EPA Celebrates Earth Day Throughout April with New Web and Multimedia Features

How can you reduce your carbon footprint, make your home or business water efficient or make sure our nation's beaches stay clean this summer? April 22 is Earth Day and this year, EPA is launching several online initiatives throughout the month of April to help raise environmental awareness.

· Green Tips – Sign up for daily environmental tips via e-mail (http://www.epa.gov/earthday/tips.htm). Also, download the Green Tip "widget" to use on your social networking site or blog.

· Audio Podcasts –Twice per week during the month of April, listen to EPA's experts discuss ways you can reduce your environmental footprint. The podcasts will be available for download on EPA's home page and also available for free subscription on iTunes.

· "Green Scene" – EPA Administrator Stephen L. Johnson will host the latest edition of the agency's new online video series. The administrator discusses Earth Day 2008, the importance of environmental stewardship and the agency's accomplishments.

· Historical Video – The history of EPA and why it was created, as told by all nine former administrators, will be available in two separate videos on EPA's multimedia portal (http://www.epa.gov/multimedia).

· Special Events – Multimedia coverage of the annual Presidential Environmental Youth Awards (PEYA) and People, Prosperity and the Planet (P3) Competition will be available for public viewing following the events (http://www.epa.gov/multimedia).

· Photo Contest - Help choose the winner. We chose 30 finalists from nearly 750 photos (see contest: http://www.epa.gov/earthday/photocontest).

· Ask EPA – Molly O'Neill, EPA's Chief Information Officer and Assistant Administrator for Environmental Information will host an online discussion on April 24th at 2 p.m EDT. Molly will highlight the agency's National Dialogue on Access to Environmental Information and take ideas for improving access, including suggestions to improve EPA's homepage (for more information: http://www.epa.gov/askepa).

State of Green Business Report Available

Free GreenBiz.com Report Assesses 20 Key Indicators of Green Business Performance

Despite an apparent flurry of activity by corporations to improve their environmental performance, U.S. companies aren’t yet making much of a difference in addressing major environmental problems, according to a new report.

“State of Green Business 2008,” a free report published by GreenBiz.com, reports that companies are making good progress on fewer than half of the 20 measures of performance it investigated. In some cases, environmental problems are losing ground, even as companies gradually improve their environmental performance, due to the expanding economy of recent years.

For example, generation of electricity from wind, solar, and other renewable sources has grown steadily — from 81 billion megawatt-hours in 2000 to 96 billion in 2006, the most recent data available. But overall electricity consumption has grown, too, with the result being that renewables represent slightly more than two percent of overall U.S. electricity generation, about the same percentage as in 1995.

“Amid the cacophony of headlines and hype, companies are getting greener, but it’s not always obvious or straightforward,” says Joel Makower, Executive Editor of GreenBiz.com and the report’s principal author. “And the progress itself can be illusory. Companies, in aggregate, aren’t changing quickly or significantly enough to move the needle on climate change and other challenges.”

The report, which can be downloaded at http://www.greenbiz.com/, marks the launch of the GreenBiz Index, a set of 20 indicators of U.S. business environmental progress. They include macroeconomic measures, such as carbon emissions, toxic releases, packaging materials, and paper use per unit of gross domestic product, as well as tracking corporate fleet purchases of alternative fuel vehicles, construction of green office space, investments in clean tech, and corporate reporting on environmental and climate impacts.

Among the findings:
- Alternative fueled vehicles, such as hybrid and electric vehicles, represent slightly more than one percent of all corporate fleet purchases.

- The energy efficiency of office buildings, measured as energy use per square foot, has leveled off in recent years, following a dramatic growth in efficiency during the 1990s.

- U.S. greenhouse gas intensity, measured as emissions as a percentage of gross domestic product, is dropping, though actual emissions remain about the same.

- The percentage of employees carpooling or taking public transit to work dropped almost ten percent between 2000 and 2006, though employee telecommuting from home or remote locations eight or more hours per week has risen by 16 percent.

- The amount of used computers and other e-waste has more than doubled since 2000, though e-waste recycling grew by only about 20 percent during that period.

- Paper use, measured against gross domestic product, has declined by more than 20 percent over the past decade, while the recycling rate has increased by 20 percent during that same period.

“State of Green Business 2008 offers clear insight into how, and how well, companies are integrating environmental thinking into their operations,” says Pete May, President of Greener World Media, Inc., which produces GreenBiz.com. “This is the first time anyone has created a comprehensive and authoritative assessment of the progress being made.”

The report also includes the top ten green business trends of 2007. They include the greening of transport — planes, trains, trucks, and ships — that move people and goods around the world; the rapid growth of green computing, as makers of chips, PCs, and other devices vie to be the most energy efficient and major equipment companies partner to help capture e-waste; and how banks are launching an impressive array of initiatives to support clean energy, climate change mitigation, green building, and other things.

See the Source:
GreenBiz.com - Free Report

Find out:
How to "green" emergency and prime power generators using CleanAIR Systems' PERMIT Filter/Silencer, utilizing diesel particulate filters

green news

Aspen Institute Energy and Environment Awards

The Aspen Institute, an international nonprofit organization dedicated to fostering creative thinking and leadership, is now accepting nominations for its first annual Aspen Institute Energy and Environment Awards.

Nomination forms, information and judging criteria for the awards are available at: http://www.energyandenvironmentawards.com/

The award categories include:
- Corporate Energy Generation
- Corporate Energy Conservation
- Individual Thought Leadership
- Non-Governmental Organization (NGO)
- Government Agency

The awards will be presented during a dinner ceremony on March 29 in Aspen, Colorado, at the Aspen Environment Forum, presented by the Aspen Institute and National Geographic.

Information on the Forum is available at: http://www.aspenenvironment.org/

The deadline for award nominations is Feb. 17, 2008.

The awards draw international attention to the organizations and people who are making the biggest strides, acting as leaders, catalysts, and educators in the effort to address global demands for energy and the need to reduce environmental impacts.

This year's competition entails six separate award categories, including corporate energy generation and conservation programs, as well as individual thought leadership in the field of energy and environmental problem solving, with a special emphasis on disruptive solutions that have the potential for widescale application.

In addition, an award will be made to an NGO (non-governmental organization) for its contributions in renewable energy generation, improved efficiency, radical price reductions, or stimulation of new green energy markets in developing countries.

A separate award will go to a government entity for encouraging renewable energy generation or efficiency and/or its pursuit of other significant new policies that advance energy and environmental goals.

See the Source:

The Aspen Institute

environmental news

53 Fortune 500 Corporations Surpass EPA Green Power Goals

In response to EPA’s nationwide challenge issued in December 2006, 53 Fortune 500 corporations are now collectively purchasing more than six billion kilowatt-hours (kWh) of green power annually. These purchases surpassed the goals set by EPA’s Green Power Partnership by 130 percent and equal the avoided carbon dioxide emissions of more than 570 million gallons of gasoline each year or the equivalent amount of electricity needed to power nearly 670,000 average American homes annually.

“EPA applauds our Fortune 500 partners for protecting our environment by purchasing green power,” said EPA Administrator Stephen L. Johnson. “By voluntarily shifting to renewable energy, EPA’s environmental partners are proving you don’t need to wait for a signal in order to go green.”

Intel Corporation leads the group as the top buyer with a purchase of 1.3 billion kilowatt-hours per year. PepsiCo is second, followed by Wells Fargo & Company, Whole Foods Market, The Pepsi Bottling Group, and Johnson & Johnson. Cisco Systems and Kohl’s Department Stores recently made sizable purchase increases to place them at seventh and eighth on the list, respectively. Rounding out the top ten green power purchases are Starbucks and DuPont Company.

EPA's Green Power Partnership works with more than 850 partner organizations to buy green power voluntarily as a way to reduce the environmental impacts associated with conventional electricity use and to support the development of new, renewable generation resources nationwide. Overall, EPA Green Power Partners are buying more than 13 billion kWh of green power annually.

Green power is generated from renewable resources such as solar, wind, geothermal, biomass and biogas, as well as low-impact hydropower. Green power resources produce electricity with an environmental profile superior to conventional power technologies and produce no net increase to greenhouse gas emissions.

Top Ten Partner Organizations in the EPA's Fortune 500 Green Power Challenge:

1. Intel Corp.

2. PepsiCo.

3. Wells Fargo & Comp.

4. Whole Foods Market

5. The Pepsi Bottling Group, Inc.

6. Johnson & Johnson

7. Cisco Systems, Inc.

8. Kohl's Department Stores

9. Starbucks

10. DuPont Company

green news
energy

To Green or Not to Green: Is Corporate America Implementing Strategies to Protect the Environment?

New Harris Interactive Study Looks at “Going Green” Efforts Through the Eyes of IT Decision Makers

It is almost impossible for one to pick up a newspaper, magazine or access the Internet without seeing an article concerning the “greening” of Corporate America. A recent study conducted by Harris Interactive® with more than 300 IT decision makers indicates there is a plethora of thoughts and activities for “Going Green”. While the majority of companies have implemented “Going Green” strategies with recycling and proper waste disposal, overall only 41 percent of corporations have deployed virtualization or server consolidation strategies to save on energy cost.

What is “Going Green”?
Today, as part of their corporate citizenship, brand equity, and go to market strategy, some corporations are implementing a “Going Green” strategy. One definition of “Going Green” is designing, selling, or funding eco-friendly products and services. For example, does your company recycle old electronic products to properly dispose of electronic waste such as lead and mercury?

Innovative “Green Thinking”: Why or Why Not?
Attitudes for adopting “Green Thinking” are diverse among the IT professionals surveyed. About 16 percent might be put in an “anti-green camp”, saying that corporations should be environmentally friendly only if they can do so and achieve their profitability goals. However, 71 percent might be described as “pro green”, believing that corporations should go beyond governmental requirements in their efforts to be environmentally friendly (39%) and that they should be environmentally friendly even if they have to sacrifice some of their profitability goals (32%).

Among those IT professionals that either have implemented a going green strategy or are in a pilot phase, fifty seven percent say “Going Green” is good for business. Fifty-five percent say that “going green” reduces their energy costs, thus improving profitability, while 53 percent say that being environmentally friendly is a corporate value. Only 27 percent say that the decision to implement this strategy is due to top management, and 21 percent say that the implementation is due to government regulatory requirements.

On the flipside, for those with that have not implemented a “green strategy”, the reasons for not implementing are varied:

- Twenty-six percent says that they “fully comply with current governmental regulations for environmental safety”, while 25 percent says that they have other pressing corporate needs

- One quarter isn’t sure of what actions that they must take to “Go Green” in the most cost effective way

- Twenty percent indicate that they don’t have the funds to implement a “Going Green” strategy

- Sixteen percent feel that they are already environmentally friendly

How Do They Do It? Actions Taken in “Going Green”
Nevertheless, despite the positive attitude toward “going green” efforts, the plot thickens when asked about the firms’ actual actions in becoming “a green company” and when focusing on the actions that are underway. Ultimately, there appears to be a lot more bark than bite, since most of the action is in recycling programs and very few firms are doing the heaving lifting that includes adopting alternative power solutions and designing energy efficient buildings.

Only nine percent say they have a fully implemented plan across all areas of their respective companies and about 32 percent say they are in “pilot mode” or have partially implemented something in departments considered appropriate. Nearly one-quarter (23%) say their company has no plan at all.

According to Milton Ellis, Vice President and Senior Consultant of the Harris Interactive Technology Practice, “‘Going Green’ represents a win-win opportunity for IT suppliers and users of virtualization technologies. More people would agree that being kind to our environment is a good thing. So like motherhood and apple pie, wouldn’t you expect businesses to get behind the ‘Going Green’ movement? Seems like a logical thing to do.”

See the Source:
Business Wire - Harris Interactive

Find out:
How companies can go green by reducing their emissions of PM, CO, and HC from emergency generators by retrofitting with diesel particulate filters from CleanAIR Systems.

environmental news

The Global Green Energy Consortium is Launched

“A Former US Congressman, U.S. Ambassador and industry veterans have announced the launch of a non-profit organization to promote green energy and sustainability”, said Zacharie Mondel, the group’s Chief Operating Officer.

Called the Global Green Energy Consortium (GGEC), the group is headlined by former US Representative Barry Goldwater Jr., and former U.S. Ambassador Osman Siddique, along with representatives from the hospitality and green energy sectors.

”As a global forum, GGEC’s mission is to dramatically and continuously improve the ability of business, building owners, management and industry to save both kinds of green,” said Mondel. “We believe that environmentally friendly business is profitable business.”

“Our goal is to complement current environmental efforts and initiatives being pursued by USGBC’s LEED, EPA’s Green Partnership and the Energy Star program,” states Ron Kendig, GGEC Chief Communication Officer. “We intend to help public utilities, oil and gas companies raise awareness of their commitment to Sustainability and Green Energy,” said Bob Scammell, Vice President of Business Development.

Barry Goldwater Jr., Executive Vice President of Government Relations, will form a team to interface with existing agencies and regulators, including the EPA, Department of Energy and The Pentagon, to reduce U.S. reliance on foreign energy while focusing on sustainable sources. “We can’t jump from one dead-end solution to the next,” said Goldwater. “We have to find a mixture of future fuels that can be managed and made to work for us, not the other way around.” Goldwater served in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1969-1983. He has won many awards including the Achievement Award from the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences; an award from the President’s Commission on Employment of the Handicapped; the Distinguished Service Award of the A.C.A.; and the Conscience of the Congress Award of the American Conservative Union.

Ambassador Siddique, Executive Vice President of International Business Development, “will bring his entrepreneurial and diplomatic skills to create green opportunities worldwide,” said Kim Karch, GGEC’s Chief Marketing Officer. Ambassador Siddique served as Ambassador to the Republic of Fiji, the Republic of Nauru, the Kingdom of Tonga and to Tuvalu from 1999-2001. His company, ITI/Travelogue, Inc., was honored with the Arthur Anderson and Washington Business Journal's FasTrack Award in 1994 as one of the fastest growing companies in the D.C. area. Siddique was also twice named as a finalist for Inc. Magazine's Entrepreneur of the Year Award.

“Promoting international collaboration and helping former Vice President and Nobel Prize winner Mr. Al Gore establish global environmental standards and protocols is one of the primary goals of GGEC,” states Ambassador Siddique.

Dale Wiley, the Executive Vice-President of Biofuels and Carbon Markets, is the President and CEO of American Green Holdings and BidForGreen. Wiley is an expert in biofuels logistics, and has consulted with the film, television and music industries on implementing green strategies.
About Global Green Energy Consortium (GGEC):

GGEC is a non-profit organization registered in the State of Delaware. The Consortium’s mission is to provide businesses and communities with the education and tools to effectively and efficiently implement sustainable and green energy initiatives. A primary objective is to align the offerings of the energy market segment with the needs of the business world to effectively reduce our energy usage and promote renewable energy technologies.

GGEC’s unique portfolio of services demonstrates the commitment to serve as a comprehensive source of energy conservation standards, certification and resources to facilitate implementation of sustainability initiatives across market segments.

GGEC recognizes the host of information and standards offered by numerous organizations and strives to consolidate, not duplicate current standards. A key message of the Consortium is that the implementation of energy and resource conservation initiatives can be profitable for all businesses.

See the Source:
GGEC - Global Green Energy Consortium

The Greening of America

Forbes magazine just released its list of America's Greenest States. Taking into account six categories: carbon footprint, air quality, water quality, hazardous waste management, policy initiatives and energy consumption, Forbes analyzed each state's score to produce a ranking from 1 to 50.

Topping the list are Vermont, Oregon and Washington. All three states have low carbon footprints, enforce and promote strong energy and air quality policies, have cities with low smog and ozone pollution, and have the most green buildings per capita.

At the bottom are Mississippi, Louisiana, Alabama, Indiana and West Virginia due to over consumption, the production of too much pollution and no defined environmental plan.

See the Source:
Forbes: America's Greenest - article and state rankings

environmental news
green news

GoingGreen 2007 - Setting the Benchmark for Greentech Events

Over seven hundred greentech professionals, venture capital and private-equity investors, and leading members of the press and blogging community will convene at University of California, CA from September 10 – 12 for the inaugural AlwaysOn GoingGreen 2007 event. Thousands more worldwide attendees are expected to participate ‘virtually’ as GoingGreen 2007 will be simulcast live from http://www.alwayson.goingon.com/. This two-and-a-half-day executive event will features CEO presentations and high-level debates on the most promising emerging green technologies and new entrepreneurial opportunities. The purpose of this event is to identify and debate emerging trends, build high-level relationships and create new business opportunities for all greentech professionals.

In addition to engaging panels and lively debates, this two-and-a-half-day executive conference will feature CEO presentations from greentech companies from all over the world.

See the Source:

AlwaysOn GoingGreen

The Dirt on Diesel: CleanAIR on America the Green

The founder of CleanAIR Systems, a manufacturer of emissions control equipment, was recently interviewed by America the Green for their weekly environmental podcast. The discussion centered on the new resurgence in diesel vehicles and how diesel has cleaned up its act to become “green”.

Topics included why diesel is much more acceptable in Europe than the U.S., why diesel is now considered the “interim” fuel to help reduce greenhouse gases, and how diesel has changed to become a cleaner vehicle option.

To listen to the Podcast entitled: Diesel Cleans Up its Act with Michael Roach, Founder of CleanAIR Systems, go to: http://www.americathegreen.com/diesel-cleans-up/. America the Green can also be downloaded on iTunes.

See the Source:
America the Green

Find out:
More about diesel emissions control at CleanAIR Systems

green news
environmental blogs

GreenXchange Xpo – The World’s Green Marketplace

Environmental leaders and visionaries will join together in shaping a new global event focusing attention on critical issues of sustainability and energy. The new event, GreenXchange Xpo will be launched October 1-3, 2008 at the Los Angeles Convention Center with the intention of becoming the world’s leading marketplace for green innovation and technology.

“Los Angeles is setting the green standard for its use of renewable energy,” says LA Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa. “GreenXchange is a critical step in establishing a marketplace for the ideas, products and services that take sustainability from theory to practice. Bringing the private and public sectors together under one roof for a global exchange on green innovation, will dramatically impact our opportunity to achieve lasting worldwide sustainability.”

The goal of GreenXchange is to bring together the largest exchange of green ideas and commerce in the world. Those participating in the invent include: green entrepreneurs and professionals; climate change policy-makers and regulators; environmental stewards, planners, consultants, and academic scientists; media, venture investors and market-makers; organized labor and management; builders, conservationists and recyclers; and futurists.

See the Source:
GreenXchange

environment
energy

Project Big Green – IBM’s $1 Billion Baby

On May 10th, IBM launched “Project Big Green,” allocating $1 billion towards the advancement of “green” technology and services to increase energy efficiency for IBM and its clients, while at the same time reducing data center energy consumption. Savings could be substantial, with an average 25,000 square foot data center realizing a 42% energy savings, translating into a reduction of 7,439 tons of carbon emissions annually. Included in the initiative is IBM’s “green team” made up of over 850 energy efficiency architects.

See the Source:
IBM’s Energy Efficiency Initiative

Find out:
How generators used for back-up power at date storage centers can be made cleaner using CleanAIR Filter/Silencers

current issues
energy

Green on the National Mall

The National Sustainable Design Expo opens to the public today on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., showcasing innovative, commercially viable ideas for generating energy. Held April 24 and 25, the Expo includes exhibits from government agencies and nonprofit organizations, demonstrating successful, sustainable technologies and products such as energy generated from ocean waves to fuel produced from algae.

"Green designs not only help protect our planet by using renewable fuel sources and less toxics, but they also ring up big sales at the cash register." said Dr. George Gray, assistant administrator for EPA’s Office of Research and Development. "There are great environmental challenges facing the U.S. in the coming decades. Smart companies are seeing these challenges as a golden opportunity to create a brand new market - - green technologies.”

The Expo includes the annual People, Prosperity and the Planet (P3) Award, a national competition involving 41 teams of college and university students exhibiting environmental design projects. Former P3 projects proved that green designs save energy and are profitable, with several of the projects going on to become new commercial ventures.

EPA launched the P3 award in 2004 to respond to sustainability challenges in the developed and developing world. This national competition enables college students to research, develop and design scientific, technical and policy solutions to sustainability challenges.

See the Source:
Expo and the P3 Award
EPA’s Sustainability Research Program

environment