Kristianstad Sweden uses no fossil fuels for heating.  Instead they uses biomass from farming leftovers.  80,000 homes heated by biomass and not fossil fuels like coal, oil and gas!  And this is an area of the world where it gets VERY COLD !

Since solar and wind would not be effective in Kristianstad they worked with biomass.  " ... remains from farming ... manure, potato peels, pig intestines, and even cookies, .... to create biogas  ... a certain type of  methane, ... heat of the entire city, and to provide electricity for the city as well."

The driving force for the move away from fossil fuels was to protect their environment and they did not want to import fossil fules from abroad.

Via:  Metrolic  LINK

Posted by Green Dude at 05:39 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Study attempts to understand the impact of clouds on global warming.  The reduction of cloud cover would accelerate climate change and this study indicates that the impact may be underestimated.  …

…   “The disagreement among models is mainly due to the different representation of clouds. Some models predict that global mean cloud cover will increase in a warmer climate and the increased reflection of solar radiation will limit the predicted global warming.”   …

Via University of Hawaii: Climate Study.

Posted by Green Tech at 12:04 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

 EPA Fuel Economy stickers are on all new cars and light trucks and ahve been for decades. They list the city and highway mpg as well expected annual feul costs and some information about emissions.

The EPA is now looking to modify (again) the labels ... to allow meaningful comparisons between newer type vehicles ... such as hybrids where MPG does not really apply.  They might group cars by letters like A, B, and C.

" .. provide ... simple, straightforward energy and environmental comparisons across all vehicles types, including electric vehicles (EV), plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEV), and conventional gasoline/diesel vehicles. ... information, such as ratings on fuel economy, greenhouse gas emissions, and other air pollutants ..."

Via:  EPA  LINK

Posted by Green Dude at 06:05 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

It is Memorial Day - the start of summer and BBQs .... you can GREEN Up your Memorial Day with these green tips. 

The choices you make can lead to a GREENER result and little or no impact on the FUN and ENJOYMENT.

• " ... biodegradable utensils, bowls and cups to cut down on waste. ... write ... names on cups to set a limit on the number doled out ... reusable, cloth napkins ... can be washed and saved for your next get together. ..."

" ... Gas, propane and electric grills burn cleaner and more efficiently than charcoal or wood ... contribute fewer hydrocarbons and soot particles than charcoal. ..."

Via:  USA Today  LINK

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Data Centers are moving to rural areas where land and labor are less expensive.  There are often farms and lots of cows ... and therefore lots of cow manure.

A significant cost of operating data centers is the electric bill.

" ... data centers ... building them in rural areas, which happen to have an excess of animal waste. The heat from a data center could be used to improve the process by which the waste turns it into methane, which can be used in place of natural gas or diesel, HP's researchers maintain. "

"... average dairy cow, ... produces approximately 120 pounds of waste a day. It would take 10,000 cows to produce enough energy for a data center big enough to support a bank.  "

Via:  Fierce CIO LINK

Posted by Green Dude at 06:32 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

While driving through Chester County, Pa to pick my son up from a camping trip I saw an Amerigreen gas station and thought I should check it out ... in addition to gas they sell diesel, propane and heating oil.  In addition to biodiesel and bio heating oil they have  E85.

"E85 Ethanol (85% ethanol, 15% gasoline) is a clean fuel with superior performance characteristics. It burns cleaner than gasoline, is renewable, and environmentally safer."

 "... we became one of the first oil companies in the United States to provide our customers with 100% North American made fuel--drilled, refined, and sold exclusively in North America. ..."

Via:  Amerigreen  LINK

Posted by Green Dude at 07:46 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

CMU, Caltech, Georgia Tech collaborate to understand the impact of soot on global warming and the answers point to an interesting relationship.  …

…   “Carnegie Mellon's Peter Adams and colleagues John H. Seinfeld of the California Institute of Technology and Athanasios Nenes of the Georgia Institute of Technology report that controls on black carbon soot might not slow global warming as much as previously thought.

The study has implications for the ongoing climate policy debate about assigning a global warming potential (GWP) to soot, a metric for comparing its climate impact to carbon dioxide. GWP values have been assigned to a wide range of greenhouse gases.”   …

Via Carnegie Mellon University: Soot Emissions

Posted by Green Tech at 02:43 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

"UPS ... became the first small package carrier to offer its customers the ability to offset the carbon dioxide emissions generated by the transport of their packages within the United States."

" ... offer U.S. shippers the option of paying a small fee to calculate and offset the climate impact of the shipment of each of their packages. information about UPS carbon neutral services is available at ups.com/carbonneutral."

" ... To encourage customers to participate ... UPS will match the offset purchases, effectively doubling the offsets purchased in 2009-2010, up to $1 million."

" ...  the carbon offset process is ... certified by The CarbonNeutral Company. "

Posted by Green Dude at 05:41 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Whether you are a landlord, run a bar or hotel there are things YOU can do to celebrate Earth Hour. 

"Earth Hour 2010 is a global call to stand up, to show leadership and be responsible for our future. ..."

Show you support for Earth Hour by ... "Turning off your lights at 8.30PM on March 27 ... Adding Earth Hour widgets, logos and banners to your blog or website ...Get together with your friends and family, by hosting an Earth Hour party or holding your own candlelit affair ...Encourage your employer and workmates to take part in Earth Hour and make energy savings every day ... "

For the full list LINK

Via:  Earth Hour LINK

To create the next generation of water heaters, GE rethought every aspect of this appliance from the ground up. The result is an innovative new product that can reduce water heater operating cost up to 62% and save $320 per year.* That adds up to significant savings, and you won't have to give up a single drop of hot water.

Via:  GE LINK

Posted by Green Dude at 06:33 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Earth Hour 2010 is just a few days away.

Earth Hour is a symbolic way of supporting global action for the environment.  For  the lst few years folks all around the globe haves turned off their lights for one hour as a very visible show of support.

"Earth Hour 2010 will continue to be a global call to action to every individual, every business and every community. A call to stand up, to show leadership and be responsible for our future."

"Pledge your support here and turn off your lights for one hour, Earth Hour, 8.30pm, Saturday 27th March 2010."

Via:  Earth Hour LINK

Posted by Green Dude at 06:06 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Which is less carbon intensive:  electic heat or wood stovfe heat? 

The Sierra Club's "Hey Mr. Green" tells us ...it depends on the quality / newness of your wood stove and where the pollution ends up -- at a power plant or in your neighborhood.  No easy answers but some good info.

" ... carbon footprint depends on the source of your electric power and the quality of your wood burner. ... power ... generated from coal or other fossil fuels ... footprint might be bigger than if you're burning wood in a new, efficient, EPA-approved firebox or stove. ..."

" ... wood burner ... releases a lot more other pollutants into the air ... releases them right where you and your neighbors breathe ... wood ... emits 250 times as much global-warming methane as burning coal in a power plant."

Via:  Sierra Club  LINK

Posted by Green Dude at 05:40 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

... "He said he was not certain how many members would serve in thegroup, but said they would represent a variety of scientific disciplines. He expects to complete the review by the end of August ... " ...

Posted by Green Tech at 03:47 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

The "Low Carbon World" website ... www.LowCarbonEconomy.com - was officially launched today ... [25-Feb-2010] ...in Bali, Indonesia at the United Nations Environment Programme's annual Governing Council. ... joint project between Low Carbon Economy.com and the United Nation's Climate Neutral Network ... aims to facilitate the move to global low carbon economies, ..."

" ... will assist knowledge transfer and simplify access to information and tools that can be difficult to trace ... will list every country's carbon policies, commitments, historical performance, future projections and opportunities, ..."

Posted by Green Dude at 05:50 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

" ... what to do with the 30 billion metric tons of carbon dioxide the human race produces every year by burning fossil fuels. Half ... is absorbed by oceans, plants and trees. The rest contributes to the atmospheric build-up of greenhouse gas ..."

" ... a bold solution that will inevitably come up is to capture and sequester some of that carbon dioxide deep underground. Onshore geologic cavities in the U.S. could hold 2 trillion tons of CO₂ ... enough to soak up 300 years of national output ... and would generate a good deal of anxiety for those living above the gas...."

" ... put the carbon where nobody lives ... a perfect place 130 miles off the eastern U.S. seaboard and 2 miles below the ocean ... porous sandstone formation, trapped under 3,200 feet of hard shale, that stretches from New Jersey to Georgia ... "

"SCS Energy ... aims to start injecting CO₂ into this undersea rock by 2016 and to make a profit ... "

" ... technique called coal gasification that heats coal and partially combusts it in pure oxygen to make carbon monoxide and hydrogen. Adding water turns the carbon monoxide into CO₂. The 5 million tons of CO₂ produced annually by the plant would be piped out to sea and injected into ... sandstone. Almost all the hydrogen would be used to power a turbine during hours when the price of electricity is high. When power prices are lower, more hydrogen would be diverted to make ammonia or urea for fertilizer."

"Carbon capture and storage on a large scale is still more theoretical than real ... Sequestration's critics are legion, but it may be a requirement to meet the 2020 greenhouse-gas-reduction goals most countries set for themselves prior to the Copenhagen talks...."

Via:  Forbes  LINK

Posted by Green Dude at 04:22 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

 "San Francisco based, Climate Earth has developed new software technology that measures and analyzes the carbon impact inside the supply chain, from the production of a carton of orange juice to the construction of a giant skyscrape ...

Via: SmartPlanet  LINK

Posted by Green Dude at 07:50 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Japan's Matsushita ... "will claim first place in the race to put commercial home fuel cells on the market ... "

" ... can optimally provide 70 percent of the energy needs for a 1,280 square foot house with four people ... can reduce energy consumption by 22 percent and CO2 emissions by 12 percent as compared to all other power sources ... ".

" ... cogeneration home fuel cell hooks up to the city’s natural gas lines, extracting hydrogen from the gas ... hydrogen is combined with oxygen through a series of polyelectrolyte membranes, a process that creates electricity, heat, and water ... home fuel cell produces between 500 watts and a 1 kilowatt of electricity and captures the heat to warm a tank of water, used for showers, dishes etc."

" ... a contribution to Japan’s goals of reducing global CO2 emissions 50 percent by 2050." " ... fuel cells require a great deal of energy; for example, this unit contains more than 2,000 components. Whether the production of the units negates the energy and CO2 savings gained by customers is unclear."

Check out this video ...

Via: Mother Nature Network LINK

Posted by Green Dude at 08:47 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Zerofootprint offers software and services that help your organization measure and manage its environmental footprint."

 For example, their "One Minute Calculators enable individuals to get a quick measure of their carbon footprint. After they input basic lifestyle information, the calculator will provide an estimate of a user’s carbon emissions in 60 seconds or less." 

There are 10 One Minute Calculators ... looking at the Earth Hour version I found that my family uses 11.45 ton / year of CO2.  By changing some variables like diet you can see the impact of various changes.

>>> Check it out.

Via:  zerofootprint  LINK

Posted by Green Dude at 10:49 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Data centers are BIG energy hogs ... withe energy to run them, generating hot CPUs that then need A/C to be kept cool.

"... IBM, which continues to develop technology that could, one day, lead to zero-emission data centers. ... key ... lies in a new cooling technology that IBM is currently toying around with."

"High-performance liquid cooling allows data centers to operate with coolant temperatures above the free cooling limit in all climates, eliminating the need for chillers and allowing the thermal energy to be reused in cold climates. ..."

" ... thanks to this ... cooling technology, IBM has to use less energy than it otherwise would have ... system reuses about 75 percent of the energy initially put into it. It’s that loss of only around 25 percent that makes the whole thing so efficient."

Via: CrunchGear LINK

Posted by Green Dude at 06:21 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

"President Barack Obama  will travel to the climate summit in Copenhagen ... if the countries involved are on the verge of a deal and he thinks his presence will help to clinch agreement, ... Obama's strongest assertion yet that he will attend the meeting in Denmark to help secure a binding treaty in the fight against climate change ... "

" ... House of Representatives has passed a bill setting a 17% reduction in America's emissions from 2005 levels, and a version currently in the Senate aims for a 20% cut by 2020."

"If Obama shows up next month, he will join more than 40 heads of state and government, including prime minister Gordon Brown and others from Europe, Africa and South America who have said they will attend the talks."

Via: The Guardian LINK

Posted by Green Dude at 06:21 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Ever wonder why office building always seem to be lit up at night ? Often if is because the lighting controls do not allow for fine lighting control .... lights are either on or off for the whole floor ... or a large portion of the floor. I recall this when I worked in office buildings past the automatic "lights out" time programmed into the lighting relays.

"Commercial office buildings are one of the main culprits of the current climate crisis ... consume large amounts of electricity and release excessive carbon emissions ... Adura Technologies has developed a mesh-based lighting system that is reducing costs and consumption inside buildings. The technology consists of wireless radios that plug into florescent light fixtures giving employees more control over their personal lighting space. ... also created a dual motion sensing-personal control system that is being used at UC Berkeley that allows students to break the hard-wired connection and control their lighting from their desktop PCs."

Posted by Green Dude at 05:46 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Looking to add a green roof?  Lots of building are now sporting green roofs.  There are a number of environmental and economical reasons to green the roof.  A green roof can even help get a LEED certification.

"Urban Heat Island Mitigation ... Green roof vegetation helps by cooling the air, slowing air movement and acting as a substrate for pollution to settle out and detoxify. ... Noise Reduction ... Plants, soil, and air trapped in the soil are great acoustic insulators.  ... green roofs can reduce indoor sound by as much as 40 decibels ... Fire Prevention ... Succulent green roof plants help reduce the risk of fire. ..."

"Water Conservation/Reduction of Storm Water Runoff ... green roof systems acts like a sponge and absorbs excess rain water ... green roof systems can reduce runoff by up to 90+% annually ... Habitat Recreation
Plants and soil help recreate habitat for butterflies, insects, and songbirds. "

Check out LiveRoof for more information.

Via:  LiveRoof LINK

Posted by Green Dude at 01:38 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

San Francisco International (SFO) is committed to being green.  They have efforts underway to reduce their environmental impact by reducing noise, reducing global warming and preserving natural resources like air and water.

" ...  recognize the importance that environmental sustainability plays in helping achieve this goal ... committed to drastically reducing its environmental impact over the next decade.  ... working to reduce contributions to global warming, improve air and water quality, reduce noise impacts, and preserve natural resources."

SFO now offers the Climate Passport program; a way to help travelers reduce their travel carbon footprint by purchasing offsets.  

Here is how it works ... " ... drop by a kiosk that will calculate the carbon impact of your travel ... buy offsets from the kiosk manager, 3Degrees, ... Some of the money will also go to the San Francisco Carbon Fund ... offsets purchased ... are verified by the Climate Action Registry."

Check out the interactive carbon calculator ...

On Sunday Oct 18, the cost for a carbon offset for a round trip flight from Philadelphia to San Francisco and back would cost $22.82 and off set 3,727 lbs of CO2.

Posted by Green Dude at 11:01 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

White roofs are the "hot" thing in roofing ... allowing for a lowed burden on a/c systems.

But dark colored roofs can bring solar gain to warm buildings ... if only roof tiles were smart enough to know ...

The next "hot" thing in roofing might be roofing that can change color based on outdoor temperature to maximize or minimize solar gain.

"MIT researchers have developed roof tiles that change color based on the temperature, turning white when it’s hot to deflect heat and turning black when it’s cold to absorb it ... the tiles can reflect about 80 percent of sunlight when they’re white and 30 percent of sunlight when they’re black. ... white state ... could save as much as 20 percent of present cooling costs ..."

" ... system ... made of a ... polymer in a water solution ... encapsulated between flexible plastic layers, with a dark layer at the back. When the temperature is above a certain level ... the polymer  ... produce a white surface and scatter light.  ... Below that temperature, the polymer stays dissolved, revealing the tile’s black backing and absorbing the sun’s heat ..."

Via: SmartPlanet LINK

Posted by Green Dude at 06:02 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Sometime low tech is the way to go ... painting a flat roof white can reduce the A/C load on a building and keep it cooler ...

This low tech solution " ... can act much like earth's snow covered poles; reflecting the sun’s light and heat as opposed to absorbing it ... keeps buildings cooler, reducing the problem of urban heat islands and saving energy (and money). ... we could counteract global warming simply by increasing the Earth’s total reflective surface. ..."

" ... Changing from a dark shingle ... to a light-colored (titanium-based white or terra cotta red) shingle can cut air conditioning costs by up to 40%. Georgia has been a leader in pushing cool roofs, passing a state law encouraging the shift. ... other states and regions also provide incentives, and the federal government is considering adding heat reflectivity requirements to housing regulations. "

Via:  WorldChanging  LINK  and LINK

Posted by Green Dude at 07:09 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Posted by Green Tech at 06:57 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

You cannot manage what you cannot measure ... everyone is hearing about the increasing carbon / greenhouse emissions .. but just how big a number is it?  How fast is it growing?

To get a real time view take a look at the 10 character - 70 foot "meter" in New York's Times Sq on the Deutsch Banks billboard.

" ...displays the amount of equivalent greenhouse gas emissions in terms of carbon in the atmosphere, and is constantly updated based on measurements from NASA, NOAA, and supporting research from MIT. ... the number is a reflection of all greenhouse gas emissions (methane, nitrous oxide, etc.) by their impact equivalencies in carbon. It even accounts for dips and rises in the amount of carbon in the atmosphere due to seasonal changes so not to appear to be slowing down certain times of the year.

"Before ... the information was only updated every five years. ... displaying the count in real time "allows people to begin to engage in the debate around the issue." ... the counter creates a sense of urgency, a call to action, and is intended to spur action to take the steps necessary in saving our planet."

Track the carbon count in real time on your PC ... download the Carbon Counter widget ... LINK

Via:  SustainLane  LINK

Posted by Green Dude at 05:30 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

One possible way to save energy is to paint your roof white ... or some other light color.  This would keep buildings cooler and lessen the need for air conditioning.  Same for roads and other dark surfaces ... which would reflect heat back into space instead of warming the earth.  Concrete could be used instead of painting road a lighter color ...

" ... solution to climate change could be as simple as a big bucket of whitewash, ... Steven Chu believes that painting the world's roofs, roads and pavements white would keep buildings cooler as temperatures rise and cut the need for air conditioning."

"... the U.S. Secretary of Energy and a Nobel prize-winning scientist, said the low-tech solution would be as effective at reducing global warming as taking all the world's cars off the road for 11 years."

Via:  DailyMail  LINK

Posted by Green Dude at 06:27 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

The Fox TV Show "24" " ... becomes the first carbon neutral television production."

" ... Nearly a year after announcing its aim to reduce its carbon footprint and inspire its viewers to do the same, "24," ... has far exceeded its carbon-reduction goals and will be the first television production ever to achieve carbon neutrality.  ... reduced the carbon emissions associated with its production by a staggering 43%, and ... has purchased high-quality carbon offsets to address its remaining unavoidable emissions. "

24 Going Green PSA - Kiefer Sutherland
Via:  Fox  Link

Posted by Green Dude at 09:15 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

The Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative held the first US Carbon auction int he US on September 25th, 2008 with two more scheduled for December 17th, 2008.

RGGI is a non profit corporation incorporate in Delaware and based in NYC, NY.

"Ten states participate... Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, and Vermont. ...are implementing the first mandatory cap-and-trade program in the United States to reduce greenhouse gas emissions."

"Regulated power plants will be able to use a CO₂ allowance issued by any of the ten participating states to demonstrate compliance with an individual state program. In this manner, the ten individual state programs, in aggregate, will function as a single regional compliance market for CO₂ emissions."

Via:  Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative  Link

Posted by Green Dude at 05:08 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Posted by Green Tech at 08:19 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

... "The report finds that climate change is already affecting U.S. water resources, agriculture, land resources, and biodiversity, and will continue to do so. ... " ...

Posted by Green Tech at 09:24 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Want to help reduce waste and get recognition for it?  California's WRAP program rewards businesses with the right to use the WRAP logo on products and advertising. 

Read on for more info: 

" ... Waste Reduction Awards Program (WRAP) ... administered by the California Integrated Waste Management Board. ... an opportunity for California businesses to gain public recognition for their outstanding waste reduction efforts and lets the community know your business takes waste reduction seriously. ... also provides businesses with examples of successful waste reduction techniques, which they may adopt as their own."

" ... businesses ... with California facilities are encouraged to apply for an annual WRAP award. ... Award winners receive authorization to use the WRAP winner logo with their products, advertising, and business websites to publicize waste reduction efforts."

Via: WRAP - California Integrated Waste Mgt Board Link

Continue reading "California's Waste Reduction Awards Program (WRAP)" »

Posted by Green Dude at 05:41 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

... "John McCain delivered an address in Portland, Oregon on global warming. But McCain’s approach to global warming is heavy on subsidies to existing industries - like oil and coal - and overlooks investments in the future like wind and solar power and energy efficiency. " ...

Posted by Green Tech at 07:20 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

"Earth Hour ... annual international event started in 2007, held on the last Saturday of March, that asks households and businesses to turn off their lights and non-essential electrical appliances for one hour in the evening. ...promoted by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) Australia and the Sydney Morning Herald." 

See Wikipedia for images of major locations before and after the lights are turned off.   

Continue reading "Earth Hour - Global Awareness of Global Warming" »

Posted by Green Dude at 06:05 AM | Permalink

Everyone, I hope, knows that plastic bottles labeled #1 or #2 can be recycled.  Some even know that these plastic bottles can be recycled ... into fibers that make clothes!

Today it's holding your drink - tomorrow it's holding in your body heat!  

"EcoSpun is a high-quality polyester fiber ... developed by the U.S. company Wellman Inc.  Many different fabrics are made using EcoSpun, including fleece fabrics ...One would never guess the source of the fiber - recycled plastic pop bottles!"

" ... can also be blended with other fibers, such as wool, cotton and tencel,... EcoSpun is used mostly for vests, jackets, pants, blanket throws and accessories...."

The outdoor gear maker Patagonia is one company that uses recycled plastic bottles to make their clothes.

Via:  eartheasy.com   Link

Continue reading "Recycling Plastic Bottles into Clothing Fibers" »

Posted by Green Dude at 06:45 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Seeking to show that they can be both innovative and integrate traditional practices ... Abu Dhabi is planning aGREEN city in the desert.

" ... six square kilometres plans to achieve zero carbon dioxide emissions and zero waste ..."

" ... completion by late 2009, ... part of a series of projects adopted by the emirate recently to curb the greenhouse gas effect on the climate."

Abu Dhabi also plans a 100-megawatt solar power plant. ... expandable to 500 mega-watts, with a target to generate enough power for 500,000 households ..."

Via:  Gulf News   Link

Posted by Green Dude at 08:56 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

New York City is hosting the Greener Gadget Conference on Feb 1, 2008.  The one day event details:
 

10am - 6pm
McGraw-Hill Conference Center
1221 Avenue of the Americas
New York City, NY

"... industry leaders, entrepreneurs, [and others] ... will gather to discuss the business case for the greening of the consumer electronics industry. ... featuring ...  consumer electronics companies ..., innovators from academic thinktanks, members of startups ... and some of the leading minds in the word of sustainable design and business. Topics to be addressed include: design for sustainability, product life cycle management, take-back and recycling programs, energy efficiency, greener materials, and green lifestyle and product marketing. An attached gallery space will feature a green prototype office display and technology exhibits from companies on the cutting edge of green tech."

" ... will showcase revolutionary design and tech innovations that will shape the future of the consumer electronics and change your world... for the better."

• "Environmental initiatives from leading consumer electronics companies, such as take-back and recycling programs"
• "New environmentally sensitive materials, product lifecycle and design for sustainability"
• "Innovations in renewable energy technologies, such as fuel cells, kinetic energy, wind and solar power"

Via:  GreenerGadgets.com  Link

Continue reading "Greener Gadgets Conference in N.Y.C. Feb 1, 2008" »

Posted by Green Dude at 07:14 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Jan 7, 2008 - Hong Kong - "Hong Kong's two electric power companies agreed ... to ...rate of return on assets based partly on how much pollution they emit, an approach that could someday be a model for mainland China's ..."

"If either company exceeds regulatory limits for any pollutant, then it would be required to charge less for its electricity, reducing its allowed rate of return  ...[if] manage to cut their pollution by even more than required, then they raise prices so as to earn bonuses ...on their rate of return. A complicated calculation also allows them to charge slightly more for electricity as they make progress in using more renewable energy."

Via:  International Hearald Tribune Link 

Posted by Green Dude at 06:36 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Rohm and Haas (NYSE: ROH), a Philadelphia, Pa based global chemical company, is updating the roof on their corporate HQ building.  The roof is approx 40,000 sq. feet and and is being coated with a polymer to reduce the heat impact of the roof. 

Via:  Rohm and Haas.com   Link

Continue reading "Chemical Company Adds Environmentally Advanced Green Roof" »

Posted by Green Dude at 08:06 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Being green can run the continuum from easy (use CFL bulbs) to hard (change your lifestyle) and low cost (turn off unused lights) to expensive (install a solar electrical system).

 Why be green?  Did you know that the  " ... average American household generates 15,000 pounds of Carbon Dioxide each year ..."

"... replace regular light bulbs with compact fluorescent bulbs. Carbon Dioxide Savings is 150 pounds per bulb annually. Cost: $2.50 per bulb."

" ... Move the temperature down 2 degrees in the winter and up 2 degrees in the summer. Saves 2,000 pounds of Carbon Dioxide each year. Cost : None (Cost Savings)"

Continue reading "Easy Steps to a Green Home" »

Posted by Green Dude at 05:47 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

 
Oct 13, 2007:  Al Gore Wins Nobel Peace Prize.

"OSLO, Norway (AP) - ... Al Gore and the U.N.'s climate change panel won the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize on Friday for spreading awareness of man-made climate change and laying the foundations for counteracting it."

"We face a true planetary emergency," Gore said. "The climate crisis is not a political issue, it is a moral and spiritual challenge to all of humanity."

"... an advocate of stemming climate change and global warning well before his eight years as vice president, called the award meaningful because of his co-winner, calling the U.N.'s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change the "world's pre-eminent scientific body devoted to improving our understanding of the climate crisis."

"... plans to donate his half of the $1.5 million prize money to the Alliance for Climate Protection, a bipartisan nonprofit organization that is devoted to changing public opinion worldwide about the urgency of solving the climate crisis."

Via:  Katu.com  Link

Posted by Green Dude at 06:18 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

"By agreement with the Vatican, Planktos/KlimaFa ...  the Vatican plans to become the world's first entirely carbon neutral sovereign state, and it has accepted KlimaFa ecorestoration offsets to achieve this historic goal. ... ceremony on July 5th the Vatican ... accepted KlimaFa's offer to create a new Vatican Climate Forest in Europe that will initially offset all of the Vatican City State's CO2 emissions for this year."

"The new Vatican Climate Forest will be created in Hungary's Bükk National Park ... dimensions will be determined by the Vatican’s 2007 energy usage and the success of its current emission reduction efforts. KlimaFa has received EU JI Track 1 approval to plant thousands of hectares of new native species, mixed growth forests under the permanent protection of European national park systems. Its initial projects are being conducted in collaboration with Hungary's government, Academy of Sciences and National Parks Directorate."

Via:  KlimFa.com   Link 

Posted by Green Dude at 05:36 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

... "The Low Swirl Injector significantly reduces greenhouse gas emissions and pollution from gas turbines that produce electricity or from any stationary heating system. It was developed by Robert Cheng and David Littlejohn of Berkeley Lab’s Environmental Energy Technologies Division, along with scientists from San Diego-based Solar Turbines. " ...

Via Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory: Berkeley Lab Wins Three Prestigious 2007 R&D 100 Awards for Technology Advances

Posted by Green Tech at 10:31 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Posted by Green Tech at 08:47 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Here is an interesting factoid ... 

Did you know that "If each commuting car carried just one more person, we'd save more than 18 million gallons of gasoline and keep more than 360 million pounds of carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere every day".
 

Via:  Starbucks "ad" in the Sunday Thursday 10, 2007 edition of the New York Times ...
 

Learn more at www.planetgreengame.com   Link

Posted by Green Dude at 05:24 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Starbucks and Global Green USA collaborate to promote awareness and education of the choices needed to stem global warming.  Playing the green game requires the user to look for ways to reduce CO2 emissions and lower the impact on global warming.  ...

Enter the Green Game.

Posted by Green Tech at 11:58 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

... "It is unwise for politicians to arm wrestle over rising aircraft emissions when just the next five years of carbon from burning rainforests (20% of global GHG emissions) will be greater than all the emissions from air travel since the Wright brothers to at least 2025. Forests must come first in efforts to mitigate global carbon emissions because carbon capture or nuclear technology will make no major impact on reducing emissions before 2030, whilst we can tackle deforestation now, without the need for inventing new and expensive infrastructure. " ...

Via Global Canopy Programme: VivoCarbon Initiative

Posted by Green Tech at 09:06 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

The folks who make simple shoes are concerned about the environment and global warming. 

They reduce their environmental footprint by the way they manufacture their shoes: "... we're changing the way we make shoes by using sustainable materials like recycled car tires, crepe rubber, and organic cotton."

They will also "donating 5 bucks to StopGlobalWarming.org for each pair of Toepeeka flip-flops  we sell to our retailers.  Learn how you can help to: go to stopglobalwarming.com"

Via:  simpleshoes.com\stopglobalwarming   Link

Posted by Green Dude at 07:13 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

FACT:  "An average car in the United States driven 10,000 miles in one year releases 5.5 tones of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere"  

Global warming.  It seems like only the government and large corporations can do something about it.
NOT TRUE !!

Here are a few simple, easy things you can do - right now - to help stop global warming:

"Unplug un-used electronics: Even when electronic devices are turned off, they use energy. Save over 1,000 lbs of carbon dioxide and $256 per year."


"Adjust your thermostat: Move your heater thermostat down two degrees in winter and up two degrees in the summer. Save 2000 lbs of carbon dioxide and $98 per year."

"Insulate your home:   Make sure your walls and ceilings are insulated. Save 2,000 lbs. of carbon dioxide and $245 per year."   

Via:  stopglobalwarming.org   Link 

Posted by Green Dude at 07:06 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Thirty-one states (70% of U.S. population) become members of The Climate Registry to support national effort to positively impact climate change.  Participants include: Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Hawaii, Illinois, Kansas, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, Wyoming and the Campo Kumeyaay Nation and two Canadian provinces: British Columbia and Manitoba.  ...

 ...   "The newly formed climate registry is a tool to measure, track, verify and publicly report GHG emissions accurately, transparently and consistently across borders and industry sectors. This is a critical first step in developing robust programs to reduce GHG emissions. The Registry will support voluntary, market-based and regulatory GHG emissions reporting programs. "   ...

Via Climate Registry: STATES JOIN THE CLIMATE REGISTRY TO TRACK GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS (PDF) ...

Posted by Green Tech at 08:41 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

... "We have rated each model against the average for its segment, so a CO2 output of 140g/km would be very good for a large family car like a Vectra, but very poor for a city car like a Ford Ka. " ...

Via Clean Green Cars: Choosing a green car

Posted by Green Tech at 07:29 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

The Home Depot has always carried products that were "earth friendly" such as Compact Fluorescent Bulbs (CFB). 

They have now introduced "Eco Options" branding to highlight those products that offer one or more benefits related to the environment.  

According to Home Depot, the Eco Options Brand " makes it easy for you to identify products that make a difference, one choice at a time."

Sustainable Forestry:  products "produced from responsibly managed forests"

Energy Efficient:  products "that use less energy, reducing the amount of electricity needed"

Healthy Home:  products "that improve the quality of the environment in & around your home"

Clean Air:  products "that improve air quality through reduced emissions"

Water Conservation:  products "that clean or use water more efficiently"

The bottom of the Eco Options Home Page has lots of useful information and facts ...
>>>Check it out and learn more!

Via:  The Home Depot   Link 

Posted by Green Dude at 05:16 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Branson collaborates with coalition to launch Canadian awareness program, called Flick-Off, to educate the public about the devastating effects of global warming and to motivate people into action. ...

... "Virgin Mobile, MuchMusic, Roots, Environmental Defence and the Province of Ontario have joined forces to create a dynamic coalition to communicate a simple message: it's no longer enough to worry about global warming, it's time to take action and encourage everyone to join in. " ...

Via FlickOff: Sir Richard Branson & Ontario Environment Minister Laurel Broten Headline Coalition to Fight Global Warming

Posted by Green Tech at 04:49 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Neat pic of CO2 emissions from auto, used to support WWF marketing campaign.  ...

Posted by Green Tech at 08:58 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Premieres April 17th, 2007 @ 9 pm EST. 

Presenting  "the GREEN: big ideas for a SMALL PLANET (TM)".

Robert Redford, has announced the launch of Sundance Channel Green. ... will "present original series and documentary premieres about the earth’s ecology and concepts of 'green' living that balance human needs with responsible environmental stewardship."

"Programming ... will include:"

"1. Original Series: Change Agents: a high energy, story and character-driven documentary series about the people and projects that are on the front lines of environmental sustainability and innovation."

"2. Interstitial Series: Sundance Channel will launch several interstitial series that will highlight a range of environmental issues and offer viewers innovative suggestions to effect change in their own lives."

"3. Documentaries: The block will feature compelling feature length documentary premieres and news specials on environmental subjects."

Tune in to Episode 1:  A Crude Awakening.

The Sundance Channel   Link
 

Via:  Treehugger.com   Link 

Posted by Green Dude at 05:31 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Google is well known for its innovation in Search Engines and web tools. It is also well known for the many employee perks ... 

What most people do not know is that they are helping to reduce road congestion and traffic by providing bus service to many of the employees in southern California.

In fact - Google operates a LARGE bus fleets.  Some details:

" ... ferries about 1,200 employees to and from Google daily — nearly one-fourth of its local work force — aboard 32 shuttle buses ... Bicycles are allowed on exterior racks, and dogs on forward seats, or on their owners’ laps if the buses run full."

"The shuttles, which carry up to 37 passengers each ... 132 trips every day to some 40 pickup and drop-off locations in more than a dozen cities, crisscrossing six counties in the San Francisco Bay Area and logging some 4,400 miles. They pick up workers as far away as Concord, 54 miles northeast of the Googleplex ... system’s routes cover in excess of 230 miles of freeways, more than twice the extent of the region’s BART commuter train system, which has 104 miles of tracks."

Via:  Google.Com     Link     and    The New York Times March 10, 2007     Link

Posted by Green Dude at 07:32 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

... "GM’s CO2 reductions can be largely attributed to numerous efforts by the company to increase energy efficiency, reduce waste, increase the use of renewable resources such as landfill gas and solar power, and optimize efficiencies across all aspects of the manufacturing process. For example, GM is the largest corporate user of landfill gas in the U.S. This effort results in significant reductions of CO2 emissions. Another example is the gold certification that GM's Lansing Delta Township Assembly Plant recently earned from the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design program for superior energy and environmental design and construction. Among other things, the facility is expected to save over 30 million kwh of electricity over the first ten years of operations. It is initiatives like these that have helped GM to make real strides in reducing CO2 emissions. " ...

Posted by Green Tech at 07:26 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Geo-Processors USA has developed a Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) technology, that it piloted in Australia.  The technology supports the efficient capture of CO2 from point-sources and converts it to mineral byproducts for industrial use or recycling.  Industries, such as oil and gas, mining, coal-fired utilities produce large volumes of bicarbonate-rich water, which increases their operational costs.  Geo-Processors Pty Limited is a private greentech company headquartered in Sydney, Australia.  ...

...   "A typical CCPR system commences first with treatment of the alkaline produced water in Geo-Processors’ proprietary SAL-PROC technology using cheap lime - or dolime - to generate a caustic spent water and a useful byproduct. The caustic spent water is brought into contact with CO2 of ambient air (or from a point-source) and then reacted  again with lime to regenerate calcium carbonate and an alkaline water which is suitable for the next round of CO2 capture.  This system is a closed-loop system because beyond the first reaction step a steady-state chemical situation is set up, thus enabling the repetition of the CO2 Capture-calcium carbonate precipitate cycle. Depending on the scale and number of cycles applied in each case, the spent water from  the last reaction step can be either treated in the SAL-PROC process to recover other valuable byproducts or converted to dry salt for landfill disposal.  The byproducts recovery steps may include production and recycling of calcium oxide. The co-generated high-grade CO2 gas from the calcining step may be partly used in the process for production of a high-value mineral product and the unused portion sold for other industrial applications or sequestrated. "   ...

Via GeoProcessors: Geo-Processors Breakthrough in Carbon Capture and Storage Technology ...

Posted by Green Tech at 08:08 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

 
How can you be green and travel - especially by plane?  Air travel is one of the largest contributors to global warming by virtue of all the greenhouse gases emitted.

You want to travel ... you want to be green ... you can only install so many Compact Fluorescent bulbs ...
>>>> What Can You Do?

"Commercial aviation worldwide ranks among the biggest single emitters of greenhouse gases linked to global warming ... So, a few entrepreneurs and environmental groups have devised a simple way to compensate for this damage: Plant a tree."

"Trees serve as what scientists call a "carbon sink," each absorbing more than a ton of carbon dioxide from the air over the course of roughly a century. At least two companies, the Welsh-based Treeflights and the U.S.-based travel booking site Travelocity, now offer a way for travelers to plant trees for every trip they take." 

"For about $18.70, ... will plant the tree of your choice ... estimates that the typical tree absorbs 1.25 tons of carbon dioxide over the course of its lifetime, which is equivalent to the amount emitted by a commercial airline during a round-trip flight between New York and London."

>>> See www.treeflights.com for details   Link 

Via:  Philly.com   Link

Posted by Green Dude at 10:16 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

... "SOS is designed to trigger a global movement to combat our climate crisis. It will reach people in every corner of the planet through television, film, radio, the Internet and Live Earth, a 24-hour concert on 7/7/07 across all 7 continents that will bring together more than 100 of the world's top musical acts. Live Earth alone will engage an audience of more than 2 billion people through concert attendance and broadcasts. MSN has partnered with SOS to use its reach to make the Live Earth concerts available across the globe. The Live Earth audience, and the proceeds from the concerts, will create the foundation for a new, multi-year global effort to combat the climate crisis led by The Alliance for Climate Protection and its Chair, Vice President Al Gore. SOS was founded by Kevin Wall, who won an Emmy as Worldwide Executive Producer of Live 8. " ...

Posted by Green Tech at 08:03 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Did you Know .... Tree FAQs:

"Over the course of 50 years, a single tree can generate $31,250 of oxygen, provide $62,000 worth of air pollution control, recycle $37,500 worth of water, and control $31,500 worth of soil erosion. "

“The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time is now.”Anonymous

"One tree can absorb more than a ton of carbon over its lifetime."
Via:  U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

Trees reduce storm water runoff and erosion, and they remove harmful chemicals from the soil to prevent them from running into streams and rivers.
Via:  USDA Forest Service

For details on trees for your local clime .... Link 

Via:  National Arbor Day Foundation    Link

Posted by Green Dude at 11:24 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

How does one go about living a Low Carbon life?  What are some of the easy ways to become "green" and lower your impact on the environment?

 There are lots of little things that add up ... each comes with varying costs or inconveniences.  Here are some ideas

Travel:
Walk or use a bicycle ... Take public transportation ... Drive at 55 MPH or less ... Buy a fuel efficient car or Hybrid ... Keep the tires properly inflated and aligned ...  Keep your the car properly tuned ... Empty the trunk / car of unneeded items ... Join a car share program

Home: 

"8% of electricity consumed at home is from items we aren't using - so don't leave the TV and other things on "standby"." ... Use setback thermostats ... Set temperatures at 72 deg in the summer and 62 in the winter ... Wear a sweater when cold ... Use fans rather than Air Conditioning ... switch to compact florescent bulbs ... Insulate your water heater ... Put outdoor lights on a timer or motion sensor ... Insulate the walls and ceilings to the proper level based on climate

Food:

Purchase locally grown / raised foods ... Use a string web (reusable forever) shopping bag ... Recycle plastic shopping bags ... Buy in bulk where possible / avoid single use sizes if possible ... Grow your own vegetables - tomatoes, pepper and peas are easy! 

Posted by Green Dude at 01:03 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

So you already know your Carbon Footprint (see prior posts on this blog).

Now you want to take action ... What can YOU do to reduce your Carbon Footprint?

 
Here are 3 Easy, Simple Tips from ClimateCrisis.Net   There are MANY MORE on the website.

"Replace a regular incandescent light bulb with a compact fluorescent light bulb (cfl)
CFLs use 60% less energy than a regular bulb. This simple switch will save about 300 pounds of carbon dioxide a year. If every family in the U.S. made the switch, we’d reduce carbon dioxide by more than 90 billion pounds!"

"Move your thermostat down 2° in winter and up 2° in summer
Almost half of the energy we use in our homes goes to heating and cooling. You could save about 2,000 pounds of carbon dioxide a year with this simple adjustment."

"Clean or replace filters on your furnace and air conditioner
Cleaning a dirty air filter can save 350 pounds of carbon dioxide a year."

Via:  ClimateCrisis.Net    Link 

Posted by Green Dude at 11:33 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Do you Know Your Carbon Impact?

Are you Carbon Neutral?  How do you compare to the National Average?

Calculate your Carbon Impact.  "We all contribute to global warming every day. The carbon dioxide you produce by driving your car and leaving the lights on adds up quickly. You may be surprised by how much Co2 you are emitting each year. Calculate your personal impact and learn how you can take action to reduce or even eliminate your emissions of carbon dioxide."

I took the quiz and compared to the national average was a bit high ...

• My Total Impact was 9.85 tons / year
• The National Average is 7.5 year

What can one do to lower their Carbon Impact?  

"After reducing your emissions you can do even more by going "carbon neutral." By supporting clean renewable energy, you can effectively neutralize your personal CO2 emissions. Your small investment will ensure that for every ton of carbon dioxide you are emitting, a ton of carbon dioxide will not be released into the atmosphere. Go NEUTRAL!"

To take the interactive Quiz  Click Here

Via:  ClimateCrisis.Net    Link 

Posted by Green Dude at 11:09 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

... "Erin McKean, editor in chief of the New Oxford American Dictionary 2e, said: The increasing use of the word carbon neutral reflects not just the greening of our culture, but the greening of our language. " ...

Posted by Green Tech at 10:14 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

... "The Act and subsequent Notice of Intent to regulate demonstrate a clear commitment to the establishment of short-, medium- and long-term industrial air pollution targets. These fixed targets would compel polluters to respect emissions limits and will be at least as stringent as those in other leading environmental countries. Over the next three years, new regulations, targets and timelines will be discussed and set. " ...

Via Environment Canada: Canada’s Clean Air Act delivered to Canadians ...

Posted by Green Tech at 09:28 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

... "greendimes, a startup aiming to help consumers and businesses improve the environment, launched its first service today. A blend of social good and capitalism, greendimes will stop postal junk mail for as little as a dime a day and plant a tree every month on each member’s behalf. " ...

Posted by Green Tech at 07:56 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

... "Inventor Isaac Berzin, 37, founder of GreenFuel Technologies Corporation, has designed a new device that converts power plant exhaust into renewable energy using sunlight and the green slime we call algae. The Museum of Science exhibit featuring Berzin's invention is on display in the main lobby. " ...

Via Boston Museum of Science: Museum Showcases Innovative Energy Technology

GreenFuel Technologies Corporation is the leading developer of systems for recycling rich CO2 streams from power and/or manufacturing plant flue gases to produce biofuels such as biodiesel, ethanol or methane. The company, which was founded in 2001, is headquartered in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

Posted by Green Tech at 09:55 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

The California Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006, AB32, has been signed by Governor Schwarzenegger.  The bill requires the California Air Resources Board to create statewide greenhouse gas emissions cap for the year 2020, that will reduce the emissions to 1990 levels, adopt mandatory reporting rules for significant sources of greenhouse gases, and create a plan for regulations, market influencers, and other compliance tools to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.  ...

...   "Gov. Schwarzenegger signed AB 32 by Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez (D-Los Angeles), California's landmark bill that establishes a first-in-the-world comprehensive program of regulatory and market mechanisms to achieve real, quantifiable, cost-effective reductions of greenhouse gases.

AB 32 requires the California Air Resources Board (CARB) to develop regulations and market mechanisms that will ultimately reduce California's greenhouse gas emissions by 25 percent by 2020. Mandatory caps will begin in 2012 for significant sources and ratchet down to meet the 2020 goals.  In the interim, CARB will begin to measure the greenhouse gas emissions of the industries it determines as significant sources of greenhouse gas emissions. The bill also provides the Governor the ability to invoke a safety valve and suspend the emissions caps for up to one year in the case of an emergency or significant economic harm. "   ...

Via State of California: Gov. Schwarzenegger Signs Landmark Legislation to Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions ...

Posted by Green Tech at 08:39 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

The National Footbal League is planting trees in Miami area as part of its Carbon Neutral initiative for the Super Bowl event.  ...

... "TREEmendous Miami is joining The National Football League and DERM for a very special project and is seeking volunteers. The National Football League's Environmental Program his developed a series of initiatives to keep the Super Bowl cleaner and greener and to lessen the impact on the local and global environment. Through the Carbon Neutral initiative program, hundreds of seedling trees will be planted in Miami-Dade and other areas to offset the greenhouse gas emissions produced by the February 2007 Super Bowl events. Come help plant pine seedlings to restore pineland preserves! " ...

Via TREEmendous Miami: Tree-Planting Events ...

Super Bowl XL Environmental Program: "The Carbon Neutral initiative seeks to plant hundreds of seedling trees to offset the greenhouse gas emissions produced by Super Bowl events. "

Posted by Green Tech at 11:40 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

BP uses its market influence, through targetneutral, to support projects that reduce CO2 emissions to offset the emissions created by automobile exhaust.  A portfolio of emissions reduction and alternative energy projects will be funded and independently monitored.  ...

...   "targetneutral allows a driver to calculate the cost of the annual CO2 reduction required to make their vehicle CO2 neutral. An average car, driven 10,000 miles in a year, generates approximately four tonnes of CO2. To neutralise this amount of carbon emissions via www.targetneutral.com will cost around GBP20 a year.  Four tonnes is the equivalent of filling a medium sized hot air balloon with pure CO2. A huge amount of CO2 could be neutralised if all 40 million drivers in the UK signed up to targetneutral.  BP has initiated targetneutral, providing all set-up funding and will meet all ongoing running costs.

The money generated by targetneutral goes to a portfolio of CO2 reduction projects including alternative and renewable energy.  Replacing traditional energy production methods with low CO2 emitting alternatives, is one way CO2 reductions are achieved.  Initially there are five projects including a biomass energy plant in Himachal Pradesh; a wind farm in Karnataka, India and an animal waste management and methane capture program in Mexico.  As targetneutral grows, more projects will be added.  Strict procedures are followed to ensure the projects' integrity. These are modelled on those created by the UNFCCC (United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change) for emissions reduction projects developed under the Kyoto Protocol. All project activity is overseen by the targetneutral Advisory and Assurance Panel. "   ...

CO2 Emissions Neutral: Via BP: BP Launches targetneutral ...

Posted by Green Tech at 08:30 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

The ability to cut global warming emissions is within our grasp.  We can seize it with a few simple steps to challenge ourselves.  US Public Interest Research Group publishes report and recommends six simple steps to managing global warming in the US.  These steps include stabilizing vehicle travel, increasing vehicle fuel economy standards to 40 miles per gallon, setting fuel economy standards for large trucks, and replacing 10% of vehicle fuel with biofuels or other clean alternatives.  ...

...   "The report finds that the U.S. can reduce its global warming emissions by nearly 20 percent within the next 15 years by boosting energy efficiency and renewable energy.  The report details six challenging but feasible steps to improve the energy efficiency of our economy and use more renewable energy. These strategies, coupled with strong, mandatory limits on global warming emissions, would reduce U.S. global warming emissions by 19% below 2004 levels by 2020. At the same time, the steps would improve American’s long-term economic and energy security. "  ...

Cut Global Warming Emissions: Within Our Grasp: Via US PIRG: Rising to the Challenge: Six Steps to Cut Global Warming Pollution in the United States (PDF) ...

Posted by Green Tech at 08:56 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)