Showing Tag: "us" (Show all posts)

Why upcycling is beneficial towards the environment?

Posted by Guest Editor on Friday, February 8, 2013, In : Guest Blogger

Upcycling is a method in which old or discarded materials are converted into something reusable.

The difference between upcycling and recycling is simple. Recycling takes consumer materials such as plastic, paper, metal, and glass and breaks them down so that they can be made into a new consumer product (usually of lesser quality). When you upcycle an item you aren’t breaking down ant materials, just purely refashioning it. Additionally the quality of the upcycled item has same or even ...

Geothermal Energy Part 1

Posted by Guest Editor on Sunday, December 9, 2012,

Geothermal energy is heat derived from the Earth. It is both clean and sustainable. It can be excavated from shallow ground, hot water, hot rocks, and magma. Geothermal energy can be extracted through power plants and heat pumps.

There are three types of geothermal power plants. The first type is called dry steam and uses heat from deep within the Earth to generate steam, which produces electricity. Wells drill into the Earth and pump hot water to the surface under high pressures. Once at...

US energy infrastructure needs help and mitigation plans

Posted by External article from The Christian Science Monitor - Weekly Digital Edition on Sunday, November 11, 2012, In : News

A Climate Central report from earlier this year highlighted the amount of energy infrastructure around the country that is close to sea level. Louisiana, of course, comes across as the clearest example of energy infrastructure at risk to rising seas, with 163 major energy facilities at five feet above sea level or less. Surprisingly, New Jersey and New York are ranked 5th and 6th in the country, respectively, for the amount of infrastructure that is within 5 feet of sea level.

Hurricane...
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Beyond Recycling - Go Green With Your Kids

Posted by Guest Author Donna DeForbes, http://eco-mothering.blogspot.com on Friday, October 26, 2012, In : Guest Blogger

Have “power down” days. We humans are addicted to electricity and all its accompanying gadgets. There should be a few days each year (once per season is nice) where the family “powers down.” This means no TV, music, computer, electric lights, etc. (You can still eat, of course, but try using the more natural gas stove instead of microwave radiation.) My husband and I have powered down for many a Winter Solstice. It’s a way of slowing life down for a bit and reconnecting with each ot...
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Bio Gas - Can You Use Poop to Power Your Car?

Posted by Guest Author Donna DeForbes, http://eco-mothering.blogspot.com on Tuesday, October 2, 2012, In : Must read

Donna DeForbes a great writer and eco-mom, she is our new contributor! Donna wrote a very cool post about bio gas and the multiple options out there for transforming solid waste into energy. According to the article, under the gentler moniker of ‘bio-gas’, businesses around the globe are seeking ways to harness the power of human waste, which contains bacteria that releases methane gas (also known as Natural Gas and CH4).

Using solid waste from 70 homes, British company GENeco powered a ...
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Meet the Zero-Emission Bus (ZBus) Regulation

Posted by Guest Editor on Tuesday, September 25, 2012, In : Must read

In 2000 the Zero-Emission Bus (ZBus) regulation was established. Its intentions were to develop a Californian transit system made up of 15% zero emission buses. This formation of this regulation would also meet California’s air quality, greenhouse gas, and energy security goals.

Source: Zero-Emission Bus Design

Zbus’ produce zero smog pollutants and when compared to diesel-fueled buses, is predicted to reduce greenhouse gases by 46 percent. They have centralized fueling that allows one s...
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Why Biodiversity Needs Conservation?

Posted by Guest Editor on Friday, August 31, 2012, In : News

The natural Earth is made up of plants, animals, land, water, the atmosphere, and humans. Combined we form the planet’s ecosystem. This means that should there ever be a major biodiversity disaster, the wellbeing of humans could be at risk. For too long we have had the idea that the biodiversity that surrounds us responds to Earth’s physical changes rather than see that the existence of the Earth depends on biodiversity.

Presently we are consuming 25% more of natural resources than the p...
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Sustainability Initiatives That Pay Back!

Posted by Guest Editor, CFO data and article on Tuesday, August 21, 2012, In : Must read

Sustainability is the ability to be sustained, supported, upheld, or confirmed. A question all companies ask themselves these days is: “Will investing in sustainability pay off within an acceptable amount of time?” Huge companies such as Henkel Corp. and Cybex are putting millions into the construction of eco-friendly factories and products, hoping that it all pays off in the end.

Today many executives, some of whom used to be skeptical about this very matter, are trying to do more wit...
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What Makes the MIRAI NIHON Project so Amazing?

Posted by Guest Author on Tuesday, July 31, 2012, In : Guest Blogger

Earlier last year, Japan experienced a 9.0 earthquake followed by massive tsunamis. The destruction that occurred killed thousands and left many more homeless. One of the many unfortunate side effects of this natural catastrophe was the threat of nuclear disaster.

Concerns revolving around energy and basic life services for the future plagued Japanese people. That is where a Japanese advertising firm, TBWA/Hakuhodo, along with Nissan, NEC, and the Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency, came...
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Green Energy Matrix in the US Food System

Posted by Guest Editor on Wednesday, July 18, 2012, In : Must read

Energy breakdown for the food production system includes about 20 percent of overall energy used in agricultural production, 14 percent for transport, 16 percent for processing, another 7 percent for packaging, 4 percent in food retailing 7 percent in restaurants and caterers and a whopping 32 percent goes to home refrigeration and preparation.

What do you think are the solutions to this challenge:

NYC residents will throw away about 200,000 tons of clothes, per year...

Posted by Guest Editor on Tuesday, July 3, 2012, In : Must read

Over the course of one year, NYC residents will throw away about 200,000 tons of clothes, towels, blankets, curtains, shoes, handbags, belts, and other textiles. The reason New Yorkers may choose to dispose of their unwanted clothes and accessories rather than donate them is out of pure convenience.

To overcome this ailment, the non-profit organization re-fashionNYC, in partnership with the City of New York and Housing Works has come up with a convenient and innovative solution. Re-fashionNY...
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Statement by the Higher Education Sustainability Initiative at Rio+20

Posted by Guest Editor, Sustainability on Thursday, June 21, 2012, In : News

As Chancellors, Presidents, Rectors, Deans and Leaders of Higher Education Institutions and related organizations, we acknowledge the responsibility that we bear in the international pursuit of sustainable development. On the occasion of the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development, held in Rio de Janeiro from 20-22 June 2012, we agree to support the following actions:

Teach sustainable development concepts, ensuring that they form a part of the core curriculum across all discipl...
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Business Puts in a Bid to Engage in Sustainable Development Goals Process, at Corporate Sustainability Forum

Posted by Guest Editor on Tuesday, June 19, 2012, In : Must read

(Rio de Janeiro, 18 June 2012) – A role for the international business community in identifying and promoting a new set of global goals was endorsed this evening at the Rio+20-aligned private sector forum, and will be forwarded this week to the UN and Heads of State.

The proposal to give business a voice in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) emerged from the 15-18 June Rio+20 Corporate Sustainability Forum. Approval came via a show of hands by business executives as well as other F...
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Get Inspired by the Natural Environment

Posted by Editor on Sunday, April 29, 2012, In : Guest Blogger

A recent research study done by Behavioral Economists pointed out to considerable findings about how individuals feel rewarded after looking at certain types of images. We decided to run our own tests and the result is below.

By looking at this picture you should feel relaxed.

This picture is likely to make you feel collaborative.

This picture is likely to make you feel calm.

This picture is likely to make you feel heroic!

Now that we got you inspired by the Natural Environment, let's get to ...
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Join the Environmental Advocates of New York for Earth Day!

Posted by Guest Editor on Tuesday, April 17, 2012, In : Must read

It's one of our favorite times of the year—when hundreds of concerned citizens from across New York State travel to Albany to call on lawmakers to vote green!

Please join us for the 22nd annual Earth Day Lobby Day!

	When:	Wednesday, April 25, 2012 9:30 a.m.–3 p.m.
	Where:	New York State Capitol Albany, NY
	RSVP:	Click here to register

At Earth Day Lobby Day, you'll hear from state government and environmental leaders, learn about environmental bills that are pending in Albany, and lob...

Ready for a recap after 20 long years? Join us at Rio +20

Posted by Guest Editor on Friday, April 13, 2012, In : Must read

The United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development, Rio +20, will be held from 13 to 22 June 2012, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. It is known as Rio +20 because it marks the twentieth anniversary of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (Rio-92), and should help define the sustainable development agenda for the coming decades.

Brazil's petition to host Rio +20 was approved in the 6th Session of the General Assembly of the United Nations, in 2009. The objective of the...
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Africa's collective GDP is now roughly equal to Brazil's or Russia's

Posted by Guest Editor on Friday, April 6, 2012, In : News

Africa's collective GDP, at $1.7 trillion in 2010, is now roughly equal to Brazil's or Russia's. While Africa's increased economic momentum is widely recognized, less known are its sources and likely staying power. By 2020, it could be $ 2.6 trillion dollars.

Among the key findings:

Africa's growth acceleration was widespread, with 27 of its 30 largest economies expanding more rapidly after 2000.

All sectors contributed, including resources, finance, retail, agriculture, transportation and telec...
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Sustainable Houses, The Key to Our Future?

Posted by Editor, via CNET on Sunday, October 9, 2011, In : Must read

What do you think of sustainable houses?
The technology used for building is improving every day, but if it's a super energy-efficient dwelling you're after, the tools are already well at hand. Once a year, the Northeast Sustainable Energy Association organizes a green buildings open house where energy nerds like us can see the latest in home efficiency.

Source: CNET

On the other hand, if you want to built a different house, to be in harmony with nature. You might want to consider these inexpen...
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New Words Every Small Business Owner Should Know!

Posted by Editor, via entrepreneur.com on Sunday, September 4, 2011, In : Must read

Do you have a "bajillion" things to do? Have you ever had a "light-bulb moment"?

Entrepreneurs need to keep up with the new business-related words and lingo that pop up almost every day. The publishers of the Concise Oxford Dictionary have added 400 new words to the 12th edition of the publication, so we thought it might be useful to take a look at the new terms. Turns out several apply to business.

We've selected the 10 need-to-know new words. Whether or not you start using them in your own bu...

Funding for Nationwide Student-Focused Clean Energy Business Competitions

Posted by Editor via DOE on Tuesday, August 2, 2011, In : Must read

DOE Announces Funding for Nationwide Student-Focused Clean Energy Business Competitions

Washington, D.C. - As part of the Obama Administration's effort to support and empower the next generation of American clean energy entrepreneurs, U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu today announced $2 million in available funding for the National University Clean Energy Business Challenge. This nationwide initiative will create a network of regional student-focused clean energy business creation competitions ...
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Social Innovation for Undergrads

Posted by Editor CM on Monday, July 18, 2011, In : News

LOS ANGELES, Jul. 18 /CSRwire/ - For undergraduates interested in social innovation and developing well thought-out solutions to the world's problems, the Society and Business Lab (SBL) at the USC Marshall School of Business in conjunction with the School of Policy, Planning and Development has announced a social entrepreneurship minor that will begin in fall 2011.

The interdisciplinary minor will be open to all USC undergraduate students who are seeking to understand the global context of soc...

Great initiative - Boston University - Center for Corporate Citizenship

Posted by Editor C on Friday, March 11, 2011, In : Must read

This is a great idea, kudos to Katherine V. Smith and her team at The Center for Corporate Citizenship (at Boston University). We hope other Universities will do the same.

"Dear MicroEmpowering,

As the world begins to comprehend the devastating impact of the Japanese earthquake and tsunami, the Center extends its deepest sympathies to the people and businesses struggling against extraordinary circumstances. Our community of companies includes several headquartered in Japan and hundreds of othe...

Market Acceptance of Smart Growth (via EPA)

Posted by Editor on Tuesday, March 8, 2011, In : Must read

For decades, developers have been creating smart growth communities—places with a mix of land uses and housing types, built compactly to make walking and biking easier—throughout the county in urban, suburban, and rural locations. Some communities structure their approval and entitlement process to encourage construction of this type of neighborhood. Other communities are less familiar with these neighborhoods and may present more hurdles in the approval process because the design and lay...
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The World Climate Summit 2010

Posted by Editor on Monday, November 29, 2010, In : News

LONDON, BRUSSELS, COPENHAGEN, WASHINGTON, D.C. and CANCUN, Mexico, Nov. 24 /CSRwire/ - The most important and influential business, finance and government leaders in the climate change arena are coming together with more than 100 high-level speakers, and the largest coalition of financiers at the inaugural World Climate Summit, December 4-5, at The Ritz-Carlton, Cancun, Mexico, in parallel to the UNFCCC COP 16.

The World Climate Summit 2010 is the beginning of a new, open and collaborative ...

Chicago Climate Exchange (CCX) is set to close by year’s end

Posted by Editor C on Wednesday, November 17, 2010, In : Guest Blogger

Via Guest Blogger - with excerpts from Bloomberg Businessweek article

Speaking after Republicans won control of the House of Representatives, President Barack Obama has backed away from a cap-and-trade program saying he will work with Republicans on other ways to cut carbon emissions, reports Bloomberg Businessweek.

A cap-and-trade program was included in the climate bill passed by the House last year, but stalled in this year’s Senate. Peter Shattuck, a carbon-markets policy analyst at ...

What are Environmental Costs? - Part 1

Posted by on Monday, November 8, 2010, In : Must read

By Ana Murphy

According to some EPA guidelines due to the importance of accurate cost information in making the decisions sketched out above, the term “environmental cost” has been introduced into the vocabulary of environmental managers.
Today we are starting a series of posts related to the definition(s) and the measurements used to evaluate environmental costs.

Environmental costs are often hard to define from a business stand point. In the past 10 years they are more likely to be qua...
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Fledgling Companies to Present Business Cases to Venture Capitalists

Posted by on Thursday, October 14, 2010,

Via DOE

Golden, Colo., Oct. 13, 2010 – Thirty-four clean energy companies, including five Colorado companies, will gather in Denver Oct. 19-21 to present their clean energy business cases to a panel of national venture capitalists at the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory 23rd Industry Growth Forum.

In addition to the business case presentations, a comprehensive agenda of speakers and in-depth panels will address the most important topics in the industry today...

Over 6,000 firms are in favour of clean energy and climate legislation

Posted by Contribuitor on Wednesday, August 4, 2010, In : News

(Via BusinessGreen)

American Businesses for Clean Energy (ABCE) group, one of the leading corporate coalitions pushing for the adoption of climate change legislation, last week released an analysis of green business lobby groups revealing that more than 6,000 firms are now fully in favour of clean energy and climate legislation

The study said that combined, the companies, which include 21 Fortune 100 companies and many of the largest corporate names in the US, employ 3.5 million people and hav...
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Steve Schneider, 1945 - 2010

Posted by Ana M on Saturday, July 24, 2010, In : Must read

Via Woods Institute for the Environment at Stanford University

Our colleague and good friend Steve Schneider, the Melvin and Joan Lane Professor for Interdisciplinary Environmental Studies and senior fellow at the Woods Institute for the Environment at Stanford, died on July 19, 2010, while traveling from a meeting in Stockholm to London. Steve was not only a man of formidable intellectual depth and breadth, but also a committed and compassionate advisor, mentor, teacher and friend. ...

Citizens of which nation are the most sustainable consumers? Is it the super-liberal Dutch? The enlightened and sophisticated French? The affluent Scandinavians?

Posted by Editor on Monday, June 21, 2010, In : News

by Timothy Curran

Perhaps surprisingly, the Greendex study which surveys 17,000 people, 1000 in 17 different countries, on their habits and attitudes in relation to consumer choices finds that the residents of developing nations of Brazil, India and China are the most sustainable consumers. France, Canada and the USA rank the lowest.

While these results may be encouraging to those concerned with how economic growth will affect the environment, they do not sit well with the environmental real...