February 28, 2014
The Pause That Won't Refresh
Scientists explain (again) why an apparent pause in rising global temperatures does not signal an end to global warming
California Disruptors
Elon Musk & Lyndon Rive are optimistic about the end of the electric utility era as we know it
Energy Efficiency Law, Maybe, Just Maybe
A bi-partisan Senate energy efficiency bill raises hopes as does a related "Tenant Star" House bill to recognize energy efficiency in rental spaces
Energy Scavenging
Euro Utilities Leave Money On The Table
A Greenpeace report describes how Europe's big utilities missed out on the renewable energy boom
Germany: Utility Takes A Bath
A giant German power utility had a net loss of 3 billion euros for 2013, as the sector struggles with the renewable energy boom and a weak eurozone economy
Legal Eagle Explains Con Ed Settlement For You
A recently resolved Con Edison rate case has major implications for making NY's chief power utility a climate-innovative & resilient operation
City Spends $$$ To Rent Polluting Boilers
NYC is spending $1 million a month in rent for each of 26 temporary oil-burning boilers at Housing Authority buildings that were flooded by Sandy
February 27, 2014
Houston Does QECB's
Houston TX, issues federally-supported, low-cost Qualified Energy Conservation Bonds for energy efficiency upgrades at 18 libraries & other muni facilities
Tomorrow's Power Grid
Solar + energy storage tech = "real, near, and present" threat to the way utilities do business as customers unplug from the grid
ARPA-E Money Magnet
22 leading edge energy projects that got $95 million in ARPA-E federal funding raised $625 million in private-sector investment
Gee, It's Hot Here
Extreme heat on the rise: http://t.co/DkRMDYySC5 pic.twitter.com/FkiRrHPsQc
— Science News (@ScienceNewsOrg) February 26, 2014February 26, 2014
Rezoning NYC
From up-zoning to down-zoning, what happened in the Bloomberg years and what was its impact on housing prices and community character?
South Africa: Carbon Tax Postposed
An $11/ metric ton carbon tax slated for this year, is delayed until 2016
One Price For Carbon
Economists make the case for setting a single binding minimum carbon price
Singapore: 300 Square Mile Lab
The city-state of Singapore makes itself a living lab for innovations to advance the cause of sustainable cities
Be Prepared
NY's power utilities will be preparing themselves to withstand climate change impacts as part of a recent rate case settlement
Solar Revival By The Bay
A revival in the solar power industry is lead by start-ups the California Bay Area
Australia: Gov't Halts Carbon Auction
Australia's Conservative government continues its war against pricing carbon by halting a carbon permit auction
Wanted: 25 Amazing Environmental Educators
The 2014 Community Climate Change Fellowship Program is a pilot initiative sponsored by EECapacity, with support from EPA, open to educators who want to address climate change issues in their communities
NEPA Napping
Federal projects subject to national environmental impact review still lack climate-impact & resilience standards
February 25, 2014
China: Air Pollution Slows Plant Growth
China's air is so dirty it interferes with plant photosynthesis & could spell future crop disasters
Honoring Bronx Ferry Bridges
Ferry bridges, historic transportation infrastructure in the Bronx Port Morris area, are added to the State & National Register of Historic Places
Musk Power
As Elon Musk steers Tesla into the energy storage business, electric utilities will face a new type of competition for customers
Meet The City Energy Project
The City Energy Project is a national initiative to grow healthier, more prosperous US cities by improving the energy efficiency of buildings & check out what member city Chicago's doing
Clean Energy: Anti-Poverty Agent
Committing to clean energy policies should be a US economic development tool able to address insufficient energy access for the global poor in an environmentally responsible way
RGGI Carbon Market Invests in Energy Efficiency
73% of RGGI investments went to energy efficiency programs in 2012 for the 9 participating states
Japan: Reversal On Nuclear Power
The Japanese government has rethought its rethinking about nuclear power and now favors long-term commitment to it
RISE: NYC
Join the $30 million competition to help NYC small businesses become more energy resilient
February 24, 2014
Philippines: Grid Woes
Filippino plans for new power supplies to come from renewable sources are not advancing, posing threats to economic growth
East New York Greens
A 64-unit affordable, LEED-certified multi-family building opens in East New York
C40: Sustainable Cities Unite
41 C40 cities have already called for the UN to create an urban sustainable development goal
Fusion Power: Science Fiction Fact
Scientists have cracked the code for generating power from nuclear fusion, but what then?
Colorado Fracking Rules
A broad stakeholder coalition supports new fracking regulations in Colorado
Peak Car Era: Beginning And Ending
Can today's auto industry model survive the Peak Car Era in mega-cities or will it go extinct?
Washington DC: Benchmarking
Data collected by Washington, D.C.'s benchmarking law discovers which buildings are energy smart, but many buildings are MIA
Cert Granted: Supreme Court Carbon Case
A primer for the Supreme Court hearing on the source of EPA's ability to make carbon emissions rules
Rating Ratings
How much trust do sustainability experts put on corporate sustainability ratings?
February 22, 2014
It's A Bird, A Plane, A Flying Squirrel
Able to leap 150 feet, flying squirrels are found in NYC parks
February 21, 2014
Traffic Safety Lessons In The Snow
Washington, DC's snowy streets suggest a narrow path to safer ones
Microbes To The Rescue
Fracking could become more climate-friendly with methane-eating microbes being researched by the National Renewable Energy Lab
London: Investors Surge To Tide Power
A tide power company attracts $38 million in public funds and its IPO, some of which goes toward a Scottish project
California: Tackling The Tough Stuff
What is California doing about its deep drought & its carbon emissions? A carbon tax proposal is a long shot
Carbon Emissions: China, US, Everyone Else
carbon emissions by country - pic.twitter.com/17RtuMQN9Y
— AMEE (@ameeHQ) February 21, 2014Climate-Proofing Con Ed
New York State requires Con Edison to plan for and protect its electric, gas & steam systems from the effects of climate change
A Guide For The Perplexed
What you need to know now when buying light bulbs
When Principles Collide
Will a law suit seeking public disclosure of e-mails of a famous climate scientist succeed on the principle of freedom of information, when another law-suit attacking his probity failed?
February 20, 2014
UK: Facing Filthy Air Fines
Persistent air pollution coming from UK vehicles may lead to costly European Commission fines
Anxiety Central: Abrupt Climate Change
NEW VIDEO: Thoughts on Abrupt Climate Change, As In 30 Years, not 100. http://t.co/kGIZDvqOdN #globalwarming #climatechange #weather
— Yale Media Forum (@Yalemediaforum) February 20, 2014CHP Expo
Everything you need to know about NYSERDA's combined heat and power programs for commercial, industrial, and multifamily building owners & managers
Vanishing Arctic Ice
Old ice, new ice, it's all melting away in the Arctic
Fracking's Known Unknowns
Tracking & managing the vast volume of contaminated water produced by hydrofracking could be the biggest problem facing the industry and the public
NY's Energy Plan
While praising New York's energy policy goals, observers caution the devil will be in the details
Obama And The Court
The Supreme Court will hear argument next week on whether the President can regulate GHG emissions from power plants under the authority of the Clean Air Act
The Green Rift
True or False: stopping the Keystone XL pipeline would be a climate action victory?
February 19, 2014
Making The Invisible Visible
Imagine if you could see the Big Apple's annual GHG emissions, ICYMI
Nuke Power Loans Fading
While the US is about to provide billion in new loan guarantees for nuclear reactor projects, they could be the last ones
Affordable Passive Housing
Here's how Habitat for Humanity is building affordable and super-energy-efficient homes in Washington DC
What A REC
Renewable Energy Credits (RECs) are EPA-sanctioned corporate greenwashing critic claims
Energy Efficiency In Action
An unprecedented drop in electric power demand is credited to the impact of energy efficiency programs in the mid-west
Unmet Efficiency Promises
1-in-5 European energy-use labeled products don't perform as promised, according to the Energy Saving Trust
UK: Bird Risks Derail Wind Project
Assessing threats to a local bird species deal a blow to plans for the UK's 830 MW offshore wind power project
EU: Carbon Prices Hit 3-Year High
Signaling expectations of tighter rules for EU carbon emissions permits, prices are up 38% this year
Power Tool For Corporate Climate Disclosure
New York State's Martin Act could be an effective mechanism for putting corporate climate change risks on record
February 18, 2014
Chilling Pictures
LEED-Leading States
Which are the top ten states for LEED-certified buildings in 2013?
Johannesburg: C40 Report
A gathering of 45 world cities in Johannesburg, South Africa focused on scaling up transportation planning, traffic safety & air quality to make urban life sustainable
Get Practical: Energy Efficient Window Coverings
Advice and on-line resources to pick energy efficient window awnings, shades & films
White House Keeps On Truckin'
The White House announces plans for increasing the fuel efficiency of heavy and mid-weight trucks as part of its climate action agenda and why this matters
Science At Work: Pacific Trade Winds
Science seeks answers to an apparent slowing of higher annual air temperatures in the impact of Pacific Ocean trade winds
Australia: 20x20, Maybe Not
The Australian government will renew its binding pledge to get 20% of its power from renewables by 2020 and environmentalists worry about a rollback
Climate Change In Cities
While the next UCCRN report is being written, watch the video
Rwanda-Israel: Solar Deal
Rwanda partners with Israeli financial sources to develop an 8.5 MW utility-scale solar power field
February 17, 2014
Collaborate To Solve Our Climate Crisis
Check out the new MIT on-line platform where millions of people can solve climate challenges together
NJ: Explaining Solar Sucess
What explains New Jersey's status as the second biggest solar state in the US?
TV: Climate Change Meets The Press
Fact checking the Meet the Press climate face-off on between Bill Nye and Marsha Blackburn
Australia: State of Denial
Prime Minister Abbott is a serial climate change denier in drought-ravaged Australia
The Geography of Renewable Energy
The geography of renewable energy deployment is changing significantly. http://t.co/QoFkZvzNZQ #renewable #energy pic.twitter.com/65Wg3Tn5re
— IEA (@IEA) February 17, 2014Why It's Dry
Scientists debate whether current droughts in the American west are symptoms of a changing climate, but there's no dispute that hot weather has only made things worse
France And Germany: United On Renewables
What is the rationale for a common renewable energy policy that France will propose to Germany?
February 15, 2014
Going, Going....
Climate change will wipe out up to half of the world's species within a century and Elizabeth Kolbert faces this calamity in her new book The Sixth Extinction and an interview with the author
An Internet of Energy
What's new at ARPA-E, the federal incubator for the best & brightest in energy innovation?
February 14, 2014
Oceans Could Flip Heat Switch On
ICYMI this year's predicted return of El Nino in the Pacific could kick global warming into high gear
Mighty Mini Mechanical City
The Emergent City, a gallery-size mechanical metropolis running on London's vibrations & sounds
Science At Work: Weird Weather/Climate Science
Mining mountains of data will advance a grasp of extreme weather events for climate science
Prize-Winning Queensway
What's the vision for the rebirth of a 3.5 mile-long abandoned rail freight line in Queens?
The Methane Mess
Methane escaping from drilling & pipelines poses a bigger climate threat than diesel fuel for vehicles but it's better than coal as a power source. Can the natural gas industry stop the leaks? And, is this a salient -- let alone an accurate -- climate action agenda?
First Or Last
California's new utility-scale thermal solar power plant may be the first and last of its type to be built in the US, but let's look on the bright side
The Post-Incandescent Era
February 13, 2014
UK: Wettest Weather In 248 Years
Efficient Investment
Compare the ROIs for energy efficiency v the Stock Market, all in one infographic
Norway: Sun Shines For Solar Investor
A $1.3 billion Norwegian investment fund sees great opportunities in the solar power industry
Green Bank: Proposals Wanted
The NY Green Bank is soliciting proposals for energy efficiency & renewable energy projects from energy service companies, developers, manufacturers, financial institutions & private sector lenders
Solar Power: Where The Costs Are
While the cost of utility-scale solar power plummets, soft costs of installation, permitting, & inspection remain high
New Orleans: Go With The Flow
A rebuilt, resilient New Orleans must befriend the water, not fight it
MTA: The Catastrophe Bond
The MTA re-thinks disaster insurance in the wake of Superstorm Sandy and tries something new
China: Making It Worse By Making It Better
Why manufacturing a less polluting synthetic fuel for Chinese cities could be a climate catastrophe
Surprise
Call it climate change, call it climate chaos, but the National Academy of Sciences warns expect abrupt changes
February 12, 2014
EU: Down On UK Renewables
The EU has doubts about financing schemes for UK renewable energy projects
Book Report: The World We Made
Better than sci-fi, a look a sustainable world from the POV of 2050
Japan: Dunkin Donuts Supercomputers
To save energy, Japanese researchers cool a supercomputer by submerging it in mineral oil
Life After Nuclear Shutdown
California works on an energy plan to address the retirement of the 2,200 MW San Onofre nuclear power plant
Carbon Tax Knight-In-Shining Armour
Who is Charles Komanoff and why is he fighting for a federal carbon tax?
Embracing Climate And Energy Action
By large margins, Americans endorse climate research funding, rebates for energy efficient purchases & cutting tax subsidies for the fossil fuel industry
NY Green Bank Launch
There's a new place to go for financing energy-smart & resilient projects in New York
Phila: Commuter Trains Sell Their Power
Electric created by braking metro-Philadelphia commuter trains is purchased by the PJM power grid
February 11, 2014
Guerilla Subway Signs
Someone's been posting way-finding signs in NYC subways, but it's not the MTA
Self-Cooling Magic Mushroom Building
PS 1 will be home this summer to a self-cooling tower built with bricks made from plant waste & fungal spores
Scotland: No Trump
Scotland rejects Donald Trump's fight to stop a wind turbine farm near his golf resort
Berlin: The Wrong Kind Of Green
Some Berlin landlords make eco-promises tenants to jack up rents
Close The Clean Energy Investment Gap
Insurance companies & pension fund investors can make sound choices by putting their money in clean energy infrastructure projects
EVs Are Superstars
NASA employee-driven EV test vehicles beat CO2-saving expectations
India v US
A trade dispute with the US heats over India's restrictions on imported solar panels
Meet Kate Gordon
From the Apollo Alliance and the Center for American Progress, now at Next Generation to lead the "Risky Business" initiative, Kate Gordon is the climate & energy action dynamo to watch
Citywide Energy Storage For NY
Con Ed will put real money on the table for installing energy storage gear and batteries to cut energy demand
February 08, 2014
New To Google Earth
February 07, 2014
Urban Potential
Cities, with their wealth, their greater sustainability, and their democratic values and organization, are the natural pillars for building a high-road economy and society. That’s their promise. Here's how to make it happen
$800 Million For NY Energy Efficiency
The New York Power Authority launches an $800 million, multi-year, public-private partnership to improve buildings' energy performance
Municipal Waterfront Alliance Update
Superstorm Sandy altered coastlines and rearranged underwater geography, creating new dangers to navigation, particularly in the Port of NY & NJ.
Using ships, aircraft and satellites, three federal agencies have been remapping Sandy-impacted areas of the East Coast that document altered shorelines, remeasure water depths and search for submerged debris. A new chart for New York Harbor has been top priority
Useful Knowledge For Greener Education
616 universities & colleges submitted 1,998 Greenhouse Gas Inventories to the ACUPPC in 2013
EU: First Aid For Carbon Market
To lift sagging carbon emissions permit prices, the EU agrees to cut the number of tradeable permits
Bavaria: Not A Wind Power Player
The German state of Bavaria threatens to scuttle plans for building north-south wind power transmission lines
Caribbean: Clearing The Air
Several Caribbean islands will dump dirty diesel generators for renewable energy
Meet Mike Boots
Mike Boots is named the acting director of the White House Council on Environmental Quality
February 06, 2014
India: Super Solar Power
India plans to build the world's largest solar power plant, producing 4000 MW of power & costing $4.4 billion, but environmental critics worry about electricity lost on leaky transmission lines
China: Air Pollution Travels
Chinese air pollution creates health and weather impacts around Asia and the Pacific
Greenland: Warmest Anomaly On Earth
UAH: Parts of Greenland up to 11.2F warmer than long term seasonal average during month of January. Warmest anomaly on Earth last month.
— Eric Holthaus (@EricHolthaus) February 6, 2014Living Building Award
What's a living building & what's special about the award-winning Smith College project?
$200 Milllion For Better Energy
Con Ed will offer New Yorkers $161 million to cut electric consumption by 100 MW & $40 million for 25 MW in distributed power projects
Radiator Wrangling
For everyone living in apartment buildings heated with steam, there's hope for taming your radiator
Investor Warning On Fracking
Investors are concerned over the volume of water needed for fossil fuel fracking that may be unmeetable in water-stressed regions
Enviros Err In XL Pipeline Focus
Environmental gadflies Nordhaus & Shellenberger claim the movement cannot stop the Keystone XL Pipeline because there is no global alternative to oil for transportation fuel now
February 05, 2014
Storage Power
What do California & the Marine Corps have in common when it comes to the energy revolution?
3M + China For Energy Efficiency
The 3M Company teams up with China to develop energy efficient building materials, tools & practices
It's Not Easy To Write A Carbon Rule
A peek into the EPA job of writing the rule to regulate carbon emissions
Sochi Olympics: Eco-Activist Jailed
Russian authorities arrest an eco-activist monitoring the environmental impacts of the Sochi Olympics
C40: Cities Gear Up Climate Action
In just two years 63 metropolitan members of C40 have doubled their climate-friendly actions
What The Port Authority Wants
$27.6 billion is the sum proposed by the NY-NJ Port Authority for its 10-year capital budget
Polling On Climate And Enegy
A Sierra Club public opinion survey on climate & energy suggests support won't be toxic in 2014's elections
Australia: Axing The Carbon Tax
Even as power plant emissions start to drop, Australia will end its carbon tax in July, with the Environmental Minister saying "“The carbon tax doesn’t work" in the world's biggest per capita polluter
Well Known Carbon Paradox
It's well known: a carbon tax is the most direct way to cut climate-harming emissions & prospects for federal carbon tax are bleak
February 04, 2014
Air Schmutz: Awful v Bad
The 10 most polluted Chinese cities compared to the 10 most polluted U.S. cities: http://t.co/aNpjEHGuEn pic.twitter.com/Z24RyyWqvO
— brad plumer (@bradplumer) February 3, 2014Solar Thermal Power - Just Add Water
Awkward timing for opening the world's largest solar thermal power plant during California's mega-drought, forcing operators to seek other cooling measures to cut water use
Green Bonds 101
Green bonds, an emerging tool to finance low-carbon energy tech & infrastructure projects, with standardized protocols on the way
Power Rules In Power Shift
Expect some big changes in Pubic Service Commission rules governing renewable and distributed power resources in New York State
More Competition For Less Carbon
Which cities will win California's carbon cutting-competition?
CHP Scorecards
Japan, Finland & Korea get rated by the IEA for their approaches to combined heat and power
Fashion Foibles - Glass Walls
Think it's cool to occupy a building with glass walls & great views? Think again
Bringing It All Back Home
To mobilize climate action, climate impacts must be understood as local, relevant & familiar
February 03, 2014
More Hot Water
Ocean temperatures keep going up & sea levels continue rising, so forget about any 'pause' in climate change
UK: Climate Tories Take On Skeptics
Conservative Party climate activists in the UK call for a £5bn-a-year boost for eco-friendly economic growth
Boost Renewables With Better Batteries
Breakthroughs in battery technology could supercharge use of renewable power
Closer To Closure
Six in-use nuclear power plants, three of them in NY, are at real risk of closing down
Carbon Neutrality On An East River Island
Roosevelt Island's new Cornell NYCTech will have buildings designed to be carbon neutral
Energy Efficiency - The Video
Here's how New Yorkers can get a comprehensive home energy assessment
Enough With The High Lines
Not all disused urban space should be converted to greenery. Why's that?
A Love Letter To L.A.
February 01, 2014
Manhattan 2409: See It Now
Interact with Mannahatta 2409 to envision the future city