Tuesday, February 07, 2006

[Perchlorate] The perchlorate surprise The 2005 ES&T environmental science paper of the year finds that perchlorate is everywhere. [Environmental Health News] 3:50:23 PM Google It!    [Biofuels] Corn Power Put to the Test The endless fields of corn in the Midwest can be distilled into endless gallons of clean-burning ethanol. There is only one catch: Turning corn into ethanol takes energy. Matthew L. Wald reports in the New York Times 2/7/06. [SEJ Environmental Journalism Today] 3:29:22 PM Google It!    [Schools] Pittsburgh schools going green Source: Pennsylvania Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Program, 1/26/06. The Pittsburgh School District is one of a growing number of schools across the country going "green" by reducing student exposures to toxins. Jayfus (Jay) F. Boyd Jr., Director of Plant Operations for the school district, initiated two pioneer programs: Integrated Pest Management (IPM) in all facilities and substitution of "green products" for conventional cleaning and disinfection products, many of which are caustic and/or poisonous. [Great Lakes Pollution Prevention Roundtable (GLRPPR) Environmental News] 3:12:47 PM Google It!    [Alternative energy] Solar, biofuel research gets big cash boost As promised last week, President Bush's $2.8 trillion budget doubles spending on solar and biofuels research, throwing down a challenge to scientists who said a lack of money stood between them and revolutionary discoveries. [Source: The Daily Review Online] For another perspective, see "Alternative energy gets new fuel for future" from today's edition of the UCLA Daily Bruin. 2:45:35 PM Google It!    [Green building] A natural building trend As home building becomes more eco-friendly, the supply industry begins to turn a new leaf. [Source: New York Times syndicate via the Orlando Sentinel] 2:41:33 PM Google It!    [Biofuels] GM launches ethanol campaign Source: Renewable Energy Access, 2/3/06. "Live Green Go Yellow" is the national campaign slogan from General Motors to build awareness among consumers, energy producers and policy makers for ethanol/gasoline-blended fuel (E85). More than 1.5 million GM vehicles on the market today already have E85 capability -- and in 2006, GM will offer nine E85 FlexFuel models, bringing an additional 400,000 E85 FlexFuel vehicles into its fleet. [Great Lakes Pollution Prevention Roundtable (GLRPPR) Environmental News] 1:00:58 PM Google It!    [Energy efficiency] American Institute of Architects calls for use of renewable energy Source: Renewable Energy Access, 2/3/06. Through its Board of Directors, The American Institute of Architects (AIA) has adopted position statements to promote sustainable design and resource conservation to achieve a minimum reduction of 50 percent of the current consumption level of fossil fuels used to construct and operate buildings by the year 2010. The prominent organization specifically recommended the use of renewable energy systems as a means to achieve greater energy savings. [Great Lakes Pollution Prevention Roundtable (GLRPPR) Environmental News] 12:59:25 PM Google It!    [Heat islands] Study seeks to reduce effects of heat islands Source: Environmental Protection E-News, 2/2/06. A phenomenon called the urban heat island effect causes air temperatures in New York City and other major cities to be warmer than in neighboring suburbs and rural areas. Recently, several innovative approaches developed by scientists, public officials, environmental activists, community organizations and others have been put in place to take a bite out of the Big Apple's temperature problem. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) researchers, using NASA satellite observations, weather pattern data and computer models, have recently assessed how well those strategies are working, officials announced on Jan. 30. [Great Lakes Pollution Prevention Roundtable (GLRPPR) Environmental News] 12:58:12 PM Google It!    [Corporate environmental responsibility] Climate-Conscious Investor Coalition Widens Net NEW YORK, Feb. 6, 2006 - A group of 211 institutional investors with assets of $31 trillion under management has written a letter asking 1,800 of the largest quoted companies in the world to disclose investment-relevant information concerning their greenhouse gas emissions. [GreenBiz.com] 12:55:49 PM Google It!    [Super Bowl] Greening the Gridiron: Environmental Responsibility at the Super Bowl and Beyond The National Football League held its second annual carbon-neutral Super Bowl in Detroit Sunday. As "Green Skeptic" Scott Edward Anderson reports, when NFL organizers tackle environmental responsibility, everybody wins. [GreenBiz.com] 12:52:53 PM Google It!

© Copyright 2006 Laura L. Barnes. Last update: 3/6/2006; 11:32:08 AM.