Blogs

Study from the Carbon Trust warns that potential of renewables sector will only be realised if government invests in research and removes regulatory barriers.

In today’s economy, energy efficiency is a top priority for both public and private institutions. It promises to reduce energy expenditures, lower GHG emissions, and – of course! – to save a pile of money. While there’s been talk of energy efficiency since the 1970s, excitement has grown recently due to oil price fluctuations and energy efficiency funding in the federal stimulus plan. So, does this mean that we can finally save money from energy efficiency – without having to spend more cash first?

The LEED Program is managed by the US Green Building Council (USGBC) and has become big business, so they needed bigger offices. The renovation of an existing building was designed by a team led by Kendall Wilson of Envision Design, who cut their green teeth doing the offices for Greenpeace ten years ago. It is clean and sleek, but doesn't jump out at you as overtly green; as Suzanne LaBarre writes in Metropolis:

Laptop Magazine has tested some of the industry's greenest notebooks and decided on the most eco-friendly in each of 4 categories, from netbooks to desktop replacements. Check out their choices.

This solar lamp from Japan's IDEA charges up with ambient light and so doesn't need a cord, which is great. The only problem is it looks like a space-age robot eye is watching you...

The light is just shy of 12 inches tall, and gathers up the energy it needs to produce ambient light from, well, ambient light. About 2-5 hours of sunlight is enough for 8 hours of ambient mood lighting, and it comes in various hues. It's also darn cheap, selling in Japan for the equivalent of $16.

During a recent meeting of the Environment minsters of EU member countries side stepped the issue of declaring carbon dioxide a pollutant. While the minsters agreed on a proposal to reduce industrial pollution various environment groups criticized the ministers’ inaction on what seemed an essential and significant decision in Europe’s fight against climate change.

It’s silent. It’s electric. It turns heads. It also costs $10,000. Check out Zero Motorcycle’s street legal bike.

Last March when Greentech Media visited the 24-Hour Electricross race in San Jose, Calif., Zero's founder and CTO Neal Saiki announced that his company would soon release a street model. And here it is in glorious video.

The San Francisco startup, founded by former SunEdison executives, is looking at building an amorphous silicon solar panel factory in New York.

Sunworks Solar, formed just last August, is aiming to build a solar panel manufacturing business and market it products with a "buy American" pitch.

The San Francisco startup is in the midst of negotiating with New York officials over an inventive package to build a factory in the state, said Brian Robertson, co-founder and CEO of Sunworks, on Thursday.

GENEVA, CH -- Efforts by the world's leading cement companies knocked down carbon dioxide emissions from the industry's manufacturing process by 35 percent even while production climbed by 53 percent, according to the World Business Council for Sustainable Development's Cement Sustainability Initiative.

Australia is joining the UK in using the Carbon Trust’s Carbon Reduction Label, touted as the world’s first carbon label for consumer products.

The Carbon Trust, an organization backed by the UK government, has signed an agreement with Planet Ark, a leading Australian environmental organization, to establish its Carbon Reduction Label in Australia. The first products bearing the label will be available in 2010.

To help consumers sort out sometimes false and misleading environmental claims, Green Seal has launched its Green Seal certification for personal care products after 18 months in development.

Touted as the first U.S. standard to address the health, environmental, and labeling concerns of infants, children and adults, consumers can use the standard as a guide to find “green” soaps, cleansers and shower products.

Sony Europe has taken a leading role in the use of renewable energy, achieving 100 percent renewable energy usage in FY08, according to a press release.

Globally, Sony reduced 100,000 tons of CO2 emissions through renewable energy use and offsets in FY08. At Sony Europe, every facility with more than 100 employees is powered exclusively with renewable energy, amountng to 190 million kilowatt hours, or about 55,000 tons of carbon emissions.

During a debate about the American Climate and Energy Security Act (ACES), which passed last Friday with 219 votes, Rep. Peter Sessions (R-TX) sounded the proverbial alarm about capping carbon. He characterized ACES as the “biggest tax increase in American history.” He cited estimates by the Heritage Foundation that over 4,000 jobs will be lost in his Texas congressional district.

Interior Sec. Salazar and Sen. Reid announce plans to fast-track commercial-scale solar power development on public lands.

In a plan announced on Tuesday, federal agencies will work with western leaders to designate tracts of U.S. public lands in the West as prime zones for utility-scale solar energy development; fund environmental studies; open new solar energy permitting offices, and; speed reviews of industry proposals.

India’s Environment minister has made it clear that his government will not agree to any demands for mandatory emission reduction goals. The minister, in a statement, said what a recent World Bank report had noted, that India could jeopardize its fight against poverty if it agrees to emissions reductions and increase economic burden on its people.

We’ve seen designers recycle airplane parts to create desks, tropical eco-hotels and a hostel, and now we can add couches and beds to the lofty collection! MotoArt is a team of designers who transform airplane parts into sleek, highly polished modern pieces of furniture. Based in Los Angeles, the 6 person design crew creates an impressive line-up of upcycled furnishings, sure to please every airplane enthusiast’s flight of fancy.

SUNNYVALE, Calif. -- Yahoo! today said it will no longer purchase carbon offsets for its operations, focusing its climate strategy on reducing the energy used by its data centers.

The move reverses the company's 2007 announcement that it would invest in carbon-offset projects in order to become carbon neutral.

Behavioral economists will tell you that the simple act of placing an electricity consumption meter in plain view can substantially cut a home's energy use. The same goes for real-time miles-per-gallon meters in cars, which change the way we drive.

These findings tell us something about behavior:

When the price of costly activities isn't hidden from us, we're more likely to pursue those activities prudently.

I recently attended a small but enthusiastic gathering of sustainable design practitioners at the Designer’s Accord town hall meeting held in Boston. There was no shortage of passion in the room and there were plenty of good ideas to share, but the consensus amongst all was clear: if sustainable design was challenging to practice in a good economy, it’s even more difficult in a bad one.

Pushing for rapid development of renewable energy on U.S. public lands, Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar and U.S. Senator Harry Reid (D-NV) have announced an initiative that will “fast-track” solar energy projects on Interior-managed lands that have significant solar energy potential with limited impact on wildlife, other natural resources or land users. Nearly 500 renewable energy projects have applied for permits.

Atlantic Contingency Constructors in Norfolk, Va., received 3 task orders totaling up $100 million to install solar energy systems at U.S. Navy shore facilities in the United States, DID reports.

The task orders were awarded under a Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Atlantic multiple-award global contingency construction contract (N62470-06-D-6007).

Greenpeace today released the latest edition of its Guide to Greener Electronics, and once again PC makers were given low marks. The nonprofit organization ranked 18 global PC and mobile manufacturers on their policies and practices related to energy, chemicals and e-waste. On a scale from 0 through 10, none of the PC makers were assigned ratings above 6.

GENEVA - Governments are failing to stem a rapid decline in biodiversity that is now threatening extinction for almost half the world's coral reef species, a third of amphibians and a quarter of mammals, the world's premier conservation watchdog warned Thursday.

Today all that nomadic telecommuters need is internet access, a phone, and some strong coffee. Waskman Design Studio’s stunning mobile home, designed for Vodafone, has all of those things (except the caffeine). The solar powered trailer was created for Vodafone to show off its fixed phone and wireless internet service, and is currently occupied by blogger Marcos Morales and his family as they travel through Spain on a family vacation!

You know we’re big fans of recycling, but this Fourth of July, doesn’t it just seem like more fun to be able to tell your guests to throw their used plates and cups into the bushes instead of a recycling bin? Well okay, you probably don’t want litter on your lawn, so that first scenario might be a bit extreme. But with Branch’s brand new Biodegradable Party Kit, you’ll have everything you need for an eco-friendly fete without any of the hassle.

The Rogers Centre sporting and entertainment complex in Toronto estimates that it is saving more than $300,000 a year on energy costs by using a smart lighting control system.

Prior to the lighting system retrofit, the Rogers Centre spent about $4 million a year on electricity with lighting costs accounting for 50 percent of the bill.