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Monday, January 24, 2005
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Fujitsu Limited, Fujitsu Laboratories, Ltd., and Toray Industries, Inc. have announced their joint development of the world's first large-size notebook PC plastic housing made of plant-based plastic. The new environmentally preferable plastic is used in Fujitsu's 2005 spring model FMV-BIBLO NB80K notebook PC. [Source: GreenBiz.com]
3:01:40 PM Google It! 
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Mos Food Services, Inc., a Japanese burger chain with 1,467 stores across the country and 120 stores overseas, is actively promoting the recycling of food waste. The company says it has started recycling food waste and warehouse waste (used packaging material such as cardboard boxes and plastic bags) in the Kanto region (Tokyo and six neighboring prefectures). The food waste includes products that are unsellable due to breakage or damage and a portion of expired food products, and amounted to nearly 0.14% of the total annual food purchases of all chain stores in fiscal 2003. [Source: GreenBiz.com]
3:00:42 PM Google It!
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Caterpillar Inc., manufacturer of construction and mining equipment, diesel and natural gas engines and industrial gas turbines, has pledged to reduce its global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions 20% by 2010. [Source: GreenBiz.com]
2:59:52 PM Google It!
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When Ana learned that her home town was not part of the greater Miami sewer system but instead relied on septic tanks, she wanted to know what happened to all the wastewater. Did some of it leak into the ground and ultimately find its way into her city's beautiful canals and lakes, where it could harm fish and other animals? [Source: Science News for Kids]
2:59:00 PM Google It!
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Millions of tons of used devices pose a growing threat to the environment. [Source: Washington Post -- need a login/pw?]
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As the need for electricity continues to grow faster than the average American waistline, people are tapping into a natural source that is as old as the world itself-geothermal energy. [Source: E: The Environmental Magazine]
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Drivers of two electric-powered Ford Ranger pickup trucks have vowed to remain at a Capitol-area Ford dealer until the Ford Motor Company allows them to buy their leased vehicles rather than turn them in to be scrapped. [Source: San Jose Mercury News]
2:53:47 PM Google It!
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The National Council for Science and the Environment (NCSE) invites you to participate in the 5th National Conference on Science, Policy and the Environment: Forecasting Environmental Changes, to be held on February 3-4, 2005 at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center in Washington, DC.
The conference will serve as a forum for more than 700 leading scientists, engineers, policy makers, government officials, business executives, and educators to assess our ability to understand and forecast environmental changes and to identify opportunities for improving these capabilities.
2:52:32 PM Google It!
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Topic areas include (1) NRDA overview, (2) field and laboratory data collection for litigation, (3) natural resource injury assessment, and (4) natural resource economics assessment, including habitat equivalency analyses (HEA). The course will be offered via video conferencing for 40 participants in Urbana-Champaign, 40 participants in Springfield, and 35 participants in Rockford, for 3 full days, scheduled for February 1-3, 2005. There is no cost to attend this workshop. Registration is requested. Please contact Gary Miller at 217-333-8942 for registration and further information.
2:51:32 PM Google It!
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Faced with crowded landfills, high construction costs, and environmental concerns, cities and states across the U.S. are recycling construction debris and implementing other green building practices, while trying to minimize cost and timing barriers. Virginia is now among those states. By Susan Pollard [Source: Greenerbuildings.com]
2:50:21 PM Google It!
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Contrasting public beliefs that solar panels are far too expensive for the average homeowner to install, a new report quantifies the great economic benefits of doing so. Published by the Environment California Research and Policy Center, the report demonstrates that installing solar photovoltaic (PV) systems protects customers from volatile energy prices. [Source: GreenerBuildings.com]
2:46:55 PM Google It!
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organicARCHITECT, a green architecture firm and research think-tank, has announced the recipients of its 2004 organicAWARDS. This first-annual award recognizes the most exciting products introduced in the past year that promote both design innovation and environmental responsibility. [Source: GreenerBuildings.com]
2:45:51 PM Google It!
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Region 5 is soliciting proposals to help implement the Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) program in Region 5 states and tribal territories specifically in the states of Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, and Wisconsin.
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This program is focused on institutionalizing multimedia pollution prevention as an environmental management priority, establishing prevention goals, providing direct technical assistance to businesses, conducting outreach, and collecting and analyzing data. Projects funded under this program must seek to reduce sources of pollution or eliminate waste across all environmental media -- air, land and water.
2:42:33 PM Google It!
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A Cornell University research group has made a sweet and environmentally beneficial discovery -- how to make plastics from citrus fruits, such as oranges, and carbon dioxide.
In a paper published in a recent issue of the Journal of the American Chemical Society (Sept. 2004), Geoffrey Coates, a Cornell professor of chemistry and chemical biology, and his graduate students Chris Byrne and Scott Allen describe a way to make polymers using limonene oxide and carbon dioxide, with the help of a novel "helper molecule" -- a catalyst developed in the researchers' laboratory. [Source: Environmental Protection Magazine]
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Christie Whitman's forthcoming book assails the GOP's rightward lurch. [Source: Grist Magazine]
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CSREES requests applications for the Integrated Research, Education, and Extension Competitive Grants Program - National Integrated Water Quality Program (NIWQP) for fiscal year (FY) 2005 to develop research, education, and extension projects aimed at improving the quality of water resources in agricultural watersheds across the Nation. In FY 2005, CSREES anticipates that approximately $11,933,320 will be available for support of the program areas outlined in this Request for Applications.
The goal of the NIWQP is to contribute to the improvement of the quality of our Nation's surface water and groundwater resources through research, education, and extension activities. Projects funded through this program will facilitate achieving this goal by advancing and disseminating the knowledge base available to agricultural and rural communities. Funded projects should lead to science-based decision-making and management practices that improve the quality of the Nation's surface water and groundwater resources in agricultural and rural watersheds.
NIWQP applications are being solicited in the following program areas:
1. National Facilitation Projects;
2. Regional Water Quality Coordination Projects; and
3. Integrated Research, Education, and Extension Projects.
The $600,000 award ceiling is for one program area, Regional Water Quality Coordination Projects, for projects involving one region. See the Request for Applications for award ceilings for the other program areas.
2:34:48 PM Google It!
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Applications due: Mar 18, 2005
The ISE program invests in projects that develop and implement informal learning experiences designed to increase interest, engagement, and understanding of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) by individuals of all ages and backgrounds, as well as projects that advance the theory and practice of informal science education. Projects may target either public audiences or professionals whose work directly affects informal STEM learning. ISE projects are expected to demonstrate strategic impact, collaboration, and innovation.
2:32:30 PM Google It!
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Applications due: Apr 11, 2005
Building on work supported under the multi-agency Digital Libraries Initiative, this program aims to establish a national digital library that will constitute an online network of learning environments and resources for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education at all levels. In FY2005, the program will accept proposals in three tracks: (1) Pathways projects are expected to provide stewardship for the content and services needed by major communities of learners. (2) Services projects are expected to develop services that support users, resource collection providers, and the Core Integration effort and that enhance the impact, efficiency, and value of the library. (3) Targeted Research projects are expected to explore specific topics that have immediate applicability to collections, services, and other aspects of the development of the digital library.
2:29:10 PM Google It!
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Environmental management systems (EMS) are a well established tool to help local governments prevent pollution, operate more efficiently and improve environmental performance within their communities. Since 1997, EPA has helped local entities establish EMS that include effective environmental policies and measurable goals for reducing impacts on the environment. Mayor Douglas Palmer of Trenton, N.J., who co-chairs the National Conference of Mayor Urban Watershed Council said, "Introducing EMS as a tool reduces costs and improves government efficiency in addition to preserving environmental quality, making it a ‘must do’ for mayors and their staff and programs."
The agency has been working with local governments and others to help understand the benefits of an EMS and assist those that choose to put one in place. EPA in cooperation with the Global Environment and Technology Foundation has worked with more than 30 local governments around the country to reduce operating costs, improve their compliance and significantly reduce environmental impacts in the community. In the first year of implementing an EMS, the city of San Diego's Solid Waste Division was able to reduce air emissions from heavy equipment more than $800,000.
EPA is also leading a program to work with non-profit organizations, called EMS Local Resource Centers, to help increase the number of local governments that adopt EMS. These centers provide a range of services to local governments including education, training, workshops and guidance. There are 11 local resource centers around the country, including four new centers recently designated by EPA. These newly designated centers are located at the University of Missouri-Rolla, Kansas State University, the University of Colorado, and EcoVenture in Oakland, Calif. Each of these local resource centers is playing an important national leadership role by helping local governments operate in a more environmentally and economically sound manner and provides more efficient services for taxpayers in their communities. Information about EMS and the new centers is available at http://www.peercenter.net.
2:24:56 PM Google It!
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Discover the lessons learned by engineers while troubleshooting and resolving a difficult, high-precision cleaning application involving CLCC's. The project involved the introduction and integration of a new system into the application. The article details how the team explored the tooling, system, equipment and recipes involved in their development of the process. [Source: CleanTech]
2:23:04 PM Google It!
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Water minimization and surfactant recycling are two important obstacles confronting efficient use of aqueous cleaning technologies. In this context, present philosophies based on strong emulsion forming surfactants must be re-examined. The engineers at the Illinois Waste Management and Research Center have developed an aqueous parts washing system that offers a potential solution to this obstacle. [Source: CleanTech]
2:21:53 PM Google It!
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The National Fuel Cell Education Program educates the public about hydrogen fuel and fuel cells through curriculum, a speaker's bureau, and more. The highlight of the program is its fuel cell kit, which includes a small reversible fuel cell, a solar electric panel, and a small electric motor. The program was founded in 1993 by Eco Soul Inc., a non-profit organization that focuses on education, energy, and the environment.
2:19:50 PM Google It!
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In a national media briefing on January 7, Portfolio 21 (P21), which is a global mutual fund focusing on sustainable business practices, highlighted three emerging trends for shareholders to watch in 2005: the rise of climate-neutral companies, new "enviro-metric" accounting and the emergence of cradle-to-landfill stewardship. [Source: Environmental Protection Magazine]
2:03:03 PM Google It!
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If the approximately 1.5 billion power adapters that connect our cell phones, digital cameras, answering machines, camcorders and countless other gadgets to wall outlets used less power, Americans could save billions of dollars on their electric bills and protect the environment, EPA says. Today, EPA announced that the ENERGY STAR label is now available for external power adapters that meet EPA’s newly established energy efficiency guidelines.
Power adapters, also known as external power supplies, recharge or power many electronic products, PDAs, MP3 players and other electronics and appliances. As many as 1.5 billion power adapters are in use in the United States -- about five for every American. In the United States, more efficient adapters have the potential to save more than 5 billion kilowatt hours (kWh) of energy per year and prevent the release of more than 4 million tons of greenhouse gas emissions the equivalent of taking 800,000 cars off the road.
Power adapters are devices that convert AC (alternating current) power from a wall outlet into DC (direct current) power that is used to power electronic products. Adapters are crucial to the operation of virtually all small electronic devices, yet they tend to be very inefficient. In the United States alone, total electricity flowing through external and internal power supplies is about 207 billion kWh/year, equal to about $17 billion a year, or six percent of the national electric bill. On average, ENERGY STAR-qualified power adapters will be 35 percent more efficient.
EPA is promoting the most efficient adapters since they are commonly bundled with so many of today's most popular consumer electronic and information technology products. Sales of these products continue to show explosive growth worldwide. If this trend continues, the energy use from consumer electronics and small appliances could account for almost 30 percent of a typical home’s electricity bill by 2010. By
comparison, the average household today spends 45 percent of its energy bill on heating and cooling, and just six percent to continuously run a refrigerator. Encouraging the use of more efficient power adapters will help stem this growing energy consumption.
Consumers will soon be able to purchase a variety of products, such as cell phones, PDAs, digital cameras, camcorders, that are shipped or sold with ENERGY STAR qualified power adapters. Eventually, these new efficient adapters will be incorporated into a wide spectrum of products including laptops, cordless phones, and office equipment, as well as other products and as replacement adapters sold separately. Products with qualified adapters will be identified by the ENERGY STAR label on product packaging, literature, or store displays.
EPA announced the first retail and manufacturing partners and showcased new adapter technology at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, Nev., Jan. 8. Companies working with EPA include Phihong, Lite On and Bias Power. These power adapter manufacturers alone account for more than 22 percent of the current power supply market. EPA is also working with Hewlett-Packard, Samsung Telecommunications America and Panasonic.
EPA first announced draft efficiency guidelines and testing procedures for power adapters at the electronics conference in Anaheim, Calif., in February 2004. EPA finalized the guidelines in December 2004.
Power adapters join the more than 40 categories of products, including lighting, appliances, home office equipment, home electronics and heating and cooling equipment that can earn the ENERGY STAR label. Annually, ENERGY STAR helps Americans save enough energy to power 20 million homes and avoid greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to those from 18 million cars -- all while saving $8 billion. For additional information on ENERGY STAR, visit their Web site at http://www.energystar.gov. For more information about ENERGY STAR and external power adapters, visit:
http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=ext_power_supplies.power_supplies_consumers.
1:58:57 PM Google It!
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Effective Jan. 1, 2005, computer monitors must meet more energy-efficient requirements to qualify for the ENERGY STAR label. For the first time, the specification addresses energy consumption while monitors are in use, as well as while they are idle. Many models on the market already meet EPA's new specifications. By 2010, EPA estimates that the new requirements will result in carbon emission savings of almost 5 million metric tonnes (carbon equivalent), or the equivalent of taking more than 3 million cars off the road. The previous computer monitor requirements called for only a “sleep mode” energy-saving function.
As part of an existing agreement, the European Union will also update its specifications to reflect this revision to ENERGY STAR. This modification is EPA's first effort to coordinate an ENERGY STAR specification revision with the European Commission under the context of the agreement. The success of this revision process has set a positive precedent for additional specification updates starting or underway for
printers, copiers, scanners, fax machines, computers and other office equipment. For more information on ENERGY STAR, visit http://www.energystar.gov.
1:55:32 PM Google It!
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The American Institute of Chemical Engineers will be hosting a Topical Conference on "Sustaining the Manufacturing Base" as part of the Spring National Meeting, April 10-14, 2005 at the Hyatt Regency in Atlanta, GA. The Conference is cosponsored by the AIChE Sustainability and Engineering Forum (SEF), the AIChE Institute for Sustainability (IfS) and the ACS Green Chemistry Institute.
Sustainable Engineering applies chemistry and chemical engineering principles and process synthesis skills to developing sustainable methods, designs, and products. Green chemical engineering endeavors to prevent pollution and provide inherently safe products and processes. This Topical Conference, "Sustainability and Green Engineering: Coming of Age," will emphasize:
- Lifecycle Assessment Tools (LCA, LCI and Impact Assessment)
- Sustainability of Business Lifecycle and Audit Practices to Assure Sustainability
- Adding Benefits to Cost Assessments
- Universities' Role in Sustainability and Extension of Learnings
- Green Process Design; and
- Green Processing and Manufacturing
In addition to the conference sessions, a separate series of Sustainability Workshops will be conducted at a cost of $100 per workshop. These workshops are open to the public and do not require registration for the AIChE meeting itself. The workshop topics include:
- The Science Behind Sustainability - Sunday, April 10/9AM to 12 Noon
- The Business Case for Sustainability - Sunday, April 10/1 PM to 4 PM
- Applications of Sustainability in Industry - Tuesday, April 12/7 PM to 9:30 PM
- Individual Activism to Implement Sustainability - Wednesday, April 13/7 PM to 9:30 PM
[ChemAlliance Environmental News]
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The National Environmental Partnership 2005 Summit will be held April 11-14, 2005 at the Fairmont Hotel in Chicago, Illinois. The Summit will be a merger of the National Pollution Prevention Roundtable Spring Conference, the National Compliance Assistance Providers Forum, and the Performance Track Participants Association annual meeting. Bringing together members of the environmental assistance and business communities, the Summit will include a program including dynamic plenary sessions, interactive workshops, educational breakout sessions, onsite exhibitors, and offsite events and site visits. A highlight of the Summit will be the National Environmental Protection Agency’s Performance Track Annual Awards Dinner.
The theme of the 2005 National Environmental Partnership Summit is “Advancing Environmental Stewardship through Collaboration" and will be structured around the following eight topics:
- Partnering Across Programs & Organizations – How to Make it Work
- Environmental Program Integration & Innovation
- Delivering Environmental Assistance
- Creating Business Value While Protecting the Environment
- Fostering Sustainability
- Measuring Environmental Results & Managing Information
- Understanding the Current State of the Environment
- Assessing Environmental Research, Science & Technology
The deadline for early registration is March 1, 2005. [ChemAlliance Environmental News]
11:59:51 AM Google It!
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© Copyright
2005
Laura L. Barnes.
Last update:
10/25/2005; 12:09:03 PM.
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