Green4th.com

Quality of Life: Portland

noreply@blogger.com (christopher searles) — Thu, 20 Jan 2011 04:13:00 +0000

Ranked 2nd Greenest City in the World by Rueters, Portland Or. has a committed focus on alternative transit, including light-rail and extensive bike networks. It is also one of the first world cities to pledge to reducing emissions and transitioning buildings to using sustainable materials...

Read: "the World's 5 Greenest Cities"
via Rueters.com

Quality of Life: Pittsburgh

noreply@blogger.com (christopher searles) — Tue, 18 Jan 2011 15:04:00 +0000

Pittsburgh rediscovers its bridges, scenery, and recreation...

Learn more: StreetFilms
via TheUrbanophile.com

Quality of Life: New York City

noreply@blogger.com (christopher searles) — Mon, 17 Jan 2011 18:50:00 +0000

Manhattanites, led largely by Mayor Bloomberg, see greening up their transportation infrastructure as a great improvement to commerce
and quality of life...

Learn more about PlaNYC

U.S. Navy and Marine Corps Get First Ever Grid-Connected Wave Energy System

noreply@blogger.com (christopher searles) — Fri, 14 Jan 2011 13:57:00 +0000

The nation’s first ever grid-connected wave electricity system went online in early October (2010), at the Marine Corps Base Oahu, Hawaii. According to the Secretary of the Navy's press release, “This project demonstrates the Navy and Marine Corps commitment to lead the country toward a new energy future.” The Navy has a goal of reaching 50% alternative energy by 2020...

Read article
via CleanTechnica

“Green Baron” Brings Smarter, Cleaner Energy to U.S. Marines in Afghanistan

noreply@blogger.com (christopher searles) — Thu, 13 Jan 2011 13:38:00 +0000

As reported by American Forces Press Service writer Donna Miles, “Green Baron” refers to Marine Corps Col. Bob Charette, who earned the moniker due to his previous service as a fighter pilot. Charette explains that the heavy load of electronic equipment needed by today’s Marines requires an even heavier load of generators to run it all, creating an enormous logistical challenge. Another key issue for the forces in Afghanistan is the risk associated with fossil fuel convoys, which would be reduced if bases could run at least partly on energy scavenged on-site...

Read article
via CleanTechnica

US Army Adopts ASHRAE Standard 189.1

noreply@blogger.com (christopher searles) — Wed, 12 Jan 2011 16:22:00 +0000

ASHRAE Standard 189.1

"For the Design of High Performance Green Buildings"

The policy will apply to all construction and renovation of new buildings and structures in the U.S. territories, permanent overseas Active Army installations, Army Reserve Centers, Army National Guard facilities and Armed Forces Reserve Centers. The footprint of the existing Army buildings and structures worldwide covers more than 954 million square feet...

Read article
Read press release
via Environmental Leader

US Army talks eco sustainability

noreply@blogger.com (christopher searles) — Tue, 11 Jan 2011 18:15:00 +0000

The U.S. Army spoke at the recent Association of the United States Army (AUSA.org) conference about its views on environmental sustainability.

Learn more about the Army's Sustainability

DOE Headquarters Gets Cool Roof

noreply@blogger.com (christopher searles) — Mon, 10 Jan 2011 14:04:00 +0000

"The reason we wanted the Department of Energy to take the lead
in cool roofs, is to demonstrate that this really saves money."
-- Dr. Steven Chu
Secretary of Energy, U.S. Department of Energy

A new cool roof installation on the Department of Energy’s Headquarters West Building has been completed. There was no incremental cost to adding the cool roof as part of the roof replacement project and it will save $2,000 per year in building energy costs...

Read article
via Environmental Leader

AMA Shows Hospitals How to Cut Waste, Save Cash

noreply@blogger.com (christopher searles) — Fri, 07 Jan 2011 13:25:00 +0000

Groups of health care leaders within the American Hospital Association (AHA) have launched the “Sustainability Roadmap for Hospitals,” a web-based resource for the hospital management to understand and achieve energy efficiency targets...

Read article
via Environmental Leader

Macy’s Says Lighting Retrofit Will Cut Energy Consumption 73%

noreply@blogger.com (christopher searles) — Thu, 06 Jan 2011 15:16:00 +0000

Macy’s is retrofitting more than 117,000 halogen-based accent lighting in 86 department stores across the nation in a sustainability campaign that expects to reduce the retailer’s energy consumption by 73%.

Philips custom-designed and produced thousands of the 13-watt EnduraLED PAR38 SP15 lamps that could meet Macy’s sustainability goals, as well as provide better light quality to enhance the customer shopping experience...

Read article
via Environmental Leader

Chevy Launches "ChevyCarbonReduction.com"

noreply@blogger.com (christopher searles) — Wed, 05 Jan 2011 14:34:00 +0000

Chevy recently launched ChevyCarbonReduction.com as a way to "do more to help keep the planet clean" and answers questions about Chevy's effort to reduce dangerous carbon emissions. See video below for more info...

Aveda Halves Municipal Waste

noreply@blogger.com (christopher searles) — Tue, 04 Jan 2011 16:58:00 +0000

Cosmetics brand Aveda says it cut municipal waste at its main manufacturing plant nearly in half in the last two years, but its industrial waste rose in that time and recycling fell...

Read article
via Environmental Leader

GM Recycles Oil-Soaked Booms into Chevy Volt Parts

noreply@blogger.com (christopher searles) — Mon, 03 Jan 2011 12:58:00 +0000

More than 100 miles of oil-soaked plastic boom materials from Louisiana and Alabama, waste from the Gulf of Mexico oil spill, have been diverted to General Motors production facilities.

GM says, recycling the booms will result in the production of more than 100,000 pounds of plastic resin for the vehicle components...

Read whole article
via Environmental Leader

2010 Review: Transportation

noreply@blogger.com (christopher searles) — Fri, 31 Dec 2010 17:30:00 +0000

2010 may most notably be remembered as the year of the Electric Car. With the advent of the Chevy Volt and the Nissan Leaf, popular transportation just might be changing in ways that reduce environmental impacts and save consumers money. Check out this gallery of 9 amazing transpo events of 2010, including:

the car that gets 2,487.5 MPG
the guy who built his own subway
the solar plane that flew for 2 weeks
the plug-in Jaguar & the plug-in Porsche

2010 transportation gallery
more cool stuff
via Treehugger & Green4th

2010 Review: Sustainable Lingerie

noreply@blogger.com (christopher searles) — Thu, 30 Dec 2010 23:53:00 +0000

View complete slideshow
via Treehugger.com

2010 Review: Green Celebrities

noreply@blogger.com (christopher searles) — Wed, 29 Dec 2010 21:27:00 +0000

From sexy Leo's mega donation to tigers to Kevin Costner's surprise knowledge of oil clean-up technology, celebrities were on fire this year. There were a few mistakes, however....such as NBC's "Tonight Show" debacle, which sent a barely used set to landfill. Here's a look back at the year in green hits and misses when it comes to Hollywood's A-listers...

Visit gallery
via Treehugger.com

2010 Review: Water

noreply@blogger.com (christopher searles) — Tue, 28 Dec 2010 21:48:00 +0000

This year has been quite a doozy for water. From spreading smart metering to our water works, to shipping water from Alaska all the way to India, to clever and crazy ideas to help us conserve...

Read full article
via Treehugger.com

2010 Review: New Species

noreply@blogger.com (christopher searles) — Mon, 27 Dec 2010 17:53:00 +0000

Recently discovered: The Hairy Lobster

Even though species are lost at a rate of one every 20 minutes, science still manages to identify new plants and animals every year. This list of 10 of the most strange and wonderful creatures discovered in 2010 includes pale and blind ants, transparent frogs, hairy lobsters, and more.

View new species gallery
via Treehugger.com

2010 Review: Environmental Disasters

noreply@blogger.com (christopher searles) — Mon, 27 Dec 2010 17:44:00 +0000

Toxic Sludge Spill, Hungary

Copper Mine Spill, China

Treehugger.com has compiled this photo gallery, Environmental Disasters. "We wish we could say the BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico was the only horrific environmental disaster this year." See also:

Deforestation in Haiti
Floods in Pakistan
Heat Waves in Russia
Oil Spill in Michigan

View environmental disasters gallery
via Treehugger.com

US Navy Roadmap for Global Climate Change, 2010

noreply@blogger.com (christopher searles) — Sun, 26 Dec 2010 16:06:00 +0000

On May 21, 2010, responding to directives from both Presidents Bush & Obama, Vice Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Jonathan Greenert, released the US Navy's policy, strategy, and investment roadmap for plans related to a changing global climate...

download Roadmap
read Navy PR
via World Wildlife Federation

US Navy & Marines Discuss Climate at COP16

noreply@blogger.com (christopher searles) — Sun, 26 Dec 2010 15:53:00 +0000

Rear Admiral David Titley, of the US Navy Task Force on Climate Change, and Brigadier General Juan Ayala, Chief of Staff, US Southern Command, explain why climate change is "a very very critical national security issue..."

via Environmental Leader

African Union official: "Climate Change is Matter of Life and Death"

noreply@blogger.com (christopher searles) — Thu, 23 Dec 2010 17:08:00 +0000

Dr. Yerni Akinbamijo is head of the Agriculture and Food Security Division of the African Union Commission.

Akinbamijo on climate change, "This is a global responsibility. The issues of climate change is a global responsibility and I am not just calling on individual Americans to solve the problem. We are calling on governments of developed countries to show their commitment and political will, and up their game in dealing with the problem of climate change... the whole problem of climate change needs to have a holistic approach..."

Read whole interview
via GreenDetectives.net

Read the COP16 Treaty

noreply@blogger.com (christopher searles) — Thu, 23 Dec 2010 16:55:00 +0000

After a bizarre commotion in Cancun, Mexico, COP16 ended with an historic accord. Text created for the COP16 Treaty was signed by "everybody," including (for the first time) the US & China. The COP16 Treaty will provide the foundation for negotiations at next year's at COP17 in Durban, South Africa.

Read COP16 Treaty
via GreenDetectives.net

Climate Counts releases new corporate performance scores

noreply@blogger.com (christopher searles) — Tue, 21 Dec 2010 17:29:00 +0000

Climate Counts use a 0-to-100 point scale and 22 criteria to determine if companies have:

MEASURED their climate "footprint"
REDUCED their impact on global warming
SUPPORTED (or suggest intent to block) progressive climate legislation
Publicly DISCLOSED their climate actions clearly and comprehensively

visit Score Card
via Chris Searles, Green4th

Prince Charles & NBC promote "Harmony"

noreply@blogger.com (christopher searles) — Mon, 20 Dec 2010 19:50:00 +0000

"Our children will ask, not what our generation said but what it did.
So let us give an answer for which we can be proud."
- Prince Charles of Wales

NBC ran this special in November...

watch NBC broadcast
visit project website
via ClimateCounts.org