Wowee Maui
A smart Hawaiian resort will get smarter with its smart power grid. Another stimulus-backed project
October 13, 2009
Green Mansions
Well, green walls at least. Get vertical
Just Like 15,000,000 BC!
The last time atmospheric levels of CO2 were as high as today's readings, the Earth was a very different place. Start sweating
Think Globally, Regulate Regionally
Experts and manufacturers call for efficiency standards for big heating and cooling equipment to be set by region rather than nationwide. Look into it
Linking For Dollars
Three southwest electric transmission grids will be united to increase the efficiency of renewable power, but doubts remain about whether the linked grids will be profitable. Plug in
Are Climate Talks Deadlocked?
With just a few negotiating days until the Copenhagen climate meetings, progress on core issues seems scant. Get the latest
Powered By GTL
Qatar Airways launches its first commercial flight powered by a gas-to-liquid (GTL) mix. It uses less oil but doesn't emit less carbon than conventional jet fuel. Progess?
October 12, 2009
Calfornia: Cap & Trade & Fees
California imposes fees on carbon emissions in addition to its cap & trade program. They start at 15 cents a metric ton and goes down to 9 cents in 2014. Learn more
Greenpeace On the Roof
On-Line Green Law Data Base
Columbia University launches a database on energy and green building legislation in New York's cities. Start searching
Soros: Invest & Advocate
George Soros will invest $1 billion in clean energy tech ventures and give $100 million for climate advisory and watchdog work. No small thing
Just Say No
Governor Schwarzenegger vetoes two renewable energy bills, saying her prefers his own plan for California. WSJ
October 10, 2009
Stanford: Green & Affordable
A new apartment development in Stanford CT, is energy efficient, near to mass transit or walk-to-work, and has 50 affordable units. Take a look
October 09, 2009
Market Failure?
What, another essay on cap and trade v. carbon taxes? Yes
$$$$ For Multi-Unit Greening
Attention apartment dwellers! Freddie Mac, public sector pension funds and private investors have created a $1 billion fund for making NY's older buildings energy efficient. Read on
The Gentle Art of Compromise
Love it or loathe it, Waxman-Markey language about what to do with the value of free emissions allowances, made Congress' yes vote possible. Parse it
Goal: 15 Million Make-Overs
The EU wants 15 million buildings to be retrofitted for energy efficiency. Pretty in green
No & No
Negotiations over a new global climate treaty will exclude consideration of nuclear and large hydro-power as means to cut CO2 emissions. Stay tuned
Enter The Chamber
Headlines focus on the departure of brand-name companies from the Chamber of Commerce over its stance on climate legislation, but what goes on inside the organization? Knock, knock
October 08, 2009
And The Answer Is...
Alternate fuels? don't bother! Nuclear power? fuggedaboutit! Want to save the planet? opt for efficiency. Check it out
At Your Fingertips!
Google launches a program to get real-time home energy use data on computer or cell phone. Do-it-yourself
Goin' To Kansas City
Kansas City, MO is taking a place-based approach by using federal stimulus funds to revive and green a hard times neighborhood. Green impact zone
The Acid Test
Research points to the possibility that Arctic seawater will become so acidic in ten years, due to absorbing CO2 from the air, it will dissolve mussel shells. Gulp!
Norway: The 40% Solution
Norway says it will cut GHG emissions by 40% from 1990 levels and go carbon-neutral by 2030. Aim high
Don't Go Near the Water
A report for NYC's environmental protection agency on drilling for natural gas in its drinking watershed finds "Numerous activities during all phases of natural gas development have the potential to contaminate groundwater or surface water supplies." Dive in
MIA: Great Communicators
Scientists are failing to make climate change a public hot-button issue. Romm's alarmed
Landlord & Tenants Find Common Interests
The largest commercial property owner in NYC installs energy sensors on the electric meters of big tenants to shed light on how to cut their utility bills. Plug in
October 07, 2009
States Stepping Up
Researchers see state level, utility ratepayer-funded energy efficiency efforts taking the lead over the next decade, while federal goals lag behind. Look ahead
Ask Umbra...
About offsets. Go on! and then read the Stockholm Environment Institute report
IEA: Don't Let Economic Crisis Go To Waste
The slump in global GHG emissions, linked to the deep recession, will disappear with economic growth unless countries act now to permanently change their energy policies warns the IEA. Opportunity knocks & China answers
Malawi Catches The Wind
A Malawian teenager saw wind power as the way to get lights and electric water pumps for his village in 2002. Now his village has five working turbines. Enlightening
October 06, 2009
Green Taxis For NYC?
The Senate climate bill includes a provision that would pave the way for cities to require hybrid and electric cabs. Step on it!
Twilight Of the Oil Age
Deutsche Bank predicts the end of the Age of Oil, but not because supplies disappear. What's in store?
It's Not Easy Being Smart
Designing a smart electric power grid that saves energy and saves consumers money is a work in progress. California's on it
Can USCAP Change The Climate?
USCAP, a coalition of major corporations and environmental groups, urges the Senate to pass a climate protection bill. Dear Harry
CO2NUMBY
Not-Under-My-Backyard emerges in Germany as a means to oppose coal-burn power plants that plan to store CO2 underground. WSJ
October 05, 2009
Better Than Here?
Yale Environment 360
Yale Environment 360 tackles the question of what's Europe got that the US doesn't when it comes to living sustainably. Nancy Anderson weighs in with a comment. Join the discussion.
Nancy's Comment:
Ms. Rosenthal does a credible compare and contrast job. Surely, in daily life for many Western Europeans, it is easier to walk the low-carbon-walk than in the U.S. That said, most European Kyoto Protocol signatories are missing carbon reduction goals and suffering from rising vehicles-miles-traveled. Then there's Eastern Europe, but that's a discussion for another day.
This isn't to excuse the U.S.' inexcusable inaction on a national scale. Passing a federal climate law, warts and all, would be a very good thing as would contributing to the next international climate treaty. Will these things come to pass? Don't know.
Still, it's worth pointing out that the EPA is moving ahead on increasing auto fuel efficiency standards and controlling CO2 emissions as a pollutant. The DOE is spending $$ on clean tech R&D. Some brand name corporations are leaving the Chamber of Commerce because of its hostility to climate action. Cities are passing energy efficient building codes, offering green incentives and installing smart electric power grid controls.
There's a lot to be said for local action as the cradle for the infrastructure of life changes that Ms. Rosenthal identifies as necessary to becoming a greener society.
Munich Carbon Exchange
The Munich stock exchange launches the Greenmarket for trading carbon emissions permits. Learn more
Coming Soon: Smart Appliances
Soon, new home appliances will "talk" with the power grid and cut utility bills. Plug in
It's Always Something
The epic approval process for the Cape Wind turbine project hits a new snag, its impact on a trial sacred area. Climate Wire [Subscribers only]
A Cellulostic Skeptic
Here's a blogger who's got no faith in the potential of cellulostic ethanol to become a major fuel. Look into it
See The Senate Through English Eyes
The Financial Times editorializes on the Kerry-Boxer climate bill. Cross the pond
Cool Cities
What do Dublin and Buffalo have in common? Their cool climates make them energy-friendly places for computer server centers. Silver linings
More News From Rio
Even before the Olympics 2016 decision, a regional development conference in Rio di Janeiro heard papers on climate change and sustainable development. Get them here
October 02, 2009
Looking For Money
Getting from bright clean energy ideas to viable clean energy businesses means finding the right investors. What's that like?
California Rules
California issues rules for prospective solar power developers. Read on
Fuel Cells On The Move
Researchers in Taiwan develop a mobile fuel cell recharger for cell phones. Just $30. Call in
India's Not Impressed
By calling the carbon cuts presented in US climate legislation "measly", India gears up for negotiating at the Copenhagen talks. Look into it
Plug-In Cars & Smart Grids
If plug-in electric cars become wide-spread, the grid will face the challenge of getting smart enough to reliably serve this new power demand. Look ahead
Sometimes It's Just A Cigar
Scientists find that the southeast's recent drought was not caused by a changing climate. Find out more
October 01, 2009
Boxer-Kerry Aids Atomic Power
The Boxer-Kerry climate bill would offer more assistance to the nuclear power industry than the Waxman-Markey bill. Look into it
France Favors Plug Ins
France will invest $2.2 billion on a network where electric cars plug-in and recharge. Soon, new parking lots and apartment buildings will have to install recharging sockets. Look ahead
Utilities Seek House Path In Senate Bill
Major electric utilities want the Senate climate legislation to create free emissions permits, just like the Waxman-Markey billed passed by the House. Plug in
Looking For Engineers
2010 could be a banner year for the US engineering profession as the pace of clean energy development picks up steam. Work it
Smoke & Mirrors?
Britain's new science advisor calls the country's shrinking GHG figures an illusion based on the export of manufacturing. Look into it
Texas CO2 Down. Why?
A detailed study explains what drove down CO2 emissions in Texas . Charts! graphs! answers!
Rating Carbon Offsets
Get the lowdown on the good, the bad and the dubious. Just click
Do Drilling & Water Mix?
New York State releases a draft review of the environmental impacts of proposed drilling for natural gas. It allows for drilling in New York City' drinking water supply region. Drill down