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Wednesday, February 02, 2005
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The Green Health Care Awards recognizes leadership and excellence in reducing health care’s environmental impact.
12:07:25 PM Google It! 
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The United States Department of Energy has named New Haven a "success story" for energy efficiency and renewable energy programs that have been in place for the past 10 years -- ever since Mayor John DeStefano Jr. took office. According to the City of New Haven Energy Conservation Program summary, the program had reduced energy and maintenance costs by approximately $22.4 million total from 1994 to the end of fiscal year 2004. [Source: Yale Daily News]
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At least a dozen states are imposing or considering new energy-efficiency requirements that will help drive down monthly utility bills but will force many consumers to pay more for household electrical items. [Source: USA Today]
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Experts at the Kentucky Pollution Prevention Center, part of U of L's J.B. Speed Scientific School, are working to help area businesses reduce energy costs for their facilities. [Source: Louisville Daily Cardinal]
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Mayors and other city officials are demanding a bigger voice on water policies that can affect their budgets and economy. [Source: Detroit Free Press]
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A voluntary environmental assessment program offers the right equation for students to examine their school grounds and learn about the community. [Source: Wisconsin Natural Resources Magazine]
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The International Conference “Biodiversity: Science and Governance” (Paris Conference) met from 24-28 January 2005 at the headquarters of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), in Paris, France. Held independently from any intergovernmental negotiations, the conference was part of the ongoing global effort to reverse the current rate of biodiversity loss by 2010, and ensure the long-term conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity, as well as the fair and equitable sharing of the benefits arising from genetic resources. The Conference was convened to assess the current knowledge in, and needs for, research and scientific expertise in biodiversity, as well as examine public and private approaches to biodiversity conservation and management, and the interactions between science and governance. [Source: Biodiversity: Science and Governance Bulletin]
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The LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Green Building Rating System is gaining increasing attention from architects and builders. The LEED New Construction Rating System, or LEED-NC, which has been in place since 2000, has now certified 140 projects in all but 10 states and the District of Columbia, plus 27 projects in other countries. But a massive growth in LEED-certified projects is looming, as 1,717 projects throughout the country (plus 110 in other countries) have registered for certification, including projects in every state. Ohio, for instance, has only one certified project but has 45 projects that have registered for certification. The U.S. Green Building Council, which manages the LEED certification process, has also launched new LEED ratings for existing buildings (LEED-EB) and commercial interiors (LEED-CI) and is pilot-testing a LEED rating for core and shell construction (LEED-CS) while developing new rating systems for homes (LEED-H) and entire neighborhood developments (LEED-ND). See the LEED project statistics and LEED home page on the U.S. Green Building Council Web site.
Among recent buildings that have either earned or applied for LEED certification is the California Environmental Protection Agency's new 25-story headquarters building in Sacramento, which became the first high-rise building to earn the Platinum LEED rating (the highest rating) in December. The building, developed by Thomas Properties Group, Inc., will save the agency roughly $1 million per year through lower operating costs. In the country's heartland, the William J. Clinton Presidential Center, located in Little Rock, Arkansas, earned a Silver LEED rating (the third highest), thanks in part to a high-efficiency heating and cooling system that reduces energy use by more than 40 percent. Steven Winters Associates, Inc. consulted on the project, which also features solar panels on its roof. And on the East Coast, the University of Southern Carolina (USC) opened a new dorm in November that aims to also achieve LEED certification. The "West Quad" building uses 45 percent less energy than similarly sized traditional residence halls, combining daylighting with solar water preheating, a five-kilowatt hydrogen fuel cell, and a turf-covered roof. See the press releases from Thomas Properties Group, Steven Winters Associates (PDF 146 KB), and USC. Download Acrobat Reader.
Why are so many builders going green? According to a recent study by Steven Winter Associates, it may be in part because the cost impacts are minimal. The study, performed for the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA), found that a 2.5 percent increase in the GSA construction budget should ensure that most projects would be LEED certified; with a 4 percent increase, many Silver and occasional Gold ratings (the second-highest rating) would also be possible. See the Steven Winter Associates press release (PDF 107 KB) or go directly to the full 578-page report (PDF 3.8 MB).
11:48:00 AM Google It!
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Shell Hydrogen and General Motors Corporation (GM) announced last week that they will build a hydrogen fueling station and a fleet of 13 fuel-cell vehicles in New York City next year. Shell already has a hydrogen-fueling station in Washington, D.C., and plans to build another fueling station between the two cities to establish an "East Coast Corridor" for hydrogen fueling. The effort is part of DOE's Infrastructure Validation and Demonstration Project, which is managed by DOE's Hydrogen, Fuel Cells and Infrastructure Technologies Program. See the Shell press release.
Governor Pataki accepts a Honda FCX from American Honda president Koichi Kondo in Albany.
Credit: Honda
New York may eventually have an east-west corridor for hydrogen fueling as well, thanks to two projects funded by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA). Hydrogen fueling stations will be built in Buffalo and Albany as part of the state's efforts to develop a sustainable hydrogen economy. The Buffalo installation will fuel several light-duty vehicles with internal combustion engines modified to run on hydrogen. The Albany site will fuel two Honda FCX fuel-cell vehicles, provided by American Honda Motor Company, Inc. The two projects, worth a total of $5.2 million, were announced by Governor George Pataki in late December. See the governor's press release and the press release from Honda.
In related news, GM is joining with DOE's Sandia National Laboratories to develop advanced hydrogen-storage technologies for vehicles. Under a four-year, $10-million program, GM and Sandia will develop and test fuel tanks that store hydrogen in a solid form, as sodium aluminum hydride. See the Sandia press release.
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Companies throughout the United States are pursing new projects to convert landfill gases, plants, and animal wastes into power.
Methane-rich landfill gas is a growing source of power, as landfills seek to reduce both their greenhouse gas emissions and the odors associated with the emissions. Ameresco, Inc. announced in late December that it is working with Santa Cruz County in California to generate 3.2 megawatts of power from the county's landfill in Watsonville. In late January, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) honored Ameresco as its 2004 "Industry Partner of the Year" for its work to complete five new landfill gas projects totaling 81 megawatts in capacity. The EPA also named Dairyland Power Cooperative its "Energy Partner of the Year" for participating in a 3-megawatt landfill gas project in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. Ameresco also participated in that project. See the Ameresco press releases from December 28th and January 19th.
Companies are also working to convert forest thinnings and biomass-derived sugars into power. In Colorado, the Governor's Office of Energy Management and Conservation (OEMC) and DOE announced last week that the coal-fired W.N. Clark Generating Station?owned by Aquila, Inc. and located in Canon City?is replacing part of its coal supply with biomass from local forest thinning operations. The plant plans to sell the environmental benefits achieved by this project by issuing Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs), marking the first time that forest-derived biomass is used to create RECs. In Wisconsin, Virent Energy Systems is developing a demonstration project to convert sugars directly into hydrogen, which will help fuel a 5-kilowatt generator. The project will be the first to use Virent's patented Aqueous-Phase Reforming process. See the press releases from OEMC (PDF 31 KB) and Virent.
Companies are also continuing to convert animal wastes into energy, relying primarily on anaerobic digesters, which convert the wastes into methane. Central Vermont Public Service (CVPS) supplies its entire green power program with anaerobic digesters, selling the resultant power as CVPS Cow Power. In mid-January, the 1,500-head Blue Spruce Farm in Bridport (west of Middlebury in west-central Vermont) began supplying power to the CVPS program, and is expected to produce 1.7 million kilowatt-hours of electricity each year. The anaerobic digester technology is growing in importance, and in December, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced that it will work with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to advance the technology. See the press releases from CVPS (PDF 111 KB) and the USDA.
11:46:21 AM Google It!
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When parents William and Bobbie Gallagher pressed government officials to investigate why their children and so many others here are autistic, they suggested it might be worth checking into pollution and environmental factors. [Source: Asbury Park (NJ) Press]
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The Puget Sound area is a hotbed for the natural family movement: Politically tolerant. Environmentally aware. Abundant with organic, locally grown food. Home to Bastyr University, an accredited school that graduates dozens of naturopathic physicians every year. There's no one right way to carry out natural family living. But these are common tenets: Promote the well-being and healing of the whole child through natural means and trust your instincts on what's right, even if it means disregarding tradition or published experts. [Source: Seattle Times]
11:39:35 AM Google It!
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The Ittleson Foundation provides seed money for the start-up of innovative programs that will improve the social welfare of citizens of the United States. The Foundation's funding priorities are AIDS, the environment, and mental health. The Foundation provides seed money for new ideas and initiatives by supporting pilot projects, demonstration projects, and applied research. Projects should be of national scope, or of significance beyond the local area of implementation. Nonprofit organizations throughout the U.S. are eligible to apply. The next deadline for submitting letters of inquiry is March 31, 2005.
11:33:27 AM Google It!
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The ING Unsung Heroes Awards are given to K-12 educators pioneering in new methods and techniques that improve student learning. Educators submit applications describing projects they have initiated or have envisioned for the future. These applications are judged on innovative teaching methods, creative educational projects, and ability to make a positive influence on the children. Full-time K-12 education professionals from accredited public and private schools throughout the U.S. may apply. Each of the 100 finalists receives a $2,000 award and three finalists will be selected for additional awards of $25,000 for first place, $10,000 for second place, and $5,000 for third place. The application deadline is April 30, 2005.
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The Sempra Energy Community Partnership Program supports nonprofit organizations and activities in communities where company employees live and work, including Southern California and communities in Arizona, Connecticut, Illinois, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Nevada, New Jersey, New York and Texas, as well as international locations. Areas of interest include education, the environment, business and economic development, community and civic leadership, health and human services, and arts and culture. Applications are accepted throughout the year.
11:31:29 AM Google It!
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Motley Fool stumbles across renewable energy. Energize Your Portfolio. Renewable energy sources could fuel Rule Breaking returns in the next few years. Do you have the guts to invest? [The Motley Fool] Flippant (no surprise there -- it's in the Fool style manual), but an interesting quick read nonetheless. Many more serious experienced aources available too; eg, http://www.cleanedge.com [Gil Friend]
11:20:43 AM Google It!
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100 Most Sustainable Corporations. Maybe.. [WorldChanging]: The Global 100 is a new annual ranking of the world's most sustainable corporations, unveiled last week at Davos.
Their definition of corporate sustainability is pretty loose...[but]...just as governmental lip-service to ideas like the hydrogen economy and sustainable development moves the center of the debate towards those ideas, recognizing good corporate behavior moves us closer to widespread acceptance of transcommercial principles. The point isn't that these companies are anywhere close to the transformations we need to see. These sorts of efforts, I think, change the debate about corporate behavior.
However, do they change corporate behavior itself?
Here's the comment I posted there:
Alcoa _could_ be worthy of such an award, I suppose -- they've certainly made good efforts -- but as Makower points out, there's no way to know from this process. I'm glad to know that 'Alcoa has the requisite sustainability strategies in place,' but I'd sure like to know 1) what the awarders think those are, and 2) what results and impacts Alcoa is producing in the world, and 3) how those results and impacts compare with their competitors' and/or alternatives.
Natural Logic recently conducted an analysis, using our Business Metabolics KPI system, of the 'leading CSR reporters' as noted in SustainAbility's 'Global Reporters' report, comparing actual performance with quality of reporting. Quick summary: good reporting and good perfomance are not necessarily correlated. [Gil Friend]
11:20:13 AM Google It!
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The government website architecture is a sprawling mess... and when you do a site like Coolgov, you pretty much just wander around 'till you find something of note. Hurray, then, for the U.S. Government News/Press Release Gateway. [CoolGov]
11:18:58 AM Google It!
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EPA is issuing an interpretive statement and a proposed rule in response to recent court decisions highlighting the need for EPA clarification regarding Clean Water Act (CWA) permitting requirements for the application of pesticides to or over the nation's waters. The statement and proposed rule reflect EPA's long-standing policy that a CWA permit is not required where application of a particular pesticide to or over water is consistent with requirements under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA). Any pesticide that is approved for use in the United States must undergo extensive study and review to help ensure that, when properly used, it does not pose unreasonable risk to human health and the environment.
Benjamin Grumbles, assistant administrator for water at EPA, noted, "Clarifying this issue is critical because confusion over permitting requirements could keep public health officials from preventing or responding to an infestation of mosquitos or from controlling an invasive species." Through this action the agency is reinforcing the importance for local officials, resource managers, agricultural producers, and other pesticide users of applying pesticides in accordance with their label directions. Applications of pesticides in violation of the labels are subject to enforcement under all appropriate statutes including FIFRA and the CWA.
EPA first solicited public comment on this issue in a Federal Register Notice published on Aug. 13, 2003. The public may provide input on the current proposed rule during a 60-day comment period. The statement and proposed rule are available at: http://www.epa.gov/npdes/agriculture#pesticides. Information about FIFRA and the pesticide program is available at: http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/regulating/laws.htm and http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/regulating/registering/index.htm. [ChemAlliance Environmental News]
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The National Association of Chemical Distributors will be holding the Responsible Distribution Process (RDP) Code Coordinator Workshop at the Hyatt Regency in Indianapolis, Indiana on April 18-19, 2005. The workshop will provide the latest updates on NACD’s Responsible Distribution ProcessSM program, including revisions to the RDP Guiding Principles, Code of Management Practice, and RDP Verification (formerly MSV) protocol.
The two-day workshop includes an orientation held on the afternoon of April 18th that provides an introduction to RDP for new candidate members and code coordinators. The following topics will be covered:
- Review of all 12 Sections of the RDP Code with ways to begin complying with and reviewing them for continuous improvement; Special emphasis on Internal Auditing, Corrective & Preventive Action; and Document & Data Control.
- Review of changes to the RDP Code, including security and the new reactive hazards management commitments.
- Discuss security requirements using real-life scenarios in roundtables with your peers.
- Review ways to prepare for and benefit from successful on-site RDP Verification.
Another RDP Code Corrdinator Workshop will be held later in the year on September 13, 2005 in San Jose, California, prior to the NACD's OPSEM2005 meeting. [ChemAlliance Environmental News]
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© Copyright
2005
Laura L. Barnes.
Last update:
10/25/2005; 12:09:09 PM.
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