Friday, May 12, 2006

[Schools] Going for the Gold with Green Technology Students from Appalachian State University drove from North Carolina to Washington, D.C., in a bus entirely powered by biodiesel fuel made from recycled cooking oil.  University of Michigan at Ann Arbor students are "growing" materials for construction of buildings, both to use natural fibers and to encourage a new market for agriculture. These were just two of the winning projects at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's People, Prosperity and the Planet (P3) awards ceremony. "P3 releases the power of the possible to advance sustainable solutions to environmental challenges," said EPA Administrator Stephen L. Johnson. "I am pleased that our nation's future leaders are answering President Bush's call to deliver environmental and economic results by expanding technology and innovation." This national competition, sponsored by EPA's Office of Research and Development, enables college students to research, develop and design scientific, technical, and policy solutions to sustainability challenges. Sustainable solutions are environmentally friendly, efficiently use natural resources and are economically competitive. The P3 award includes funding up to $75,000 that gives the students an opportunity to further develop their designs and move them to the marketplace. Winners of this year's awards and their projects are: Appalachian State University, Boone, N.C. - Closing the Biodiesel Loop: community based production of ASTM D6751-03 standard fuel from local waste vegetable oil; Lafayette College, Easton, Pa. - Sustainable Water Systems in Honduras - a simple method to  remove inorganic arsenic from groundwater sources; Portland State University, Portland, Ore. - WISE, an interactive website for educators and students on a holistic (whole systems) approach to sustainable development guided by the WISE owl; Stanford University, Stanford, Calif. - The Green Dorm:  design and construction of a sustainable facility for residential, laboratory and commons space; University of Massachusetts, Lowell, Mass. - Cancer treatment drugs from green tea - novel used non-toxic enzymes to extract poly(catechins) with promising anti-tumor activity; and University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Mich.: Growing Alternative Sustainable Buildings from natural fiber, biodegradable or recyclable materials. The P3 Award competition was held at EPA's first National Sustainable Design Expo on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. The students exhibited their design projects while companies, non-profit organizations and government agencies exhibited their commercially successful sustainable technologies. Support for the competition includes more than 45 partners in the federal government, industry and scientific and professional societies.   More information about the P3 Award competition http://www.epa.gov/P3 P3 award winners and their projects http://www.epa.gov/p3/06winners EPA's sustainability research program http://www.epa.gov/sustainability 1:02:39 PM Google It!    [Grants] Consumer Education about Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions through Awareness and Use of Energy-Efficient Products and Practices Applications due Jun 09, 2006. This notice announces the availability of funds and solicits proposals to increase overall consumer understanding and relevance of the connection between energy efficiency and the environment on national, regional and local levels. 12:58:43 PM Google It!    [Grants] State Policy-based Approaches to Reducing Emissions through Improved Greenhouse Gas Management and Clean Energy Programs Applications due Jun 09, 2006. This notice announces the availability of funds and solicits proposals to encourage voluntary efforts to reduce energy-related emissions from stationary sources by funding proposals to advance improvements in state greenhouse gas management and state clean energy policies and programs. 12:56:26 PM Google It!    [Grants] Fate and Effects of Hormones in Waste From Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs) Applications due Aug 09, 2006. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), as part of its Science to Achieve Results (STAR) program, is seeking applications proposing to characterize the occurrence, magnitude, and extent of the impact of natural and synthetic steroid hormones in liquid and solid animal waste from concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs) on the environment and human health. This program also provides support for research to determine the impact of current CAFO waste management strategies (i.e. storage and disposal) on the transport, fate, and effects of steroid hormones originating from CAFOs. 12:49:19 PM Google It!    [Grants] Surveys, Studies, Investigations, Demonstrations and Training Grants and Coopertive Agreements Applications due Jun 22, 2006. The United States Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) Region 5 is soliciting proposals under Section 104(b)(3) of the Clean Water Act for projects in Region 5, specifically Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio and/or Wisconsin. These funds may be used to conduct and promote the coordination and acceleration of investigations, training, demonstrations, surveys and studies relating to the causes, effects, extent, prevention, reduction and elimination of water pollution. 12:42:22 PM Google It!    [Biodiesel] Country's largest biodiesel plant planned in Grays Harbor A $40 million biodiesel facility, which would be the largest in the United States, is being planned on land owned by the Port of Grays Harbor (WA) between Aberdeen and Hoquiam. [Source: Puget Sound Business Journal, 5/8/06] 12:40:20 PM Google It!    [Computer industry] First U.S. Voluntary Standard for Computers in Place A new voluntary performance standard has been established to help large computer buyers make environmentally sound purchases. The standard has been established to help purchasers reduce the environmental impact of desktop and laptop computers and monitors they buy, use and discard. The new standard offers criteria in eight categories --- material selection; environmentally sensitive materials; design for end of life; end-of-life management; energy conservation; product longevity and life-cycle extension; packaging; and corporate performance. 12:34:22 PM Google It!    [Energy efficiency] A Better Image with Less Energy A typical home office with a fax, printer, copier and scanner is projected to save more than $300 over the life of the products thanks to new Energy Star specifications for imaging equipment. For the first time, the specifications cover energy use when the product is in use as well as in standby. "We are pleased to bring increased energy efficiency to this set of everyday products," said William Wehrum, acting assistant administrator for Air and Radiation. "We applaud the industry for their commitment to Energy Star and their leadership in making these products more efficient." The new specifications were developed because market research showed that technology had evolved in response to the Energy Star program, raising new opportunities to improve efficiency. EPA is challenging manufacturers to continue to make progress in developing energy efficient products for consumers. On average, Energy Star qualifying imaging equipment will be 30 percent more efficient than conventional models. The revisions to the will save consumers more than $3 billion over the next five years and avoid greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to the emissions of more than four million cars.   Imaging equipment uses a sizable amount of energy across the United States. This year, approximately 275 million imaging equipment products will consume more than $3.6 billion in energy each year, accounting for two percent of total electricity expenditures. Under the updated specifications, only the most energy-efficient of today's imaging products will earn the Energy Star, representing the top of their class. These new specifications are scheduled to go into effect on April 1, 2007, pending adoption by the European Commission. EPA first allowed imaging equipment to earn the Energy Star in 1993. Products that have earned the Energy Star save energy and prevent greenhouse gas emissions by meeting strict energy efficiency guidelines set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and U.S. Department of Energy. Last year alone, Americans, with the help of Energy Star, saved $12 billion on their energy bills and prevented greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to those of 23 million vehicles. 12:27:32 PM Google It!    [Fuel efficiency] Union Pacific on Track to Save Fuel Despite Increased Traffic Despite rising fuel costs, Union Pacific says that it has reduced fuel costs despite hauling 4% more materials than one year ago. [Source: GreenBiz.com, 5/8/06] 12:20:37 PM Google It!    [Corporate environmental responsibility] Shareholder Network Launched to Curtail Toxics in Products Seventeen investing organizations collectively representing more than $22 billion in assets under management have issued a joint statement calling for other financial professionals and investors to join with them in supporting shareholder resolutions seeking better disclosure regarding the risks of toxics in products. [Source: GreenBiz.com, 5/8/06] 12:13:25 PM Google It!    [Green products] Global Market Booming for Organic Cotton Products, New Report Shows Use of organically grown cotton by retail titans, fashion designers, and small and medium-size companies resulted in a dramatic growth in global retail sales of products containing organic cotton between 2001 and 2005, according to a new report. [Source: GreenBiz.com, 5/8/06] 12:11:57 PM Google It!    [Environmental health] Tainted by Cleanser: Antimicrobial agent persists in sludge About 76 percent of a commonly used antimicrobial agent exits sewage-treatment plants as a component of the sludge that's often used as a farm fertilizer. [Source: Science News, 5/6/06] 12:09:25 PM Google It!    [Grants] Green Communities Announces Charrette Grants Program Green Communities is a five-year, $555 million initiative to build more than 8,500 environmentally healthy homes for low-income families. Created by Enterprise in partnership with the Natural Resources Defense Council, Green Communities will transform the way America thinks about, designs, and builds affordable communities. The initiative provides grants, financing, tax-credit equity, and technical assistance to developers who meet Green Communities Criteria for affordable housing that promotes health, conserves energy and natural resources, and provides easy access to jobs, schools, and services. 12:00:44 PM Google It!    [Pollution] Industrial Pollution in Japan Text of a 1992 publication on historical incidents of industrial pollution in Japan, including the Ashio Copper Mine (late 19th century), the 1955 arsenic milk poisoning, Minimata disease after World War II, and the Miike coal mine explosion of 1963. From United Nation University Press. [Source: Librarian's Index to the Internet] 11:55:33 AM Google It!    [Green building] California: Green Building Design and Construction Collection of documents about green (sustainable) buildings, "structure[s] that [are] designed, built, renovated, operated, or reused in an ecological and resource-efficient manner." Provides details about green building materials, training programs for California state and local government, state initiatives and programs, and other general and California-specific green building resources. From the California Integrated Waste Management Board. [Source: Librarian's Index to the Internet] 11:50:50 AM Google It!    [Green building] Build it Green Find overviews of the green building philosophy and products, a materials database, fact sheets about selected materials, green building guidelines for new construction and remodels, and related material. From a San Francisco Bay area group "whose mission is to transform the building industry so that buildings are remodeled and built using green practices and products." Some material is specific to the San Francisco Bay Area. [Source: Librarian's Index to the Internet] 11:47:13 AM Google It!    [Green building] Buildings & Land: Home Resource Efficiency Consumer guide to sustainable and energy-efficient home design, with fact sheets on appliances and lighting, home cooling, household greenhouse gas emissions, water efficiency, construction of new homes, environmentally friendly building materials, renewable energy (such as solar and wind power), indoor air quality, and recycling. From the Rocky Mountain Institute, an energy policy research organization. [Source: Librarian's Index to the Internet] 11:45:38 AM Google It!    [Green building] Green Design/Sustainable Architecture: Resources Extensive bibliography on sustainable design of buildings, with listings for dictionaries and encyclopedias, handbooks, histories, journals, and resources for codes and specifications, design, building materials, construction methods, environmental health, energy, case studies, and more. Includes links to additional research guides on solar design, daylighting (natural lighting), and other design topics. From the Environmental Design Library, University of California, Berkeley. [Source: Librarians Index to the Internet] 11:39:51 AM Google It!    [Schools] Do You Know Your Art Hazards? Visual arts, performing arts, industrial arts--each of these presents health risks and pollution concerns that are not fully understood by many. Illinois Greening Schools worked with the Great Lakes Regional Pollution Prevention Roundtable (GLRPPR) to create a resource specifically for art educators. The new Pollution Prevention for Arts Education topic hub offers a compilation of resources that includes Background of the Issues, Reasons for Change and Concern, Health Effects, Regulations and Policies, Glossary, and Sources for Help. The targeted audience for this topic hub includes school administrators, art instructors and teachers (public and private education), and art professionals. This primer is intended as a quick guide to the essential information on pollution prevention and hazard awareness, as well as a compilation of pertinent on-line resources. Resources will be added to this as soon as they become available. Illinois Greening Schools is a joint project of Illinois EPA and Illinois Waste Management and Research Center. For more information: Greening Schools http://www.greeningschools.org 11:35:57 AM Google It!    [Automotive industry] Ford Launches Customer Carbon Offset Program Ford Motor Company and TerraPass have announced a program offering Ford vehicle owners the opportunity to offset the climate impact of their driving. [Source: GreenBiz.com, 5/1/06] 11:28:11 AM Google It!

© Copyright 2006 Laura L. Barnes. Last update: 6/6/2006; 3:14:08 PM.