more.

Shares of Boeing fell 2 cents to close at $67.43, while General Electric shares dipped 31 cents, or 2 percent, to finish at $15.08. Honeywell International shares fell 84 cents, or 2 percent, to $41.

Source: Business Week






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Toshiba Eyes Plant Expansion after EV Motors Deal with Ford

Toshiba Corporation plans to upgrade its manufacturing facility for motors designed for electric vehicles following a major supply contract with Ford Motor Company and optimistic outlook for the EV market.


 The Japanese conglomerate will develop its existing plant in Houston in January next year and develop its first overseas manufacturing base for automotive propulsion motors.

The Toshiba International Corporation site in Houston produces motors for industrial equipment. Toshiba currently produces its automotive propulsion motors in Mie Prefecture in Honshu, Japan. Production of the automotive motors in the new site is planned for 2012.

“Toshiba recognizes the importance of localizing production within North America to ensure long-term growth and make a commitment to the North American market,” said Shinichiro Akiba, president of Toshiba International Corporation.

Toshiba withheld details of the drive motors supply contract with Ford (Nasdaq:

FORD

) for the latter’s hybrid and plug-in hybrid vehicles. 

But as the automotive industry shifts to greener vehicles, Toshiba estimates that the global market for motors for electric vehicles will grow to 50 billion Japanese yen ($551 million) in 2009 and expand to 1 trillion yen in 2020.

The conglomerate, with business segments covering digital products to social infrastructure such as power and water systems, aims to capitalize on the EV market, which also drives the batteries industry.

Toshiba’s projections jive with studies conducted by analysts such as ABI Research, which said in a recent report that the global market for plug-in electric vehicles will reach $11.75 billion by 2015.

Another study by Pike Research concludes that Asian manufacturers will dominate the market for batteries of electric vehicles and will take up half of the $8 billion industry by the same year.

To prepare for the growth of these markets, Toshiba is focusing on developing key components for electric vehicles, such as inverters and drive motors. It is also promoting automotive technology advances in dedicated on-board control systems for batteries and intelligent traffic systems.

The Houston facility is expected to lead the company’s marketing of automotive systems and components in the United States while strengthening collaboration with other automobile manufacturers and increasing auto companies’ local procurement of key components.

Toshiba (TOKYO:

6502

) is currently involved with over 740 companies and has annual sales of about 6.3 trillion Japanese yen.  


Via EcoSeed






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Walmart Green Forklifts

Air Liquide said it was recently awarded a contract to supply the hydrogen, filling station and infrastructure to power Walmart‘s new fleet of green lift trucks at the company’s new distribution centre located in Alberta, Canada. The fuel cell forklift trucks are the fastest growing segment of the hydrogen energy market.


In addition to producing no greenhouse gases, these vehicles also offer a productivity gain of 2% compared to battery powered forklift trucks. In Canada, where numerous publicly-funded research and development programs on hydrogen energy have been launched in recent years, commercial applications are coming to light.

This fleet is the largest deployment of fuel cell lift trucks in Canada and the first commercial contract in hydrogen energy in the country. It is also the first fleet of its kind supplied by the Air Liquide group.

Air Liquide Canada will design a dedicated solution for material handling. It will integrate compact indoor hydrogen dispensers located throughout Walmart Canada’s distribution center. Those dispensers will be able to supply a total of over 100 kg per day and fill vehicles in less than 2 minutes. This fast filling generates a significant productivity gain compared to battery swap operations for conventional electric forklifts. Air Liquide will also supply the hydrogen, which in Canada is produced using 98% renewable energy sources, such as hydroelectricity.

Over forty-five Air Liquide hydrogen stations have been installed throughout the world to date. Other publicly-funded programs in Canada include the Vancouver and Montreal-Trudeau airports demonstration project, and the Whistler station, which keeps BC Transit’s fleet of 20 hydrogen buses on the road. In Korea, two new hydrogen filling stations dedicated to cars have just been commissioned.

François Darchis, Senior Vice-President, Air Liquide Group, and a member of the Executive Committee, said, “We are very pleased to provide the hydrogen and filling infrastructure for this first fleet in Canada. It is another step towards the global market Air Liquide has been anticipating. We are proud to accompany the development of this technological innovation that will help to preserve the environment. Both Energy and the Environment are growth drivers of the Air Liquide Group."

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Summer Travel, Don't Forget Your Green Gadgets

 Happy Summer. Summer is the time of year when families from coast to coast decide to go on vacation. Even though you hate to admit it we want to go somewhere but we know we are addicted to our electronic gadgets. Where ever you finally choose your vacation this summer,  whether the beach, the mountains, at a campsite , abroad or even in your own backyard, you will find plenty of distinctive green gadgets that will make the experience so much more entertaining. Even though possessing these green gadgets isn't necessary to enjoy your  summer travels, they sure will make the entire experience so much more entertaining.
 
Charging cell phones, MP3 players, PDAs, cameras, and more can be a drain, especially if you are out and about with the family and there's no outlet in sight.  Outdoor Gadgets used to be limited to their battery life. But not anymore!! Taking a solar charger along on your getaway can help you avoid the dying cell phone disaster since it draws power from the sun to amp up nearly any device.


Solar chargers come in a range of shapes and sizes and can be separated into two categories: those with built-in batteries (which means you can store your sun power for later use) and those without batteries (they send the solar power straight to your player — no middle man, but also no reserve power once the sun sets). You may also choose one with a battery for use at home to save electricity: You can leave the charger in the sun all day (on a south-facing windowsill, for example), then come home and charge your device at night. A majority of the devices offer a female USB port, similar to what is on your computer. This USB port offers the flexibility of charging many electronics that already come with a USB cable, so searching for the right connector is not necessary.

Your mobile device can have as much fun in the sun as you deserve yourself,  so Happy Travels and don't forget your green gadgets.

Enjoy Your Vacation.








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Paper Vs. Plastic? How About Bring Your Own

How many times have you left to go shopping and have forgotten to bring along your own reusable shopping bags? I know I have many times.

Though we have the best intentions, we often forget to bring our reusable shopping bags with us when we're out. If that sounds familiar, you'll love these!
 
They compactly fold into their own tiny sewn-in pouch (about the size of a cell phone) to stay - on call - in purses, packs or pockets or on keychains. Featherweight nylon fabric means you'll never know they're there yet each holds a lot of weight and lots of items. They hold a LOT more than you would expect. 

There is an estimated 100 billion plastic shopping bags consumed each year in the USA, according to the Wall-Street Journal. 
Most plastic bags end up in landfills and the rest often end up in rivers, ponds, lakes, streams or in the sea, where animals can ingest or become entangled in them.


Adopting a Bring Your Own Bag strategy in our individual shopping habits is a simple way to do just that. If we can raise awareness at this time, the positive impact for the environment is incalculable for now and well into the future. Several cities have already made gradual but significant progress in promoting the use of eco-friendly non woven reusable grocery bags in recent years. Motivating consumers with plastic and paper bag bans, discounts at the register for reusable bag usage and tax motivations are a few to speak of.

Ten US cities have banned plastic bags so far, five within the past year.  California could become the first State to issue such a ban. Even Mexico City enacted a ban recently on plastic shopping bags.  The city of 20 million now faces the realities of effective enforcement, which is not easy when the Mexico City Chamber of Commerce estimates there are 35,000 vendors in Mexico City’s downtown area alone.     Via Tech with Us

The time is now to spread the word about the positive benefits of eco-friendly reusable shopping bags to influence our families, friends and communities.





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