Green4th.com

Quality of Life: Portland

2011-01-19T22:13:00.006-06:00

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

2011-01-18T09:04:00.002-06:00

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

Learn more: StreetFilms
via TheUrbanophile.com

Quality of Life: New York City

2011-01-17T12:50:00.005-06:00

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

2011-01-14T07:57:00.004-06:00

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

2011-01-13T07:38:00.004-06:00

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

2011-01-12T10:22:00.003-06:00

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

2011-01-11T12:15:00.003-06:00

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

2011-01-10T08:04:00.006-06:00

"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

2011-01-07T07:25:00.006-06:00

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%

2011-01-06T09:16:00.001-06:00

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"

2011-01-05T08:34:00.005-06:00

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

2011-01-04T10:58:00.002-06:00

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

2011-01-03T06:58:00.003-06:00

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

2010-12-31T11:30:00.004-06:00

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

2010-12-30T17:53:00.003-06:00

View complete slideshow
via Treehugger.com

2010 Review: Green Celebrities

2010-12-29T15:27:00.003-06:00

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

2010-12-28T15:48:00.003-06:00

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

2010-12-27T11:53:00.003-06:00

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

2010-12-27T11:44:00.007-06:00

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

2010-12-26T10:06:00.004-06:00

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

2010-12-26T09:53:00.007-06:00

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"

2010-12-23T11:08:00.003-06:00

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

2010-12-23T10:55:00.007-06:00

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

2010-12-21T11:29:00.003-06:00

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"

2010-12-20T13:50:00.003-06:00

"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

Gov Arnold compares climate change to body building

2010-12-19T16:08:00.013-06:00

Credited with having made bodybuilding popular via his groundbreaking successes, The Governator speaks here at length (June 2008) about his new passion, climate change, and how attitudes change...

Fox News boss accused of slanting climate debate

2010-12-18T10:29:00.008-06:00

Uncovered this week: In the midst of global climate change talks last year, December 2009, Fox News Washington managing editor Bill Sammon sent an email ordering network journalists to "refrain from asserting the planet has warmed (or cooled) in any given period without IMMEDIATELY pointing out such theories are based upon data critics have called into question."

The directive was issued less than 15 minutes after Fox correspondent Wendell Goler accurately reported on-air that the United Nations' World Meteorological Organization announced that 2000-2009 was "on track to be the warmest [decade] on record..."

Read article
via MediaMatters.org

IEA Urges Global Leaders to Abandon Fossil Fuel Subsidies

2010-12-17T07:02:00.003-06:00

Last month, the International Energy Agency (IEA) released a report urging nations to eliminate fossil fuel subsidies to curb energy demand and cut carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions...

Eliminating fossil fuels subsidies would cut CO2 emissions 5.8 percent by 2020, according to the IEA. Fossil fuel subsidies were estimated at $312 billion in 2009, compared with $57 billion for renewable energy.

"Getting the prices right, by eliminating fossil-fuel subsidies, is the single most effective measure to cut energy demand in countries where they persist, while bringing other immediate economic benefits," said Nabuo Tanaka, head of the IEA...

US sues BP over oil disaster

2010-12-16T06:51:00.002-06:00

The US is suing BP and eight other firms for allegedly violating federal safety regulations in connection with the Gulf of Mexico oil spill. The lawsuit asks that they be held liable without limitation for all clean-up and damage costs...

Read article
via BBC

COP16 Agreement Signed by US & China

2010-12-15T09:49:00.010-06:00

United Nations global climate delegates worked till the early hours Saturday, to wrap up COP16 in Cancun, Mexico, with a document. The “Cancun Agreement” locks in emissions reductions targets for 80% of global emissions, notably including China and the US.

“This is the first time we’ve seen the US together with China and all other major emitters anchoring their national pollution targets in a formal UN agreement – the significance of this should not be underestimated...”

Read article
via Environmental Leader

Target Outlines 2016 Environmental Goals

2010-12-14T08:45:00.002-06:00

Target plans to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 20 percent per sales dollar by 2016...

Full article
via Environmental Leader

Two Albertsons Stores Reach Zero Waste Goal

2010-12-13T08:59:00.004-06:00

Through a combination of recycling programs, food donation, and a joint organic composting program with the City of Santa Barbara, two Albertsons grocery stores now divert all non-contaminated waste from landfills and incinerators. In total, over 95% of all waste products from both stores are recycled, reused or composted — exceeding the 90% threshold commonly recognized as zero waste...

Full article
via Environmental Leader

Starbucks Turns Used Cups into New Cups

2010-12-12T17:37:00.002-06:00

Starbucks Coffee Company, International Paper and Mississippi River Pulp say they have completed a six-week pilot project that – for the first time – proves Starbucks used paper cups can be recycled into new paper cups...

Read full article
via Environmental Leader

Company Saves $600,000 with Power Management Software

2010-12-11T12:27:00.003-06:00

Parker Hannifin, the global leader in motion and control technologies, is saving $600,000 a year in energy costs alone thanks to a partnership project with 1E to streamline its data center and cut power costs...

Since its launch, NightWatchman has cumulatively saved customers $530 million in energy savings, which represents savings of 5.6 million megawatts of electricity or 4 million metric tons of CO2 emissions, according to the company.

Read full article
via Environmental Leader

GM investing $40M to Cut CO2 Emissions

2010-12-11T12:23:00.002-06:00

Chevrolet plans to invest $40 million in a variety of clean energy projects in the U.S. with a goal to reduce 8 million metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions. Projects selected will promote energy savings, renewable energy, responsible use of natural resources and conservation in communities...

Read full article
via Environmental Leader

COP 16 comes to a close

2010-12-10T17:31:00.003-06:00

As COP 16 comes to a close today, rumors are "things are headed in the right direction." However, after nearly 20 years of talks the US has never agreed to legally binding cuts in carbon emissions...

Read whole blog
via NewMexicoIndependent.com

Bill McKibben: strategy of weakening global climate regulation, in order to bring US on-board, no beuno

2010-12-10T17:17:00.019-06:00

From the U.N. Climate Change Conference in Cancún, environmental activist Bill McKibben, "For 15 years the U.S. comes and says, weaken the agreement so we can get Congress to go along. Then Congress doesn’t agree anyway..."

Who is Bill McKibben
via DemocracyNow

World Artists re: Climate Change

2010-12-10T15:45:00.008-06:00

In Austin, Texas a group called AustinGreenArt is colloborating with local farmers to parcitipate in the 350.org's "global art project." The projected is intended to raise awareness at this month's COP16 in Cancun, Mexico.

Video from Austin:

Click to see more photos from this project

Al Gore: climate crisis worsening

2010-12-10T15:44:00.000-06:00

"Green Detectives" provide climate change resource

2010-12-10T15:29:00.005-06:00

GreenDetectives.net is a blog and information resource primarily focused on explaining politics and policies related to climate change, created by renown communications professionals Kevin Tuerff and Valerie Davis. Here are two sample videos related to the COP16 Conference in Cancun.

Renewable Eagles

2010-12-03T08:07:00.007-06:00

Philadelphia Eagles to Power Stadium with On-Site Renewable Energy. The Philadelphia Eagles have plans to power Lincoln Financial Field with a combination of on-site wind, solar and dual-fuel generated electricity, which would make it the world’s first major sports stadium to convert to 100-percent on-site renewable energy.

Read full article
via Environmental Leader

Nike Open Sources "Environmental Apparel Design Tool"

2010-12-03T07:48:00.009-06:00

Air Jordan XX3 = 100% recycled polyester.

*Open source tool here.

Based on Nike’s Considered Design Index, and designed and built by Nike over a seven year $6 million investment, the Nike Environmental Apparel Design Tool will help designers make real time choices that decrease environmental impacts of their work by rating how apparel designs score in reducing waste and increasing the use of environmentally preferred materials.

In the last year alone, Nike says it doubled its use of recycled polyester, saving 82 million plastic bottles from landfill. If all apparel companies committed to converting one third of their polyester garments to recycled polyester, the demand for recycled polyester would be greater than the annual production of plastic bottles, diverting PET bottles from landfill, Nike says...

Read full article
via Environmental Leader

Upcycling Ford

2010-12-03T07:41:00.004-06:00

Ford to Use Recycled Jeans in 2012 Focus. Ford’s 2012 Focus will use cottons from recycled clothing in areas such as carpet backing and sound-absorption materials for interior quietness...

Read full article
via Environmental Leader

Disney Slashes Pooh's Packaging

2010-12-03T07:37:00.003-06:00

Disney has reduced packaging of their 12" Winnie the Pooh plush toy by 80 percent...

Read full article
via Environmental Leader

A Country Divided? ... on Effects of Energy Use

2010-12-03T07:28:00.004-06:00

According to a recent national telephone survey of 1,022 Americans, 43 percent disagree and 49 percent agree with the statement, “My personal energy use affects the health and living conditions of people in poor, developing countries.”

The study shows nearly three out of five Republicans (58 percent) disagree with the statement while slightly more than one out of three (37 percent) express responsibility for the effects of personal energy use. This contrasts sharply with Democrats’ views, where 28 percent disagree with the statement and almost two out of three (64 percent) express responsibility.

When asked “Is coal a renewable energy source?” 25 percent of Americans said yes and another 15 percent said they didn’t know...

Read full article here
via Environmental Leader

Republican calls for integrity on climate change

2010-11-22T09:22:00.004-06:00

Republican Bob Inglis represents South Carolina's 4th District in Washington. "The key to scientific endeavor is openness, access to the data, and full challenging of the data."

via Colin Meeham, Environmental Defense Fund

How One Small Business Cut Its Energy Use and Its Costs

2010-11-19T17:23:00.006-06:00

"We reduced emissions by 65%
and electricity costs by 40%."

From 2006 to 2008, Bowman Design Group cut costs and annual greenhouse gas emissions by making some basic changes in operations, including spending on auto service, fuel and office paper...

Read full article
via Yale360

What Are Species Worth?

2010-11-19T17:12:00.007-06:00

Species matter to humans: for producing oxygen, finding new drugs, making agricultural crops more productive, and far less tangibly — for a sense of wonder.

charts by globalchange.umich.edu, ukbms.org, bbsrc.ac.uk, respectively.

We live in what is paradoxically a great age of discovery and also of mass extinction. Astonishing new species turn up daily, as new roads and new technologies penetrate formerly remote habitats. And species also vanish forever, at what scientists estimate to be 100 to 1,000 times the normal rate of extinction...

Read full article
via Yale360

Graffitti against Global Warming

2010-11-19T17:04:00.004-06:00

Denver, Colorado's 2Kool Crew is collaborating on 350.org's eARTh project. 350 is gathering artists from around the planet with hopes of sending powerful messages to the Cop16 climate summit in Cancun next month.

Read full eARTh post
via Green4th.com

The Case for Living with Uncertainty

2010-11-19T16:55:00.002-06:00

As climate science advances, predictions about the extent of future warming and its effects are likely to become less — not more — precise. That may make it more difficult to convince the public of the reality of climate change, but it hardly diminishes the urgency of taking action...

Read full blog
via Yale360

Bill Gates ... Investing in an Energy Miracle

2010-11-17T13:55:00.002-06:00

"We don't really grasp the scale of the problem we're facing.
The right goal is not to cut our carbon emissions in half.
The right goal is zero."

Bill Gates is a relative newcomer to the fight against global warming, but he's already shifting the debate over climate change. In recent years, America's wealthiest man has begun to tackle energy issues in a major way, investing millions in everything from high-capacity batteries to machines that can scrub carbon dioxide out of the air. With a personal fortune of $50 billion, Gates has the resources to give his favorite solutions a major boost...

Read whole article
via RollingStone.com

Interface Targets Zero Environmental Impact by 2020

2010-11-16T13:17:00.005-06:00

Interface Carpets is the largest supplier of commercial carpeting in the world. As part of its “Mission Zero” commitment to eliminate negative environmental impact by 2020, Interface pledges to obtain third-party environmental product declarations (EPDs) for all of its InterfaceFLOR products by 2012. Since 1996, the carpet manufacturer has already reduced net greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 94 percent and energy use by 43 percent...

Read full article
via Environmental Leader

Oprah & Gayle Go Camping

2010-11-16T12:28:00.005-06:00

In late October of this year, Oprah and Gayle took a trip to Yosemite National Park. See the series of short videos here.

60 Minutes on Natural Gas "Fracking"

2010-11-16T12:24:00.002-06:00

For Telecom Industry, Energy Efficiency is Only Half of the Equation

2010-11-16T12:09:00.002-06:00

Whichever phrase you chose – sustainability, ecology management, environmental stewardship – it’s clear that the telecom industry is fully embracing the issue’s growing economic and social prominence. Take a quick look around and you’ll find progress emanating from nearly every aspect of equipment design and manufacturing, service delivery and logistics...

But while these developments are exciting, it’s clear that, as an industry, our attention and success on front-end product development and manufacturing processes overshadows the need for more comprehensive, end-to-end strategies for sustainability...

In order to develop a more end-to-end approach, we need to start looking at the back half of the equation and consider how to best address a single question: What happens when a piece of equipment – energy efficient or not for that matter – reaches the end of its useful life?

Read full blog
via Environmental Leader
by Todd Adelman

Convert Plastics Back to Fossil Fuels?

2010-11-11T10:56:00.003-06:00

A remarkable story from Japan. . . Melting plastic to convert it back to oil for fuel, heating, cooking, etc. If mainstreamed, the process might help keep plastics out of landfills and natural areas, as well as dramatically decrease the many negative impacts of drilling/refining/transferring raw fossil fuels to market...

A project of the United Nations University
via Green4th.com

California Voters Save Climate Law

2010-11-05T11:11:00.005-05:00

After a long battle of words and millions of dollars spent on both sides, California voters defeated Proposition 23 on Nov. 2, 2010. Prop 23 would have prevented California’s climate law AB 32 from being enacted until the state's unemployment rate fell below 5.5 percent for four consecutive fiscal quarters. California unemployment is now hovering around 12 percent...

Read full article
via Environmental Leader

BPA levels in many foods considered safe

2010-11-05T11:07:00.007-05:00

Researchers report that bisphenol A (BPA) levels found in fresh and canned food as well as food wrapped in plastic packaging in the U.S. are nearly 1,000 times lower than the “tolerable daily intake” levels set by the by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), according to the first peer-reviewed BPA study, reports the journal of the American Chemical Society...

Read full article
via Environmental Leader

Facebook getting legit on Energy Efficiency?

2010-11-05T10:53:00.003-05:00

Facebook has joined The Alliance to Save Energy and is donating roughly $500,000 worth of Facebook advertising to help promote the Alliance’s new web site, LivingEfficiently.org.

In a statement, Facebook’s vice president of technical operations said Facebook believes “environmental responsibility starts with living efficiently. That’s why we have invested thousands and tens of millions of dollars into efficiency technology for our operations...”

Read full article
via Zdnet.org

Mining / Concrete Company vs. the EPA

2010-11-05T10:38:00.005-05:00

According to Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) New England office, Torromeo Industries, Inc., whose headquarters is in Methuen, Massachusetts, has been violating the Clean Water Act since the 1970's by discharging stormwater and process water into wetlands and waterways, including the Little River, without the required authorization. The complaint proposes that Torromeo pay a penalty of up to $37,500 per day, per violation...

Read EPA's press release
via Environmental Leader

NASDAQ Launches Green Economy Indexes

2010-11-05T10:24:00.004-05:00

NASDAQ OMX has launched 66 “green” economy indexes designed to track the performance of companies in the environmental and clean energy sector. These sustainable development areas include more efficient and cleaner energy production, clean transportation, better water use and management, greener buildings, clean and efficient waste management and improved land use through sustainable farming and forestry...

Read full article
via Environmental Leader

Ethical Halloween Candy: The 4 Most Sustainable Brands

2010-10-31T08:34:00.003-05:00

Greenopia recently rated 10 of the top candy manufacturers using a number of factors, including ingredient sourcing, transparency, transportation methods, and product packaging. Each of the usual suspects--Jelly Belly, Mars, Nestle, Hershey's, Pez, and Godiva--received an embarrassing zero out of four leaves on the Greenopia scale. But the four companies below received kudos for their efforts in greening the candy business.

1. Endangered Species Chocolate

2. Theo

3. Yummy Earth

4. Cadbury...

Read whole article
via Fast Company

Manhattan treehouse survives legal fight

2010-10-29T16:37:00.004-05:00

In the countryside, in the suburbs or even in the leafier districts of New York's outer boroughs, a treehouse would hardly raise an eyebrow. But in a historic Manhattan neighborhood whose residents have included Mark Twain and Eleanor Roosevelt, it raised hackles.

Shortly after Melinda Hackett put up the round, cedar treehouse for her girls in a broad-trunked London Plane tree in her tiny Greenwich Village backyard, a neighbor called about "a structure in rear which is nailed to a tree" and "looks unsafe," with no construction permit posted, according to a complaint filed with the city.

"I got home and the police were at the door," says Hackett, a 49-year-old artist...

Read whole article
via Yahoo! News

Bank of America's Climate Program, ahead of schedule

2010-10-29T16:31:00.003-05:00

Bank of America is ahead of schedule on its 10-year, $20 billion climate-change business initiative launched in 2007, according to the company’s 2010 Environmental Progress Report.

A breakdown of monies invested thus far ($8.4B):

$2.8 billion in commercial real estate banking, financing projects relating to Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification, Energy Star, brownfield redevelopment and the use of renewable energy tax credits

$2.8 billion in equity and debt capital raised to help facilitate clients’ climate change initiatives

$2.2 billion in equipment financing for energy efficiency projects and renewable energy projects in solar, wind, biomass and biofuel technologies for both utilities and end users

$265 million in private equity investments for innovative companies addressing climate change issues

$233 million invested in corporate workplace energy and resource efficiency initiatives for Bank of America facilities and LEED certification for all new construction office facilities and banking centers

$102 million in transactions that have financed emission reductions in the global carbon markets

$21 million in philanthropic support for nonprofit organizations focused on addressing climate change and other environmental opportunities

Read full article
via Environmental Leader

Animal Fat Motor Oil, impressive results

2010-10-29T16:22:00.007-05:00

I put some of this in my car last week. . . why? Green Earth Motor Oil replaces traditional petrochemicals with a bio base made of plants or animal fat. The oils are collected domestically from beef, pork, chicken fat and plant oils. According to industry tests, these recycled biodegradable fats out-perform synthetic motor oils. So far so good!

Learn more
via Chris Searles (Green4th.com)

US Chamber, Industry Wants to Delay Carbon Bill

2010-10-29T16:13:00.003-05:00

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is among 21 business groups urging senators to stop the Environmental Protection Agency’s regulation of greenhouse gases when they return to Washington after the Nov. 2 election.

The groups want lawmakers to add language in a government spending measure next month that would prevent the rules from taking effect early next year. . .

Read full article
via Bloomberg

GE to order "Tens of Thousands of Electric Vehicles"

2010-10-29T15:36:00.003-05:00

General Electric Co. may jump-start the electric-vehicle industry with an order that Chief Executive Officer Jeffrey Immelt said will be the largest in history.

Immelt said half of GE’s sales force of about 45,000 will drive electric vehicles. . .

Read full article
via BusinessWeek

Culture SHFT

2010-10-20T13:02:00.003-05:00

from shft's new on-the-road video series, LIGHTEN UP:

SHFT promotes original music videos, curated shopping, and numerous resources that help people live an eco-conscious lifestyle...

Learn About SHFT
via Green4th.com

Stonyfield Farm launches plant-based plastics packaging

2010-10-20T12:54:00.002-05:00

"Starting immediately, all of our multipack cups are made from plants! We're the world's first dairy company to use plant-based plastic for this kind of packaging, and we're excited about where our journey is leading us." -- Gary Hirschberg, CE-Yo

According to the company's website, "Our multipack cups are 93% PLA, 4% colorant (a mineral called titanium dioxide that is used to whiten almost all white plastics) and 3% additives. The entire multipack, including the paper label and PET lidding, is 81% bio-based material. By comparison, Coca-Cola®'s "plant bottle" is 30% bio-based. The SunChips® bag is 90% bio-based."

Wal-mart's sustainable ag plan

2010-10-18T08:46:00.004-05:00

By the end of 2015, Wal-mart´s sustainable agriculture strategy goals include:

In emerging markets, to sell $1 billion in food sourced from 1 million small and medium farmers, as well as provide training to 1 million farmers and farm workers in areas such as crop selection and sustainable farming practices.

Invest more than more than $1 billion in its global fresh supply chain in the next five years. And for the first time, ask suppliers about the water, energy, fertilizer and pesticide they use per unit of food produced.

Reduce food waste in emerging market stores and clubs by 15% and by 10% in stores and clubs in its other markets.

Reduce deforestation of the world´s rainforests and reduce greenhouse gases by requiring sustainably sourced palm oil for all Wal-mart private brand products and expand Wal-mart Brazil´s practice of only sourcing beef that does not contribute to the deforestation of the Amazon rainforest.

The company estimates that by sourcing sustainable palm oil for its U.K. and U.S. private brand products alone will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 5 million metric tons by the end of 2015...

Read full article
via WasteRecyclingNews.com

US Government lends on World's Largest Wind Project?

2010-10-18T08:41:00.005-05:00

Recovery Act-Supported Loan Will Create Jobs,
Avoid Over 1.2M Tons of Carbon Pollution Annually

U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu recently announced a conditional commitment to provide a partial guarantee for a $1.3 billion loan in support of the world’s largest wind farm to date. The loan will finance the Caithness Shepherds Flat wind project, an 845 megawatt wind-powered electrical generating facility located in eastern Oregon...

Read DOE press release
via US Department of Energy

Hershey's Chocolate -- accused of greenwashing

2010-10-18T08:34:00.003-05:00

Last week, on the occasion of founder Milton Hershey's 153rd birthday, the Hershey company issued its first ever Corporate Social Responsibility Report. Long on platitudes and promises, it was classic example of the practice of greenwashing - a PR effort to mislead the public into thinking a company's policies and products are socially responsible, when in fact they are not.

Meanwhile, on that very same day, a coalition of public interest nonprofit groups, including the International Labor Rights Forum, issued an in-depth counter-report, "Time to Raise the Bar: The Real Corporate Social Responsibility Report from the Hershey Company." This carefully researched report pointed out that the Hershey company lags well behind its competitors in taking responsibility for the impact the company is having on the local communities from which it sources cocoa around the world.

Hershey is well aware that many smaller chocolate companies in the U.S. have for years purchased only Fair Trade Certified cocoa, thus ensuring that cocoa farmers earn enough to support their families, invest in their futures and send their children to school...

Read article & reports
via The Huffington Post

7347 events in 188 countries

2010-10-11T08:25:00.014-05:00

350.org's 2nd annual climate awareness raising earns title "world's largest enviro-event ever." Visit the website or flickr gallery to see more photos...

Croatia

Nigeria

Pakistan

Santa Barbara, CA

Japan

Maldives

Ecuador

North Attleboro, MA

British video causes American uproar

2010-10-06T19:58:00.003-05:00

Posted to YouTube approximately 5 days ago and tracking nearly 4,700 comments, this video features a collaboration between climate change activists 10/10global, comic screenwriter Richard Curtis, and musical phenom Radiohead...

White House Going Solar — Again

2010-10-06T19:43:00.003-05:00

President Carter presenting the White House's first solar installation.

The Obama White House will soon unveil plans to place photovoltaic solar collectors and a solar hot water heater atop 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue to heat water and provide a small amount of electricity...

Read full article
via The New York Times

UN Estimates 2008 Global Environmental Costs $6.6 Trillion

2010-10-05T20:18:00.004-05:00

Top 3,000 public companies
responsible for $2.15 trillion of total

Environmental damage caused by human activity in 2008 was estimated to be $6.6 trillion, equivalent to 11% of global GDP, calculates a United Nations study released today. Global in scope and covering a wide range of environmental impacts by all industries, the new report is an ambitious attempt to estimate environmental externality costs...

To read the full report, go to upepfi.org and search, "Putting a Price on Environmental Damage."

Read full article
via Environmental Leader

Climate Counts looks at the power of electronics

2010-10-04T09:03:00.004-05:00

In 2007, Apple sold its 100 millionth iPod.

In 2008, the Washington Post reported that cell phone distribution was “the fastest global diffusion of any technology in human history — faster even than the polio vaccine.”

By the end of 2009, television penetrated 79 percent of households globally. That’s 1.4 billion households (and over five billion people) with television sets.

Imagine if these companies committed to educating their 2.3 million employees about climate change. Imagine if they dedicated their $822 billion in revenue to onsite renewable energy rather than fossil fuels. Imagine if they gave every one of the thousands of companies supplying metals, plastics, and transportation for their products a choice: Address your climate impacts, or we’ll find other companies to do business with.

At Climate Counts, we look at whether or not companies are reviewing and reducing their greenhouse gas emissions, the positions they’re taking on climate and energy legislation, and their clarity in reporting climate information...

Read full blog here
via ClimateCounts.org

Students hold international climate awareness event

2010-09-29T08:41:00.006-05:00

10/10/10 -- Students and activists from around the world will hold a "global work party" to raise awareness of climate change concerns.

Learn more here
via 350.org

Some photos from last year's international events:

Christian students hold national eco-service event

2010-09-29T08:34:00.002-05:00

"God made this earth and all that is in it so let's work it and keep it in order!" -- RenewingCreation.org

OCTOBER 8-10: Renewal will be promoting a weekend of service activities by Christian students across the country, cleaning streams, working in gardens, providing education, and more.

Get involved here
via RenewingCreation.org

A Sustainable City Rises

2010-09-27T07:25:00.009-05:00

Zero Waste, Zero Carbon
click to enlarge

...With the help of environmental consultants, Foster & Partners estimated that by combining such approaches, they could make Masdar feel as much as 70 degrees cooler. In so doing, they could more than halve the amount of electricity needed to run the city. Of the power that is used, 90 percent is expected to be solar, and the rest generated by incinerating waste (which produces far less carbon than piling it up in dumps). The city itself will be treated as a kind of continuing experiment, with researchers and engineers regularly analyzing its performance, fine-tuning as they go along.

But Mr. Foster’s most radical move was the way he dealt with one of the most vexing urban design challenges of the past century: what to do with the car. Not only did he close Masdar entirely to combustion-engine vehicles, he buried their replacement — his network of electric cars — underneath the city. Then, to further reinforce the purity of his vision, he located almost all of the heavy-duty service functions — a 54-acre photovoltaic field and incineration and water treatment plants — outside the city.

The result, Mr. Foster acknowledged, feels a bit like Disneyland. “Disneyland is attractive because all the service is below ground,” he said. “We do the same here — it is literally a walled city. Traditional cars are stopped at the edges..."

Read full article
via The New York Times

Staples, Johnson & Johnson investing big in solar

2010-09-24T10:39:00.006-05:00

Staples recently unveiled the largest solar power system in Maryland, and Johnson & Johnson have just completed the largest solar power system in New Jersey. J & J is currently the country's 6th largest purchaser of renewable electricity...

via Environmental Leader

Five Roadblocks to Increased Use of Recycled Content in Plastic Packaging

2010-09-24T10:35:00.003-05:00

The Sustainable Packaging Coalition (SPC), a project of GreenBlue, has released a set of guidelines on the use of post consumer recycled (PCR) content in 27 packaging applications for a number of different plastics. The group evaluated each application use of PCR by packaging performance requirements, regulatory compliance requirements, technical/operational factors, aesthetic considerations, material availability and cost.

The report, “Guidelines for Increasing Post Consumer Recycled Content in Plastic Packaging,” addresses common issues and strategies for increasing recycled content in beverage, dairy, electronic, household care and laundry, pharmaceutical, personal care product, and snack plastic packaging. It also includes technical information and solutions for overcoming many of the challenges cited in the report...

Read full article
via Environmental Leader

Global solar cell production grows 53% in 2009

2010-09-22T15:00:00.002-05:00

Solar photovoltaic (PV) cell manufacturers produced a record 10,700 megawatts of PV cells globally in 2009. Solar PV, the world’s fastest-growing power technology, now generates electricity in more than 100 countries. China produced 3,800 megawatts of PV in 2009, leading all countries for the second straight year...

Read full article
via WorldWatch Institute

Wal-Mart Installing Thin Film Solar In CA, AZ

2010-09-22T11:47:00.003-05:00

“This extension will help us meet our goal to become more efficient, lower our expense and help develop less traditional solar technology markets,” says Mack Wyckoff, senior manager, Energy Systems Develop & Technology, at Wal-Mart, and lead on the thin-film project...

Read full article
via Environmental Leader

Few cheers for BP well's final plugging

2010-09-20T12:43:00.005-05:00

This image taken earlier in the week shows dead pogies floating in a pass near Bay Joe Wise on the Louisiana coast. It is the second fish kill discovered in lower Plaquemines Parish in the past week, typically a time of year when oxygen-depleted dead zones form in the Gulf of Mexico, but local officials believe the Deepwater Horizon oil spill may be a factor... photo credit

Cement has finally "killed" the Deepwater Horizon spill, but few are celebrating:

LA Times
Associated Press
The Street
CNN
Yahoo

BP's original statement, May 2010:

Indiana: "least green large state"

2010-09-20T10:15:00.004-05:00

The National Marketing Institute says Indiana is the least green state out of the 25 largest in the US...

EPA phasing out voluntary "Climate Leaders" program

2010-09-17T08:11:00.002-05:00

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has decided to shut down the voluntary Climate Leaders program, which has been helping organizations reduce their greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions since 2002.

EPA says it considered many factors when making its decision, including the new developments in regulatory and voluntary programs that address GHG emissions, such as the first mandatory greenhouse gas reporting rule that took effect on January 1, 2010. The agency also took into consideration the climate programs offered by several states and non-governmental organizations (NGOs), which it says are robust enough to serve companies in the Climate Leaders program.

As EPA phases down services under the program – including technical assistance and setting greenhouse gas reduction goals – the agency will help participating companies transition to non-federal programs that “will allow them to go above and beyond mandatory reporting requirements to meet their goals.”

The agency says it will continue to stay involved in initiatives related to corporate greenhouse gas accounting and to support companies’ actions to reduce their GHG emissions through other EPA programs such as Energy Star and the Green Power Partnership...

Read full article
via Environmental Leader

Investor Group Urges EPA to be Tough on Coal Ash

2010-09-17T08:01:00.009-05:00

coal ash

coal ash spill of 2008 (Tennessee)

U.S. Investors With $240,000,000,000 in Assets Urge Strict Federal Regulations on Coal Ash

A coalition of investors urged the Obama administration to tightly regulate toxic coal waste in every state in order to mitigate financial risk in the event of another coal-ash disaster like the one experienced in 2008 by the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA)...

Read full article
via SolveClimate.org

Whole Foods demands "sustainable" packaging from 2,100+ suppliers

2010-09-15T19:59:00.006-05:00

Whole Foods Market has rolled out new responsible packaging guidelines to all of its more than 2,100 body care and supplement suppliers companywide. All new body care and supplement suppliers must meet the packaging guidelines before their products can be sold in one of the company’s more than 300 locations in the U.S., Canada and the U.K.

To spearhead the change, the supermarket chain has switched to 100 percent post-consumer recycled (PCR) content bottles for several of its store-brand supplements and 365 brand body care items are packaged in bottles with 50 percent PCR content HDPE (high-density polyethylene).

A recent study from Global Industry Analysts projects that the global market for sustainable packaging will reach $142.42 billion by 2015...

Read full article
via Environmental Leader

Frito-Lay Launching Electric Truck Fleet

2010-09-15T19:55:00.002-05:00

Frito-Lay plans to deploy 21 trucks in total this year and 150 additional trucks in 2011, which will make Frito-Lay the largest commercial fleet of all-electric trucks in North America, according to the company...

Read full article
via Environmental Leader

Alec Baldwin joins anti-fossil fuel movement

2010-09-13T17:13:00.003-05:00

"Corporate polluters don't own the air -- we all do."

"Together, we can stop big oil and dirty coal from gutting the Clean Air Act... I hope you'll add your voice and help protect the air we breathe and the water we drink."

Learn more here
via RepowerAmerica

White House Releases Greenhouse Gas Reductions Plan

2010-09-13T10:53:00.007-05:00

"There's no silver bullet to lessening our dependence on foreign oil and lowering the cost of our operations -- but there may be silver buckshot," Sen. Tom Carper (D-Del.).

The basics among the plan for 50-plus government agencies and offices are similar: cut direct emissions by making infrastructure improvements, reducing fossil fuel use and implementing better maintenance practices. But some agencies are planning to go further. The Interior Department, for example, aims to install renewable energy systems at wildlife refuges and other lands under its control, while several agencies will consolidate their data centers...

Read full story here
via The New York Times

Matthew Sleeth offers Creation Care study series

2010-09-06T17:09:00.009-05:00

Following Jesus is good for the planet. Or should be, at least. . . This is the radical, yet solidly biblical premise of the new transformational DVD curriculum for groups by Matthew Sleeth, MD. This two-part film series and guidebook experience for groups is a creative and compelling call for Christians to embrace sustainable living out of love for God, neighbor, and all of creation...

Visit BlessedEarth.org
via BlessedEarthFilms

“Nitrite-Free” Meats Are Full of Nitrites

2010-09-04T15:48:00.005-05:00

Nitrogen compounds are the basis of chemical fertilizers.

Think twice before you slap some meat on the grill this weekend...

Read whole article
via Good Magazine

"Eco-Fashion: Going Green"

2010-09-02T09:38:00.005-05:00

Presented by New York City's Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT). The Museum at FIT presents Eco-Fashion: Going Green, an exhibition exploring fashion’s relationship with the environment.

On View at The Museum at FIT in New York
May 26 Through November 13, 2010

Capturing the World's Oldest Living Things

2010-09-02T09:32:00.002-05:00

80,000 year old Aspen Grove in Chile

For the last few years, American photographer Rachel Sussman has journeyed across the globe on a mission to bring back images of the world's oldest living organisms. See photo gallery.

How the Pentagon is Attacking Energy Efficiency

2010-09-02T09:28:00.002-05:00

"The department needs to cut its energy use for its own reasons -- for the way we do business, for the ability to protect the country, and cutting energy use for climate change is part of that..."

Largest Solar Rooftop Project in U.S. Planned For Salt Palace

2010-09-02T09:25:00.002-05:00

Salt Lake City’s Salt Palace Convention Center could be getting the largest rooftop solar facility in the United States.

NexGen Energy and Bella Energy have been chosen to develop a solar installation on the roof of the Calvin L. Rampton Salt Palace Convention Center in downtown Salt Lake City. The team presented a plan to install up to 2.6 megawatts of solar modules on the structure. If built to that capacity, the companies say it will be the largest U.S. rooftop solar facility, generating more than 3,330,000 kilowatt hours of electricity every year while reducing the building’s consumption by 25%...

Global CO2 Emissions Fall, but Less than Expected

2010-08-19T11:19:00.002-05:00

Global carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions in 2009 fell 1.3 percent to 31.3 billion tonnes in the first year-on-year decline in this decade, according to Internationals Wirtschaftsforum Regenerative Energien (IWR), reports Reuters.

The German-based Renewable Energy Industry Institute attributed the drop in CO2 emissions to the global economic crisis and rising investments in renewable energies.

However, Norbert Allnoch, IWR director, says the global decrease in CO2 emissions fell short of expectations in the wake of the economic crisis. Decreased CO2 emissions in Europe, the U.S., Russia, and Japan were almost cancelled out by significant increases in Asian and Middle Eastern countries, according to IWR...

Read full article here
via Environmental Leader

Weather Chaos revives global warming fears

2010-08-17T07:31:00.005-05:00

Pakistan

Russia

Chicago

The floods battered New England, then Nashville, then Arkansas, then Oklahoma — and were followed by a deluge in Pakistan that has upended the lives of 20 million people.

The summer’s heat waves baked the eastern United States, parts of Africa and eastern Asia, and above all Russia, which lost millions of acres of wheat and thousands of lives in a drought worse than any other in the historical record.

Seemingly disconnected, these far-flung disasters are reviving the question of whether global warming is causing more weather extremes...

Read full article here
via NY Times
by Justin Gillis