|
|
Friday, April 21, 2006
|
|
| |
Even though research shows that many owners of flex-fuel vehicles
(FFVs), which total 1.5 million on the roads today, do not know that
their vehicles are capable of using E85, there is progress in making
the public aware through projects such as this collaboration between
GM, the state of Michigan, Meijer and CleanFUEL USA. [Source:
RenewableEnergyAccess.com, 4/20/06]
11:22:44 AM Google It! 
|
|
The Borrego Springs Zero Energy Demonstration Project consists of four
demonstration homes in an extreme desert climate, all of which use a
combination of the latest efficient, affordable and innovative zero
energy technologies for the purpose of studying their energy efficiency
and affordability over the course of one year. [Source:
RenewableEnergyAccess.com, 4/19/06]
11:21:06 AM Google It!
|
|
The U.S. Air Force is already the largest purchaser of renewable energy
credits (RECs). Now the USAF is on the way to supporting the
construction of one of the largest solar photovoltaic (PV) systems in
the world. [Source: RenewableEnergyAccess.com, 4/20/06]
11:19:43 AM Google It!
|
|
Ten start-up
companies have made a compelling case to energy venture capitalists,
CEOs, and industry experts that they have the right stuff to build new
clean energy tech companies -- helping to create one of the fastest
growing industry clusters in Massachusetts. [Source: RenewableEnergyAccess.com, 4/20/06]
11:18:18 AM Google It!
|
|
In this week's edition of "Inside Renewable Energy," Joel Glatz, who
founded Frontier Energy of Maine four years ago, talks about the
challenges and rewards of being in the biodiesel and bioheat business.
[Source: RenewableEnergyAccess.com]
11:13:25 AM Google It!
|
|
Applications due June 8, 2006.
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), National Energy Technology
Laboratory (NETL), on behalf of the Office of Energy Efficiency and
Renewable Energy’s (EERE) Office of FreedomCAR and Vehicle Technologies
(OFCVT), is seeking applications for projects covering a range of
commercial technology deployment and educational activities under the
Clean Cities Transportation Sector Petroleum Reduction Technologies
Program.
Area of Interest 2: Incremental Cost of Alternative Fuel Vehicles (AFV)
(DE-PS26-06NT42770-02)
This area of interest is for projects to support the incremental
cost of new original equipment manufactured (OEM) highway-certified
alternative fuel vehicles (AFV) and U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA) and/or California Air Resources Board (CARB) emissions
compliant conversions of new and/or used conventional fuel vehicles
(i.e., vehicles originally designed to operate using diesel or gasoline
that are being retrofitted to operate on alternative fuels) that will
result in large conventional fuel displacement.
11:10:13 AM Google It!
|
|
Applications due June 8, 2006.
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), National Energy Technology
Laboratory (NETL), on behalf of the Office of Energy Efficiency and
Renewable Energy’s (EERE) Office of FreedomCAR and Vehicle Technologies
(OFCVT), is seeking applications for projects covering a range of
commercial technology deployment and educational activities under the
Clean Cities Transportation Sector Petroleum Reduction Technologies
Program.
Area of Interest 1: Refueling Infrastructure for E85 and Other Alternative Fuels
(DE-PS26-06NT42770-01)
This area of interest is for refueling infrastructure projects that
include new dispensing facilities, or additional equipment or upgrades
and improvements to existing refueling sites for alternative fuel
vehicles (AFV). This includes upgrading or modifying private fueling
stations to allow public and/or shared fleet access. Funding will be
made available to purchase equipment or to pay for specific turn-key
fueling services by alternative fuel providers. Blending facilities for
biodiesel and E85 fuels for providing alternative fuel exclusively to
the transportation sector will be considered. Bulk fuel production
facilities are not eligible for funding.
11:08:04 AM Google It!
|
|
Applications due June 8, 2006.
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), National Energy Technology
Laboratory (NETL), on behalf of the Office of Energy Efficiency and
Renewable Energy’s (EERE) Office of FreedomCAR and Vehicle Technologies
(OFCVT), is seeking applications for projects covering a range of
commercial technology deployment and educational activities under the
Clean Cities Transportation Sector Petroleum Reduction Technologies
Program.
Area of Interest 3: Idle Reduction Training and Awareness for School Districts
(DE-PS26-06NT42770-03)
This area of interest is for projects that eliminate or reduce idling
in school buses through the development and implementation of
comprehensive driver education and awareness materials to reduce or
eliminate idling. This area of interest is targeted at school bus
drivers, fleet managers, and maintenance personnel of school districts
as well as students, faculty, and parent-teacher organizations.
11:05:52 AM Google It!
|
|
Constructed wetlands provide an ideal solution for dealing with
stormwater in increasingly urbanized environments, writes Scott D.
Wallace, PE, in the April issue of Environmental Protection magazine.
11:03:01 AM Google It!
|
|
EPA is teaming with Kingsview Middle School in Germantown, Md., for its
second annual "Make a Difference Day." The campaign educates and
encourages students to conserve natural resources by reducing, reusing
and recycling waste.
Activities at the school include planting 150 trees, creating art from
trash, and holding a waste-free lunch. EPA is holding the waste-free
lunch as a pilot project to show how students can reduce, reuse and
recycle at lunch. Through these and other activities, students,
teachers, administrators, and community volunteers learn how they can
make a difference in the environment.
Make a Difference Campaign information
http://www.epa.gov/epaoswer/education/mad.htm
Waste-Free Lunch information
http://www.epa.gov/epaoswer/education/lunch.htm
11:00:43 AM Google It!
|
|
As part of a strategic effort to provide vehicles suitable for use in
far-flung locales, the United States Army has begun to test hybrid
automobiles fueled by hydrogen instead of gasoline. With fuel cells
still cost prohibitive, Army researchers are jazzed by the possibility
of combining existing electric drive assist technology with hydrogen
fuel. They have started experimenting as such with converted Ford
Escape Hybrid SUVs. [Source: E: The Environmental Magazine]
10:59:07 AM Google It!
|
|
The American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE) has issued two new reports on state energy efficiency policy:
1. NEW OPPORTUNITIES FOR APPLIANCE STANDARDS:
States could make a significant contribution toward reducing natural
gas prices, electricity use, air pollution, and greenhouse gas
emissions by adopting new energy efficiency standards for 15 appliances
and other products, according to a report released in March by ACEEE
and the Appliance Standards Awareness Project (ASAP). Many of these
newly recommended standards have already been adopted in one or more
states.
The report recommends state efficiency standards for a variety of
products including bottle-type water dispensers, DVD players, certain
audio products, certain types of transformers, external power supplies
for electronics, reflector light bulbs and certain commercial light
fixtures, swimming pool pumps and heaters, walk-in refrigerators and
freezers, and residential furnaces and boilers. The new report provides
details on each of the products for which new state standards could
save energy, benefit state economies, and reduce pollution.
According to the report, if adopted nationally, the natural gas savings
from the new standards would be enough to heat 6.3 million typical U.S.
households. Electricity savings would reach 52 billion kilowatt-hours
per year by 2020, eliminating the need for about 40 average-sized power
plants. Greenhouse gas emissions would be reduced by 12 million metric
tons of carbon equivalent annually. Altogether, purchasers of affected
products would net more than $50 billion in savings over about 20 years.
Leading the Way: Continued Opportunities for New State Appliance and Equipment Efficiency Standards
http://www.aceee.org/pubs/a062.htm
Appendix with state-by-state impact data
http://www.standardsASAP.org
2. ENERGY EFFICIENCY RESOURCE STANDARDS
Another new report by ACEEE profiles Energy Efficiency Resource
Standard (EERS) in 10 U.S. states and four European countries. An EERS
consists of electric and/or gas energy savings targets for utilities,
typically with flexibility to achieve the target through a market-based
trading system. EERS targets are achieved through end-user
energy-saving improvements, aided and documented by utilities or other
program operators. The report describes existing or planned EERSs in
California, Colorado, Connecticut, Hawaii, Illinois, Texas, Nevada, New
Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Vermont.
The report identifies many of the issues that policymakers interested
in this emerging policy would need to address. Key policy design issues
include working with utilities, setting appropriate savings targets,
and the relationship between an EERS and other energy policies.
Energy Efficiency Resource Standards: Experience and Recommendations
http://aceee.org/pubs/e063.htm
10:56:46 AM Google It!
|
|
BOMA (Building Owners and Managers Association) International is
launching a training initiative help the commercial real estate
industry counter rising energy costs and reduce energy consumption.
[Source: GreenerBuildings.com]
10:47:02 AM Google It!
|
|
The World Business Council for Sustainable Development is forming an
alliance of leading global companies to determine how buildings can be
designed and constructed so that they use no energy from external power
grids, are carbon neutral, and can be built and operated at fair market
values. [Source: GreenBiz.com via GreenerBuildings.com]
10:45:41 AM Google It!
|
|
Seven out of ten U.K. homebuyers would pay more for an energy-efficient
home, and almost half are prepared to invest an extra £5-10,000 in an
eco-house with advanced energy and water-saving features, new research
reveals. [Source: GreenerBuildings.com]
10:43:26 AM Google It!
|
|
Green Roofs for Healthy Cities, a nonprofit industry association whose
mission is to increase the development of the green roof industry
across North America, has released the results from its first Corporate
Members Survey. [Source: GreenerBuildings.com]
10:41:17 AM Google It!
|
|
Designing buildings properly and controlling glare and solar heat gain
can cut energy bills by more than half. By David Kozlowski [Source:
Building Operating Management via GreenerBuildings.com]
10:39:45 AM Google It!
|
|
How can we live lightly on the Earth and save money at the same time?
In honor of Earth Day 2006, the Worldwatch Institute teams up with the
Washington, D.C. members of SustainUS, the U.S. youth network for
sustainable development, to share some ideas on how to go green and save green at home and at work.
This Earth Day, it's time to take action.
And we really mean it. Study after study has confirmed that global
warming is already occurring and that it is caused primarily by human
activities. The only uncertainties are how soon and in what ways it
will disrupt our existence. Stronger storms? Flooded coastlines?
Harsher droughts? More disease? Not to mention that our waterways,
food, and air are already polluted to unsound levels in many areas,
affecting our health and quality of life every day.
But there is still time to act, and our great-great-grandchildren will
thank us for living more sustainably, starting now. Fortunately, many
of the steps we can take can actually make our lives better as well.
Read the list of 10 things you can do today to go green and save green this Earth Day, and every day!
10:29:23 AM Google It!
|
|
Four years after promising to take action to reduce mercury emissions,
Gov. Jennifer Granholm ordered environmental regulators Monday to write
new rules for 21 coal-fired power plants in Michigan with the goal of
reducing mercury pollution by 90% by 2015. [Source: Detroit Free Press, 4/18/06]
10:28:04 AM Google It!
|
|
The National Pollution Prevention Roundtable (NPPR) announces the
application period for the Most Valuable Pollution Prevention (MVP2)
Awards. The application deadline is May 31, 2006 (post marked).
Since 1998, NPPR has been recognizing outstanding P2 efforts throughout
the country. The attached map indicates the states of the past
winners. The 2006 MVP2 Awards will attempt to recognize at least one
program/project from each of the following types of organization:
Local government; State government; Federal government; Tribal;
Not-for-profit; and private industry.
As in the past, the awards will recognize those projects with
continuing dedication to pollution prevention (P2). Third party judges
will use the following criteria to evaluate applications:
Innovation in pollution prevention; Measurable P2 results;
Transferability to other P2 projects or programs; Commitment to P2;
Optimization of available P2 project resources.
In addition to outstanding projects, there is an Environmental Writing
award that recognizes publications that have had a major impact in the
area of P2 and are judged on originality, impact and quality. Eligible
publications include, but are not limited to, books, fact sheets or
case studies, articles in popular press, peer reviewed journal
articles, and editorials or opinion letters. Nominated publications
should address ideas such as highlighting P2’s public health,
environmental, or economic benefits, increasing the use of P2 such as
multi-media approaches to source reduction, or focusing greater
attention on P2 projects.
NPPR gives the Volunteer of the Year Award to the member whose efforts
have had an outstanding impact on implementing pollution prevention in
one or more of the following areas: Setting P2 vision and strategies;
Leading and directing P2 programs;
Implementing P2 projects; Significant impact on P2 achieved. The
P2 Champion Award recognizes a leader in promoting P2 beyond their
usual work duties.
One may self nominate for all of these awards. Please mail to The
National Pollution Prevention Roundtable, 11 Dupont Circle, Suite 201,
Washington, DC 20036. Or fax to (202) 299-9704. There is a $35 application fee.
10:12:49 AM Google It!
|
|
|
|
© Copyright
2006
Laura L. Barnes.
Last update:
5/9/2006; 10:36:34 AM.
|
|
| April 2006 |
| Sun |
Mon |
Tue |
Wed |
Thu |
Fri |
Sat |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
1 |
| 2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
| 9 |
10 |
11 |
12 |
13 |
14 |
15 |
| 16 |
17 |
18 |
19 |
20 |
21 |
22 |
| 23 |
24 |
25 |
26 |
27 |
28 |
29 |
| 30 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Mar May |
|
