Monday, June 13, 2005

[Green building] Healthy buildings go beyond green One of America's top commercial green developers, Jeffrey Abramson of the Tower Companies in Washington, D.C., will present to architects and developers in the nation's capital plans for the world's largest Vedic green office building-"Tower II"-to be constructed in Rockville, Maryland.  Abramson will address a national conference on Vedic architecture at the National Building Museum in Washington, D.C. on Monday, June 13, 6:30 p.m. (http://nbm.org). Abramson is a former trustee of the National Building Museum. 1:52:03 PM Google It!    [Schools] Program promotes recycling by schools Pearl City Highlands Elementary School raised $12,300 this year by recycling aluminum, plastic and glass beverage containers -- the most in the school's history. State officials would like to see schools across Hawaii have similar recycling success stories. Two weeks ago, recognizing the need to reach out to schools to educate and promote recycling, the state Department of Health collaborated with the University of Hawaii Sea Grant program to provide schools with a list of contacts and resources to help them start recycling programs. [Source: Honolulu Star-Bulletin] 1:50:17 PM Google It!    [Meetings] UCSC hosting 'green campus' conference Creating "greener" campuses won't be all talk and no action when UCSC hosts the fourth annual statewide Sustainability Conference, June 20-21. 1:48:49 PM Google It!    [Grants] MTV Think Venture Grants MTV and Youth Venture are teaming up to offer Think Venture Grants of up to $1,000 to young people who are making a difference by creating their own organizations, clubs or businesses that address a need in their community. Think Ventures must focus on one of the following issue areas: discrimination, education, environment, global issues, or sexual health. Each week, one grant will be awarded to a group of young people (two or more) who submit the most compelling and sustainable Think Venture application. Applications, which will be accepted through December 31, 2005, are available on the website. 1:40:10 PM Google It!    [Meetings] National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials Summer Conference The National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials Summer Conference, "Cornerstone for Success: Innovative Approaches to Sustainable Communities", will bring together housing agencies, nonprofit and for-profit developers, funders and other stakeholders. The conference will also include a Public Housing Symposium, "Breaking New Ground: Entrepreneurial Approaches for Housing Authorities," which will focus on the opportunities housing authorities and their partners have in their communities, and how to make the most of them. The conference will be held in San Francisco on July 14-17, 2005. 1:39:01 PM Google It!    [Fuel cells] Boosting Fuel Cells Young scientists tackle projects to improve energy sources for cars and homes. [Source: Science News for Kids] 1:36:06 PM Google It!    [Grants] Energy Efficient Building Technologies Applications due Jul 28, 2005. The Department of Energy (DOE) National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL), on behalf of the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy’s (EERE) Building Technologies Program (BTP), is seeking applications for the development of innovative technologies and approaches that have the potential to yield significant energy savings in residential and commercial buildings. The projects sought will advance the development of, or adoption of, energy efficient equipment, envelope, and whole building technologies. The objective is to accelerate high-payoff technologies and approaches that, because of their risk, are unlikely to be developed in a timely manner without a partnership between industry and the Federal government. This Funding Opportunity Announcement contains four Areas of Interest. The first area seeks projects for windows research and development, focusing on the next generation of high efficiency fenestration products. The second area seeks projects that will promote increased penetration of energy efficient windows in today’s marketplace. The third area seeks projects for an integrated systems approach to development of more energy efficient technologies, production methods and design approaches applicable to the industrialized housing industry. The fourth area seeks projects for further advancement of DOE’s EnergyPlus design analysis tool and coordination of others’ efforts in this area. DE-PS26-05NT42115-01: Windows R&D to Achieve the Next Generation of Performance https://e-center.doe.gov/iips/faopor.nsf/UNID/371B5FC5BFF55BDB8525701C004B0C01?OpenDocument DE-PS26-05NT42115-02: Research Tool Dissemination to Increase Energy Efficient Fenestration Product Penetration https://e-center.doe.gov/iips/faopor.nsf/UNID/E8358DBF74E5FA6E8525701C004BA9EB?OpenDocument DE-PS26-05NT42115-03: Energy Efficient Industrialized Housing https://e-center.doe.gov/iips/faopor.nsf/UNID/929B9A26C3E13EC28525701C004C46FC?OpenDocument DE-PS26-05NT42115-04: EnergyPlus Advancement https://e-center.doe.gov/iips/faopor.nsf/UNID/D422D8E6AA82458D8525701C004CC896?OpenDocument 1:35:05 PM Google It!    [Fuel cells] Micropower Heats Up: Propane fuel cell packs a lot of punch Portable electronic devices such as laptops and MP3 players could soon run on miniature fuel cells that consume propane. [Source: Science News] 1:31:50 PM Google It!    [Environmental health] Babies Show High Levels of Chemical A study of infants in intensive care finds a substance used in medical supplies that causes testicular damage in animals. [Source: Los Angeles Times] 1:20:26 PM Google It!    [Profiles] Esprit de Gore Al Gore is transforming into fiery climate evangelist. [Source: Grist Magazine] 1:18:58 PM Google It!    [Environmental research] New center will study urban pollutants and ways to manage them Drawing on experts in environmental engineering, biology, chemistry and other disciplines, The Johns Hopkins University has launched a new center to provide a more detailed understanding of hazardous contaminants in urban environments. One goal is to help regulators and property owners make better decisions regarding when pollutants need to be removed or neutralized -- and how this can best be accomplished. Another aim is to assist regulators in establishing contamination limits. The Center for Contaminant Transport, Fate and Remediation (CTFR Center) will look at a broad range of pollutants, including metals and organic materials that are found in water, soil, sediment and air. Its initial focus will be urban areas of the northeastern United States, where many years of industrial development have left soil and water supplies tainted with hazardous materials. [Source: Environmental Protection E-News] 1:17:45 PM Google It!    [Corporate sustainability] EPA Climate Leaders "an EPA industry-government partnership that works with companies to develop long-term comprehensive climate change strategies." Anyone who buys or invests green should check out the list of participating companies.  [via Marylaine Block's excellent Neat New Web Stuff] 1:09:09 PM Google It!    [Hybrid cars] Hybrid Center "The Union of Concerned Scientists' Hybridcenter.org, your one-stop shopping for the consumer and technological information you need to understand how this new technology fits into your personal and environmental priorities." Includes news, reviews, a buyer's guide, and more. [via Marylaine Block's excellent Neat New Web Stuff] 1:06:15 PM Google It!    [Biofuels] Biofuels 'Round the World Via Sustainablog: From Reuters, an overview of biofuel efforts, policies and programs from around the world. While I know that we can't plan on growing our way out of fossil-fuel dependence, every nation has agricultural wastes. Could the cradle-to-cradle mindset be moving towards a tipping point? 12:56:52 PM Google It!    [Environmental health] Pharmaceuticals in the environment The Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel has an excellent two-part series on the environmental effects of pharmaceuticals. See: Warning: Side Effects Can Be Severe: http://www.jsonline.com/alive/news/may05/329670.asp Digging for New Drugs in Lake Soil: http://www.jsonline.com/alive/news/may05/329827.asp Part 1 ran in the commentary section of Sunday's News-Gazette. 11:54:40 AM Google It!    [Politics] Ex-lobbyist leaves White House environmental job WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A senior official at the White House Council on Environmental Quality has resigned, days after a newspaper reported he changed some government reports to downplay links between greenhouse gas emissions and global warming. [Reuters: Science] 11:48:29 AM Google It!    [Recycling] Terruride Bluegrass Festival to Feature Renewable, Corn-Based Serviceware Despite anticipated record crowds at the annual Telluride Bluegrass Festival, fans will leave behind significantly less refuse than other events, thanks to an innovative approach to waste reduction that includes the use of corn-based plastic bottles, cups and plates. [ENN Business Headlines] 11:47:50 AM Google It!    [Corporate sustainability] Yamaha Motor Company Subsidizes Eco-Commuting Yamaha Motor Co., the Japanese motorcycle manufacturer, has introduced an eco-commute program for its employees. [ENN Business Headlines] 11:47:10 AM Google It!    [Alternative energy] Rebates Encourage Businesses to Try Alternative Sources of Energy With energy costs of $1.5 million per year, Pat Ricchiuti has a strong incentive to reduce the power bill at his business. So, the owner of P-R Farms is installing what is believed to be the largest, privately financed solar-energy system in the state at his packinghouse. [ENN Business Headlines] 11:46:07 AM Google It!    [Innovation] The Burden of Knowledge and the 'Death of the Renaissance Man': Is Innovation Getting Harder? Innovation Source: National Bureau of Economic Research The Burden of Knowledge and the 'Death of the Renaissance Man': Is Innovation Getting Harder? "This paper investigates, theoretically and empirically, a possibly fundamental aspect of technological progress. If knowledge accumulates as technology progresses, then successive generations of innovators may face an increasing educational burden. Innovators can compensate in their education by seeking narrower expertise, but narrowing expertise will reduce their individual capacities, with implications for the organization of innovative activity - a greater reliance on teamwork - and negative implications for growth." Full report (PDF; 490 KB) [ResourceShelf's DocuTicker] 11:16:27 AM Google It!

© Copyright 2005 Laura L. Barnes. Last update: 10/25/2005; 12:10:48 PM.