Thursday, April 20, 2006

[Earth Day] Save the Planet AOL reference page includes green lifestyle tips, links to environmental weblogs, and Earth Day activities in major metropolitan areas. 4:09:48 PM Google It!    [Ethanol production] Marketing a by-product of ethanol As more ethanol is produced as fuel for cars and trucks, the distillers are looking for ways to make money on some of the by-products of the process. [Source: Great Lakes Radio Consortium, 4/17/06] 4:06:45 PM Google It!    [Grants] Midwest Clean Diesel Initiative Applications due June 16, 2006. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is accepting proposals to fund projects within the Region 5 states of Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio and Wisconsin, that will demonstrate effective emission control technologies and strategies, methods or approaches to reducing diesel emissions as part of the Midwest Clean Diesel Initiative. The Midwest Clean Diesel Initiative is a collaboration of federal, state and local agencies, along with communities, non-profit organizations and private companies working together to reduce emissions from diesel engines in the Midwest. 4:05:21 PM Google It!    [Grants] Region 5 Clean School Bus USA The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is accepting proposals from Local and Federally Recognized Indian Tribal Governments, local and state governments, and non-profit organizations for retrofit and/or replacement projects that reduce pollution from school buses within the Region 5 states of Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio and Wisconsin, through the use of EPA verified or certified and/or California Air Resources Board verified pollution reduction technologies. There is a 5% cost-share required for these projects. The closing date for applicants to submit proposals under the Clean School Bus program is June 16, 2006. Proposals submitted via electronic-mail (e-mail) or through grants.gov must be received by the closing date and time (6 pm Central). 4:03:40 PM Google It!    [Fuel cells] Hydrogen Fuel Cells May Help U.S. Military Cut Gas Usage Emerging automotive technology may eventually assist Americans -- and their military -- in reducing their dependence on hydrocarbon-based fuels for transportation needs. Government agencies such as the Defense and Energy departments are working to adapt new technologies like hydrogen fuel cell powered vehicles that conserve finite, pollution-producing and increasingly expensive fossil fuels. [Source: RenewableEnergyAccess.com, 4/12/06] 3:58:32 PM Google It!    [Schools] Connecticut College Updates Its Renewable Energy Commitment Connecticut College's Environmental Model Committee (EMC) has coordinated the purchase of renewable energy certificates (RECs) that provide a subsidy for production of wind energy equal to about half of the college's annual electricity consumption. [Source: RenewableEnergyAccess.com, 4/13/06] 3:30:25 PM Google It!    [Biofuels] U.S. Dairy Uses Renewable Energy from Manure Green Valley Dairy in Krakow, Wisconsin, generates approximately four million kilowatt hours (kWh) of energy a year, using manure from 2,500 head of cattle. That is enough to power about 400 average Wisconsin homes for one year. [Source: RenewableEnergyAccess.com, 4/13/06] 3:27:35 PM Google It!    [Energy policy] Fuel Economy Standards Could Downsize U.S. Foreign Oil Dependency According to a study developed by Professor Daniel M. Kammen and his colleagues at U.C. Berkeley's Renewable and Appropriate Energy Laboratory (RAEL), America could end the need to import fossil fuels from the Persian Gulf region by 2020! "Towards Energy Independence in 2025" details immediate and long-term measures, basically increased fuel economy standards that, when applied to the nation's transportation sector and fleet of power plants, could reduce oil imports by more than 30 percent within 20 years. [Source: RenewableEnergyAccess.com, 4/13/06] 3:26:11 PM Google It!    [Water use] New Study Will Benchmark Home Water Usage How much water do new homes consume? No one knows for sure, so EPA and six water districts in the West and three in the South plan to find out. The 10 agencies have announced a 33-month study to collect detailed information about how much water is consumed in "standard" new homes vs. "high-efficiency" new homes. The $530,000 study will look at water usage by collecting data from billing records, surveys, and meter measurement of usage signifying faucet, clothes washer, toilet and other household uses. EPA will invest $350,000, with the other agencies contributing $20,000 each. "Better information and technology give homeowners greater choices to save water, money, and streams," said EPA Assistant Administrator for Water Benjamin H. Grumbles. "The water efficiency wave is good news for family budgets and local ecosystems." The study will help establish voluntary targets for builders who want to provide buyers with alternate water-efficiency options; develop criteria for water-efficient homes based on water-using products and building design or on average gallons used per resident per day; and create special certification marks to help consumers identify water-efficient new homes. The study results will aid states and water utilities in making local decisions on establishing water-use criteria for new homes, planning water-efficiency programs and projecting future needs. The project will demonstrate how advanced technologies, such as water-efficient landscape designs; weather-based irrigation controllers; and high-efficiency toilets and faucets can reduce water use below current levels. The study will investigate relationships between household indoor-water use and variables that include the number of residents, home size, and types of fixtures and appliances present. Outdoor water use will be quantified from total annual use, rates of application, local plant water requirements, lot size, landscape design, and type of irrigation system controller. Water systems involved in the study encompass eight states: Utah, Colorado, North Carolina, Oregon, Arizona, California, Nevada, and Florida. The Salt Lake City Water Department will coordinate the effort among the participating state agencies. Sixty homes will be selected in each city ­ -- 40 "standard" and 20 higher efficiency. Researchers will visit participating homeowners to explain the study, install the equipment, and ask a few questions. It is expected that data gleaned from the study will apply to homes across the country, especially for indoor water use. Outdoor usage will depend on local climate conditions. 3:13:51 PM Google It!    [Biodiesel] Biodiesel Blog Turned Book Wins Acclaim for North Carolina Environmentalist There are those who cook with gas, and those who make gas with what they cook. Lyle Estill is among the latter. Estill, of Moncure, has turned a blog about making biodiesel fuel from used cooking oil into a book -- "Biodiesel Power" (New Society Publishers) -- that narrowly missed winning the nonfiction category of the inaugural Lulu Blooker Prize (http://www.lulublookerprize.com), the first literary award for "blooks," or books based on blogs. [Source: PRNewswire, 4/11/06] 3:09:09 PM Google It!

© Copyright 2006 Laura L. Barnes. Last update: 5/9/2006; 10:36:32 AM.