Thursday, November 04, 2004

[Wildlife and Environment] Common household fragrances may be harming aquatic wildlife, study finds Those fragrant soaps and shampoos we casually rinse down the drain may be causing long-term damage to aquatic wildlife downstream by interfering with the animals' natural ability to eliminate toxins from their system, according to a new Stanford University study published by the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The full article, entitled "Nitromusk and Polycyclic Musk Compounds as Long-term Inhibitors of Cellular Xenobiotic Defense Systems Mediated by Multi-Drug Transporters", is available on the Environmental Health Perspectives web site in the EHP-In-Press section. 1:52:48 PM Google It!    [Wastewater] Industrial Water Reuse Makes Cents Stricter standards and the increasing demand for water is raising water treatment costs and making wastewater recycling more attractive to industry. [Source: Environmental Protection Magazine] 1:26:58 PM Google It!    [Alternative Energy] Weather hots up under wind farms Wind farms can change the weather, according to a model of how these forests of giant turbines interact with the local atmosphere. And the idea is backed up by observations from real wind farms.[Source: New Scientist] 1:25:38 PM Google It!    [Green Products] The Perfect Cup This Green Life on the best way to guarantee a green cup of coffee. 1:24:21 PM Google It!    [Alternative Energy] Colorado Voters Pass Renewable Energy Standard In a major victory for renewable energy advocates in Colorado, voters in the state approved Amendment 37 on Tuesday's election day. This is the first time in the Nation's history that a renewable energy portfolio standard was put directly before voters rather than processed through a state's legislature. [Source: Renewable Energy Access] 1:21:59 PM Google It!    [Environmental Policy] Array of Hope Environmental leaders and thinkers on what comes next. [Source: Grist Magazine] 1:19:58 PM Google It!    [Schools] Big Plan on Campus: Universities Combat Climate Change While the U.S. government snubs the Kyoto Protocol on climate change, a small but growing number of colleges and universities are weaning themselves from carbon and adopting new attitudes about energy. 1:17:55 PM Google It!    [Recycling] Shaw and Siemens Launch First U.S. Waste Carpet-to-Energy Project Customers of Shaw Industries, as well as citizens of Dalton, Ga., will soon benefit from the nation's first waste carpet-to-energy project. Shaw Industries and Siemens Building Technologies, Inc., have developed a process for converting carpet and wood manufacturing waste into steam energy and, as a result, will lower plant emissions, greatly reduce the amount of post-manufacturing carpet waste in landfills, and save Shaw's Dalton plant up to $2.5 million per year. 1:16:44 PM Google It!    [Corporate Sustainability] New Report Documents Profitable Corporate Actions To Slow Global Warming A new report from the World Resources Institute highlights corporate actions to slow global warming. The report is entitled A Climate of Innovation: Northeast Business Action to Reduce Greenhouse Gases (click here to download). 1:15:16 PM Google It!    [Alternative Energy] Watts from wastewater: New device produces power while treating sewa A new technology is being developed that can turn raw sewage into raw power. The device, called a microbial fuel cell, not only treats wastewater, but also provides a clean energy source with the potential for enormous financial savings, according to scientists at Pennsylvania State University. 1:13:02 PM Google It!    [Energy Efficiency] DOE, EPA, and Non-Profits Emphasize Ways to Cut Heating Bills There's one topic that non-profit organizations and the federal government are in strong agreement about: the many ways to save energy at home this winter. With winter heating bills expected to be among the highest in recent memory, DOE, the Alliance to Save Energy (ASE), the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy (ACEEE), and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) are all providing tips on saving energy. The Powerful $avings campaign, a joint effort of DOE and ASE, offers six smart energy practices and suggests nine home efficiency improvements. The ACEEE lists the top five "musts" to cut winter heating bills, and recommends its "Consumer Guide to Home Energy Savings, 8th Edition." And the DOE/EPA Energy Star program has published "A Guide to Energy-Efficient Heating and Cooling," noting that homeowners can save up to 20 percent on annual energy costs by making energy-efficient improvements to their heating and cooling systems. When heating equipment reaches 15 or more years of age, DOE and the EPA recommend that homeowners consider a more energy-efficient replacement. See the ASE and ACEEE press releases and the October 25th announcement on the Energy Star Web site. DOE's Energy Savers Web site also provides a plethora of information about how to save energy and use renewable energy in your home. See the Energy Savers Web site. [Source: EERE Network News] 1:09:40 PM Google It!    [Energy Efficiency] NowHouse Project Now Open in San Francisco and on the Web The NowHouse, a demonstration home located in the parking lot of SBC ballpark in San Francisco, California, is open to the public through December 20th. The NowHouse incorporates a number of energy efficiency and renewable energy technologies, including a tankless water heater, radiant barriers, solar photovoltaic roofing, and solar water heaters. Its optimized climate controls include high efficiency air conditioners and a mini-duct air distribution system. The well-insulated home also features Energy Star windows, doors, and appliances. [Source: EERE Network News] 1:08:17 PM Google It!    [Alternative Energy] Pennsylvania and Massachusetts Promote Growth of Green Power Pennsylvania and Massachusetts are promoting green power, which is gaining momentum in the Northeast region. The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) announced in mid-October that the state would double its purchase of green power for state facilities to 10 percent. Under four-year contracts with Community Energy Inc. and Strategic Energy LLC, the state will purchase 100,000 megawatt-hours a year from renewable sources such as wind and hydropower. However, the state also includes power from waste coal in its tally of green power sources. Meanwhile, the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative (MTC) has offered to match the premiums paid by green power customers, providing up to $2.5 million annually in grants that will help develop renewable energy in the state. See the DEP and MTC press releases, and visit MTC's new Clean Energy Choice Web site. DOE, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and the Center for Resource Solutions (CRS) honored 19 individuals and organizations in early October with the Green Power Leadership Awards. The awards, recognizing the leading U.S. green power purchasers and suppliers, are posted on the EPA Web site. Looking to buy green power? Check out the new "Guide to Purchasing Green Power," prepared by DOE, the EPA, CRS, and the World Resources Institute. And if you're part of a utility that's looking to sell green power, the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) recently published the "Green Pricing Resource Guide," written by Ed and Meredith Holt. See the AWEA press release, or go directly to the guide (PDF 433 KB). [Source: EERE Network News] 1:06:56 PM Google It!    [Fuel Cells] Fuel Cells Help the U.S. Military Meet its Power Needs Fuel cells of all sizes are now helping to meet the power needs of the U.S. military. The Elmendorf Air Force Base in Alaska, for instance, is now using a 5-kilowatt fuel cell to provide power and hot water to its fire station. The military is also exploring the use of fuel cells to power its vehicles: Quantum Fuel Systems Technologies Worldwide, Inc. recently provided a 10-kilowatt fuel cell to the U.S. Army's National Automotive Center (NAC), which has incorporated it into a vehicle called the "Quantum AMV" (Alternative Mobility Vehicle). Nicknamed the "Aggressor," the vehicle features "far superior acceleration" compared to traditional all-terrain vehicles, can also operate in a virtually silent "stealth" mode, and can serve as a portable generator in the field. See the announcements from the U.S. Air Force and Quantum and visit the NAC Web site. On a smaller scale, IdaTech unveiled on Monday a portable methanol-powered fuel cell system to be delivered to the Army to recharge batteries in the field. The lunchbox-size prototype produces 150 watts of power, although the system delivered to the Army will generate 250 watts. IdaTech plans to offer the system commercially. A similar energy source is under development by MTI MicroFuel Cells, which is under contract with the Army and the U.S. Marine Corps to develop methanol-powered fuel cells for field operations. The devices provide twice the energy of batteries in the same amount of space. The company will deliver five fuel cell devices to Army Special Operations Forces within the next 10 months. See the press releases from IdaTech and MTI MicroFuel Cells. [Source: EERE Network News] 1:04:48 PM Google It!    [Energy Efficiency] Federal Employees Receive DOE Awards for Saving Energy The efforts of 27 individuals, teams, and organizations throughout the federal government yielded almost $39 million in energy savings in the past year. In honor of those achievements, DOE presented the 2004 Federal Energy and Water Management Awards last week to employees of the U.S. Army, Air Force, Marine Corps, and Navy; DOE and the departments of Homeland Security, Justice, and Interior; the Environmental Protection Agency; the General Services Administration; the National Aeronautics and Space Administration; and the Social Security Administration. One naval facility also received an Energy Star Building Award for superior building performance. Presented each year since 1981, the awards are sponsored by DOE's Federal Energy Management Program (FEMP). The 2004 winners purchased green power; drew on renewable energy sources such as landfill gas and solar, wind, and geothermal energy; installed fuel cells and combined heat and power technologies; implemented energy savings performance contracts and utility-financed contracts, which use private funds to cut federal energy costs; and employed energy efficient technologies and strategies such as daylighting, reflective roofing, high-performance windows, high-efficiency lighting, motion detectors, and efficient heating, ventilating, and air conditioning systems. The U.S. military led several noteworthy efforts this year, including the installation of geothermal heat pumps at an Army base in Korea; the use of sea water, a deep well, and off-peak thermal storage to meet cooling needs at a naval base in Hawaii; a strategy to avoid fuel dumping by fighter jets that saved more than 126,000 gallons of fuel; efforts aboard two naval ships that cut fuel costs by more than $1 million; and upgrades of air compressor systems at five military bases. See the complete list of the 2004 winners on the FEMP Web site. [Source: EERE Network News] 1:04:10 PM Google It!    [Pesticides] Things grow better with Coke Indian farmers have come up with what they think is the real thing to keep crops free of bugs. Instead of paying hefty fees to international chemical companies for patented pesticides, they are reportedly spraying their cotton and chilli fields with Coca-Cola. [Source: The Guardian (UK)] 1:00:21 PM Google It!    [Schools] Student's science project proves to be a winner A Kansas City sixth-grader decided to test the energy efficiency of various shapes for his science project. He tested how well the shapes preserved set temperatures. He got the idea from reading about how housing developers chose the shapes for different rooms in houses based on the shape's ability to preserve a room's temperature. His project won first prize in a city contest. [Source: Kansas City Star] 12:58:00 PM Google It!    [Alternative Energy] Interest in wind energy sweeping across Pennsylvania's colleges Lehigh looks to join list of schools diversifying their power sources. [Source: Allentown (PA) Morning Call] 12:53:10 PM Google It!    [Alternative Energy] Canada Looks to Boost Renewable Energy Use The Honourable Stephane Dion, Canada's Minister of the Environment, has outlined his perspective on renewable energy, including Canada's accomplishments and challenges. Speaking last Thursday at a meeting organized by the North American Commission for Environmental Cooperation, Minister Dion indicated that Canada's future is closely linked to the development of renewable energy. 12:48:04 PM Google It!    [Green Building] Eco-friendly building afoot A group of local architects and environmental planners is doing its share to help the city clean up its reputation as one of the nation's most polluted cities. Thanks to the group's involvement, Houston is one of 15 cities in the country committed to constructing environmentally friendly buildings that reduce energy and water consumption and promote a healthier work space. In June, City Council passed a resolution requiring new city buildings or renovations larger than 10,000 square feet to comply whenever possible with the "silver" level of LEED Green Building Rating System. [Source: Houston Chronicle] 12:44:40 PM Google It!    [Alternative Energy] Colorado Voters Have Say On 'Green' Power The ballot measure discussed in this story passed in Tuesday's election. 12:41:21 PM Google It!    [Construction and demolition] Recycling taken to a new level: Buildings Twenty-five hundred tons of concrete, 350 tons of steel and nine tons of aluminum window frames will be left after a seven-story downtown building is taken down. But instead of ending in the scrap heap, the concrete will be ground up and used to fill the site, steel will be melted to create rebar and the aluminum will be reused in cans and other products. As companies become more environmentally aware, that attitude is reflected in the buildings they work in and the ones they renovate or tear down. [Source: MSNBC] 12:36:48 PM Google It!    [Schools] 'Smart' schools cut energy costs With energy costs threatening to reach record levels this winter, schools and colleges from coast to coast are scrambling to find ways to enhance the efficiency of their physical plants. Researchers and architects are hard at work developing innovative ways to help educators lighten the burden of escalating fuel costs. [Source: eSchool News] 12:28:13 PM Google It!    [Schools] Kids make own lesson in landfill permanence Fourth-graders at St. Ursula Villa atop Mount Lookout are learning some valuable lessons after a recent field trip to another Cincinnati "mountain" - Mount Rumpke. "Garbage won't go away very fast," said 9-year-old Anthony Asher at St. Ursula's historic 21-acre campus, believed to be the highest point in Mount Lookout. Two weeks before the field trip to Rumpke landfill in Colerain Township, Anthony and 41 other students in teacher Sarah Brady's two science classes made their own landfills by filling shoeboxes with soil, eggshells, coffee grounds, celery, carrots, onions and other food scraps. Students sealed and covered the boxes for three weeks then opened them last week to determine if, and how, the items decomposed. [Source: Cincinnati Enquirer] 12:24:02 PM Google It!    [Recycling] State e-waste laws make recycling easier Thanks to two groundbreaking (California) state laws, you'll finally be able to recycle that old cell phone and junked computer monitor. The problem is, they could end up anywhere from the recycling heap to the shores of China. (Source: San Jose Mercury News -- need a login/pw?) 12:20:47 PM Google It!    [Recycling] E-recycling program expands to Canada The rechargeable battery industry has expanded its wireless phone and rechargeable battery recycling program to Canada. The Rechargeable Battery Corp. launched its Call2Recycle program in Canada last month. More than 4,000 retailers, communities and public agencies will have collection boxes for consumers to drop off rechargeable batteries and wireless phones. [Source: RCR Wireless News] 12:18:17 PM Google It!    [Green Purchasing] Winslow, Maine Inventor Finds Market for Biodegradable Potato-Based Packaging Elie Helou Jr. grew up in war-torn Lebanon in the 1970s. Bombs and bullets destroyed his home and his father's winery. He and his family would hunker down for months at a time in abandoned school buildings, not daring to venture out for fear of getting killed. Stuck in these empty schools, Helou, who moved to Winslow when he was 11, began to read science fiction books. The books nurtured a lifelong fascination that has now led Helou to an invention — packaging made from potato and tapioca. It sounds innocuous. But Helou's cartons, trays and packaging material do what others have tried and failed: They are fully biodegradable and depend only on annually renewable sources. Their only manufacturing byproduct is steam and they come at half to two-thirds the cost of paper and plastic alternatives. And they may provide a boon to the potato industry in Maine.  [ENN Business Headlines] 12:11:05 PM Google It!

© Copyright 2005 Laura L. Barnes. Last update: 10/25/2005; 12:07:20 PM.