Green Technology

Wisconsin recently enacted a law prohibiting disposal of certain electronics in landfills.  e-Waste is one of the fastest growing sources of landfill trash and improper disposal can leach toxic chemicals into the air and water.  

Effective September 1, 2010 " ... establishes a statewide program, now called E-Cycle Wisconsin, to collect and recycle certain electronics. ... assigns primary responsibility for collection and recycling to the manufacturer. ..."

Via:  Wisconsin DNR  LINK

Posted by Green Dude at 05:27 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

The reasons to recycle are many and should be helpful to any business ... lower  cost with less trash to dispose and pay for and "bragging rights" to promote are just two ... Yet two very large "inductries" have not jumped on the recycling bandwagon ...

" ... a The New York Times article, Leaving the Trash Behind, explored the aviation industry’s massive contribution to global waste ... millions of plastic bottles discarded at security checkpoints, but separate recycling containers in terminals or on board planes are not common. ...no industry standard for recycling ..."

"Recycling procedures vary by airline and airport. Environmental programs involve many entities ... each of the nation’s 552 commercial "airports has its own way of handling waste."

" ... Continental Airlines has been recycling oil, antifreeze and other aircraft maintenance products for two or three years. Recently it began onboard collection of bottles, aluminum cans and cardboard boxes. ..."

" ... Green America, an environmental group, started a campaign to get air travelers to report back on their website what airlines were recycling ... to hold the industry accountable in enforcing their polities and to push them to do better."

" ... medical centers are the second-largest waste producers in the United States, after the food industry. ... In operating rooms, some items that are never even used are thrown away simply because they are taken out of their packaging and could have been contaminated."

Via: SmartPlanet LINK

Posted by Green Dude at 07:58 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

... "The new law will create pricing incentives for renewable energy developers, while simultaneously loosening regulations. " ...

Posted by Green Tech at 08:09 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

" ... Environmental Protection Agency has sent the White House a proposed finding that carbon dioxide is a danger to public health, a step that could trigger a clampdown on emissions of greenhouse gases across a wide swath of the economy. ... "

" ... would raise pressure on Congress to enact a system that caps greenhouse gases ... and creates a market for businesses to buy and sell the right to emit them,..."

"... the EPA believes the health effects of elevated greenhouse-gas levels could cause "severe heat waves...with likely increases in mortality and morbidity, especially among the elderly, young and frail." The agency also said climate change caused by higher greenhouse-gas levels could result in more severe storms and more suffering related to "floods, storms, droughts and fires.""

Via:  Wall Street Journal  LINK

Posted by Green Dude at 05:56 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

... "The new reporting requirements would apply to suppliers of fossil fuel and industrial chemicals, manufacturers of motor vehicles and engines, as well as large direct emitters of greenhouse gases with emissions equal to or greater than a threshold of 25,000 metric tons per year. This threshold is roughly equivalent to the annual greenhouse gas emissions from just over 4,500 passenger vehicles. The vast majority of small businesses would not be required to report their emissions because their emissions fall well below the threshold. The direct emission sources covered under the reporting requirement would include energy intensive sectors such as cement production, iron and steel production, and electricity generation, among others. The first annual report would be submitted to EPA in 2011 for the calendar year 2010, except for vehicle and engine manufacturers, which would begin reporting for model year 2011. " ...

Continue reading "CO2 Reporting Proposal" »

Posted by Green Tech at 07:30 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

The Energy Biz Leadership Forum is March 8 - 10 in Washington DC.  www.energybizforum.com

" ... we stand on the precipice of a historic moment, with the ability to choose the "moon shot" of energy independence or to continue in a cycle of our own demise. ... To help you understand and survive these frightening times, EnergyBiz Magazine has teamed together with USA Today to produce the EnergyBiz Leadership Forum."

" ... single most influential conference of 2009 focused specifically on the confluence of the energy and economic crises and its impact on your business. ... the first-of-its-kind gathering of the broad spectrum of professionals — industry executives, policy makers, regulators, consumers, and members of the financial community, along with thought leaders from outside the industry — that will help you understand where the industry is going today and tomorrow."

Via: Energy Biz Leadership Forum LINK

Posted by Green Dude at 11:19 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

For years thermostats have been made with a small vial of mercury (center top in picture) that was used to make electrical contact based on temperature.

Newer digital thermostats does not contain mercury so as consumers replace the old with the new -- there is the possibility of contamination from disposal of the old style thermostats.  Mercury can contaminate the air and the water and is a neurotoxin ... it is nasty stuff!

" ... Pennsylvania's new Mercury-Free Thermostat Law ... will allow people to safely dispose of out-of-service thermostats containing mercury."

" ... Law, effective December 8, 2009, bans the sale, installation and disposal of mercury thermostats. ... requires that thermostat manufacturers establish and maintain a collection and recycling program for out-of-service mercury thermostats; ... Wholesalers who sell thermostats must participate as a collection site for mercury thermostats."

Via:  nbcbayarea.com  LINK

Continue reading "Pennsylvania's "Mercury Free Thermostat Law"" »

Posted by Green Dude at 06:24 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

In addition to Federal tax credits, grants, loans, etc ... many states and or local utilities offer programs to help homeowners get into solar, wind or geothermal energy.

" ... Database of State Incentives for Renewables & Efficiency is an ongoing project of the North Carolina Solar Center and the Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC) funded by the U.S. Department of Energy."

" IREC's mission is to accelerate the use of renewable energy sources and technologies in and through state and local government and community activities...."

>>> Federal Programs LINK

>>> State Programs  LINK

Via:  DESIRE  LINK

Posted by Green Dude at 06:13 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

According to the Sustainable Forestry Initiative - recycling is only part of the solution ... where the wood ultimately comes from is also important.

"  SFI Inc. is an independent, non-profit organization responsible for maintaining, overseeing and improving a sustainable forestry certification program that is internationally recognized ..."

" ... SFI 2005-2009 Standard is based on principles and measures that promote sustainable forest management and consider all forest values. ... SFI certification also extends to the market. When they see the SFI label on a product, consumers can be confident they are buying wood or paper from well-managed, legal sources – whether it is reams of paper, packaging or two-by-fours."

Via:  Sustainable Forestry Initiative  LINK

Posted by Green Dude at 02:14 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

We hear a lot in the news about Carbon Footprint.  This is the impact, expressed as an amount of carbon, that an item  produces during its manufacture and distribution.  Do you know what the carbon impact of typical consumer items really are and the major components?

Read on to find out ...

" ... pop quiz, based on a recent Wall Street Journal article ... of various household goods. ... guess their single biggest contribution to global warming. Consider all aspects of the product: raw materials, manufacturing, transportation, and end use...."

Here are two of the six:

" ... Milk. ...once again, cows. ... cows are responsible for about 28% of milk's carbon footprint. If you add in their feed, that figure goes up to 51%, ..."

" ... Calculating carbon emissions is complicated business, ...environmental impacts are spread widely throughout our integrated economy, often hiding in unexpected places...."
Otherwise, a few points do jump out from the analysis.

The first is that transportation costs just aren't the biggest impact for most products. Patagonia could manufacture their jackets in the basement of their stores, and they would barely make a dent in their footprint. In aggregate, of course, transportation makes up a huge percentage of the world's carbon budget, so its importance can't be discounted. But buying local still doesn't seem like the best lever for consumers looking to green their lifestyles.

The second is that products that consume energy in their end use tend to be wildly more environmentally harmful after they get into consumers hands than during manufacturing. In other words, if you want to reduce your carbon footprint, consider driving less.

The third is that cows remain a really big problem without an obvious solution. Methane digester projects like the ones that TerraPass funds help to decrease the impacts of agriculture, but as individuals the best lever we have is to reduce our consumption.

Via:  Terrapass  Link

Posted by Green Dude at 05:36 AM | 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)

One way to save energy, including fuel for commuting, is to work a compressed work week.  Some companies allow a compressed workweek in the summer, but that is mostly to take advantage of the summer ...

Utah may be the FIRST state to make this a reality for government workers ... 

On June 26th, "... Utah Governor announced the 'Working 4 Utah' initiative, ... State administrative offices will be closed on Fridays but essential public services will remain open that already run on extended hours and during the weekends."

"... this initiative, ... will conserve energy, save money, improve our air quality, and enhance customer service." ..."

" ... will be critically evaluated following a one year period to allow for any necessary adjustments in the future. ..."

Via:  State of Utah  Link

Continue reading "Utah's 4 Day Work Week to Save Energy" »

Posted by Green Dude at 04:57 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

 
Hybrids.

They get better mileage.  They are good for the environment.

Now they can even save you some money on Tolls!

Some toll authorities are extending discounts to cars that get a certain MPG and meet a certain emissions threshold.  Currently only 3 or so cars qualify. 

NY State grants a special GREEN EZ-Pass plan and EZ-Pass to vehicles that meet their criteria of ..." at least 45 miles to the gallon and meet specific emissions standards ..."  The discount is 10% on NY Thruway Roads.

NOTE:  Not all E-ZPass Agencies are offering Toll Discounts to Hybrids ... But I would not be surprised if other follow NY's Lead.

Continue reading "E-ZPass Discounts for Hybrid Cars" »

Posted by Green Dude at 05:23 AM | 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)

" Here are some more of the 50 Easy Ways to go Green".  For the complete list follow the link at the end of this BLOG post.

Via:  MSN.com  Link

Posted by Green Dude at 05:48 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

... "The new standards will be phased in over a four-year period and will reduce the carbon emissions of New York City's taxicab and for-hire vehicle fleet by 50% during the next decade, and will also save individual operators an average of $10,000 a year in fuel costs. Also today, internet giant Yahoo! donated 10 hybrid taxicabs to fleet operator Team Systems in recognition of New York's leadership in reducing greenhouse gas emissions. " ...

Via NYC: MAYOR BLOOMBERG ANNOUNCES TAXI FLEET TO BE FULLY HYBRID BY 2012

Posted by Green Tech at 08:54 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)