The State of Garbage in America
Even with all the recycling we do, we're still generating more waste than ever.
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Weekly Clean Energy Roundup:June 28, 2006
Nanosolar to Build the World’s Largest Solar Cell Plant Florida Offers Clean Energy Rebates, Grants, and Tax Incentives Hawaii’s New Energy Bills to Boost Efficiency, Renewable Energy National Renewable Energy Conference Slated for October EPA Introduces the World’s First Hydraulic Hybrid Delivery Truck Toyota to Double its Number of Hybrid Models to 20 by 2015 Nanosolar to Build the World’s Largest Solar Cell PlantNanosolar, Inc. announced last week that it will build a solar cell manufacturing facility that will eventually produce enough solar cells in one year to generate 430 megawatts (MW) of power. For comparison, worldwide solar cell production in 2004 was 1,109 MW, with only 138 MW in the United States, according to the International Energy Agency (IEA). Nanosolar plans to build the world-record-breaking manufacturing plant in the San Francisco Bay Area, and has started ordering volume production equipment for the facility. The company currently operates a pilot-scale facility in Palo Alto, California, and expects to achieve high production volumes through technology similar to the roll-to-roll printing presses employed by newspapers and other high-volume printers.Using nanotechnology, the company can spray a thin film of copper indium gallium diselenide (CIGS) onto an inexpensive foil, and the minute particles?on the […]
U.S. Natural Products Industry Grows to $51 Billion in 2005
Organic produce, packaged food, nutrition bars, cosmetics and pet foods are big winners.
Weekly Clean Energy Roundup:June 21, 2006
News & EventsBP Commits $500 Million Over 10 Years to Support Biofuels Louisiana Passes a Renewable Fuel Requirement California Lays Down the Welcome Mat for Renewable Energy Projects Idaho Power Seeks 100 Megawatts of Geothermal Power Researcher Wins Major Technical Prize for His Work on LEDs Canadian Team Achieves 3,415 mpg in Supermileage Competition Energy ConnectionsEIA Forecasts Large Growth in World Energy Demand through 2030 News and EventsBP Commits $500 Million Over 10 Years to Support BiofuelsBP announced last week that it plans to spend $500 million over the next ten years to establish a biosciences research laboratory dedicated to energy technologies. According to BP, the new BP Energy Biosciences Institute will initially focus on developing new biofuels, improving the efficiency and flexibility of ethanol and biodiesel, devising new technologies to convert a greater proportion of crops into biofuels, and developing plants that produce more energy molecules (such as oils, starches, and sugars) and can be grown on land not suitable for food production. BP is currently in discussions with several leading universities to identify which could host the new research laboratory and plans to launch its research programs by the end of next year. BP chief executive Lord Browne […]
Special Report: Investing in Wind!
This is an excerpt from Progressive Investor's guide to investing in the wind industry.
Survey: American's Definition of aResponsible Company
A national study sheds new light on previously held beliefs about corporate social responsibility. Conducted by public relations firm Fleishman-Hillard and the National Consumers League, the survey finds that Americans have a “moving scale” of corporate social responsibility (CSR) criteria that may shift over time. Nearly half of Americans say that treating and paying employees well is the most important proof of good CSR, more so than environmental stewardship and philanthropy. The research also suggests a new generation of online activists is emerging in CSR that cuts across all socio-economic backgrounds. 76% agree that to be socially responsible, companies should place employee salary and wage increases above making charitable contributions and that a company?s treatment of its employees plays a big role in individual purchasing decisions.“What American consumers are telling us, perhaps influenced by ongoing coverage of corporate layoffs and employee-benefit reductions, sheds new light on how we view corporate social responsibility,” says Fleishman-Hillard Chairman and CEO John Graham. “If companies want to maintain and strengthen their reputations, it will be essential for them to invest actively and visibly in their employees. It is also more important than ever to understand the online resources that Americans are using to learn […]
Google Launches Eco-Tourism Maps
Google is launching a new service – and it’s green. The new Google Maps Summer of Green is an environmentally-focused video and map guide to eco-tourism spots, chosen with the help of Earth Day Network. The presentation features green travel options in top US travel city destinations – New York, Orlando, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, and San Francisco. Users can take guided virtual video tours of green destinations, including organic spas, hotels, restaurants, eco-car rentals, and green family activities, such as nature museums and horseback riding outposts. Google creates an overlay of video clips on city maps, capturing green locations recommended by Earth Day Network. The service will be live throughout the summer. If you click on New York, for example, you’ll see a map of the city with icons indicating green locations. Click on the icon and a video pops up with a description. I happened to click on Candle Cafe, a wonderful restaurant I’ve been too that serves only organic, vegan food. “Google strives to be a green company, from our environmentally friendly construction practices to the initiatives we support through Google.org,” says John Hanke, director of Google Earth and Maps. “Many Americans are interested in green travel […]
A House Made From Paper
This simple construction method using trash paper and cardboard makes inexpensive houses that are strong, well insulated and easily built.
Weekly Clean Energy Roundup:June 14, 2006
News & EventsWestern Governors Adopt Clean Energy Resolutions California and Europe Dominate in Large Solar PV Projects Minnesota and South Carolina Promote Plug-in Hybrids, Alt Fuels Chevron Enters Biofuels Business, Invests in Biodiesel Company Virginia Tech Takes Top Honors in Challenge X Competition USDA Loan Program to Encourage Energy Efficient Homes Energy ConnectionsBLM Releases Map of Proposed Energy Corridors on Federal Land News and EventsWestern Governors Adopt Clean Energy ResolutionsWestern governors committed on Sunday to try to improve energy efficiency, bring on-line substantially more clean energy resources, and ensure there is adequate transmission available at a reasonable cost well into the future. The governors’ commitment stemmed from a newly released report from their Clean and Diversified Energy Advisory Committee (CDEAC), which included 38 recommendations relating to energy efficiency and renewable energy, as well as a number of recommendations relating to electrical transmission and advanced power generation from fossil fuels. The clean energy recommendations involve market incentives; regulatory policies; transmission access and pricing; regional efforts; and national policy recommendations. The governors resolved “to draw upon the full range of recommendations contained in the CDEAC report as a basis on which to advocate for energy policy changes at the federal and regional […]
Weekly Clean Energy Roundup:June 7, 2006
DOE Awards $34.6 Million to States for Energy Efficiency New Iowa Legislation to Boost Renewable Fuel Use Wood-Burning Power Plants Planned for Four States Hydropower Expansion Qualifies for Federal Tax Credit IRS Certifies Honda and Toyota Hybrids for Federal Tax Credits IRS Issues Guidance on Commercial Building Tax Deduction DOE Awards $34.6 Million to States for Energy EfficiencyDOE announced last week that it will award a total of $34.6 million to 24 states, five territories, and the District of Columbia to improve energy efficiency throughout the nation. The funding is from DOE’s State Energy Program, which provides grants to states and directs funding to state energy offices from technology programs in DOE’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE). Among the states receiving funding are Maryland, which will receive $642,000, and New Mexico, which will receive $314,000. Those awards were announced, respectively, by Andy Karsner, DOE’s Assistant Secretary for EERE and Karen Harbert, DOE’s Assistant Secretary for Policy and International Affairs. See the State Energy Program Web site and the DOE press releases on the overall funding and the awards to Maryland and New Mexico.New Iowa Legislation to Boost Renewable Fuel UseIowa Governor Tom Vilsack signed a legislative package […]
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