Jul 14, 2012

In historic drought... Wisconsin town barred from beefing up farm water rules.

The Wisconsin Supreme Court dealt a blow to environmentalists concerned about water pollution from huge livestock farms Wednesday, when it said communities couldn't set stricter standards than the state.

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Lifetime thyroid doses of radiation in Fukushima children.

Children in Fukushima Prefecture likely received thyroid gland doses of internal radiation, despite earlier government assurances that the levels of such doses were zero, according to an independent study.

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Drought Covers One-Third Of U.S. Counties, The Largest Agricultural Disaster Area Ever Declared

The U.S. Agriculture Department has issued a natural disaster declaration for more than1,000 U.S. counties facing severe drought. This disaster declaration is the largest ever from the Agriculture Department and includes one-third of counties and spans 26 states. Some 53 percent of the Midwest is facing moderate or severe drought, but areas beyond the drought’s borders could pay higher world grain prices, due to a poor harvest.

This disaster declaration makes farmers eligible for disaster assistance, but lawmakers will continue to remain silent on the root cause: Climate change. The year of record heat isn’t achance occurrence, but comes from a climate system on steroids, “juiced” by manmade greenhouse gas emissions.

More than one-third of U.S. counties are facing severe drought.

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    Research murky on danger of Asian carp invasion.

    It's like a scene from a Hitchcock movie — Asian carp by the dozen hurtle from the water as if shot from a gun. Biologists, however, fear a different kind of horror story may be taking shape underwater: a war for survival between the aggressive Asian carp newcomers and native species.

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    Cookstoves threaten health of 3 billion people as solution remains elusive.

    Cookstoves used by more than 3 billion people worldwide rank ahead of unsafe water as a major cause of death in low- and middle-income countries. Their smoke drives short-term climate change. But while governments have vowed to clean up emissions, newer models may make matters worse.

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    Apple back to protecting environment, will relist products on EPEAT | Resource Recycling

    Apple reverses EPEAT exit, will relist products

    In a complete reversal, Apple announced today that it will no longer pull its products from the EPEAT registry.

    In an open letter posted on the company's website, Senior Hardware Engineering VP Bob Mansfield acknowledged the public disappointment in Apple's earlier decision to abandon the green electronics rating system and said that as of today, all eligible products will be relisted on the EPEAT registry.

    The company's earlier decision to abandon the ranking system sparked wide-ranging public criticism, as well as a backlash from many large purchasers of IT products, such as the federal government, state and local governments, and other large companies and organizations that have EPEAT requirements as part of their procurement policies.

    In attempting to diffuse the controversy, Apple had pointed to many of its energy use, materials use and emissions improvements included in the products. The company still maintains that revisions to the IEEE 1680.1 standard, which EPEAT is partially based on, are needed.

    "It's important to know that our commitment to protecting the environment has never changed, and today it is as strong as ever," said Mansfield in the letter. "Apple makes the most environmentally responsible products in our industry. In fact, our engineering teams have worked incredibly hard over the years to make our products even more environmentally friendly, and much of our progress has come in areas not yet measured by EPEAT."

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    Voyage studying plastic waste in Great Lakes sets sail.

    Until now, scientists could only guess at the amount of plastic waste in the Great Lakes. This week, a team of researchers sets sail to conduct the first-ever survey of plastic pollution in the world’s largest fresh water system.

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    Jul 13, 2012

    Sewage as energy: An essentially unlimited renewable resource.

    B.C. is leading the way in using one of mankind’s most renewable resources to heat its buildings - sewage. The trend started when both Vancouver and Whistler decided to create neighbourhood energy-generating plants for their Olympic villages to provide heating and hot water.

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    Canada's environment minister to crack down on "third world" sewage practices.

    The Harper government is proceeding with plans to crack down on nearly 150 billion litres of raw sewage dumped every year into Canadian waterways - considered to be a threat to both human and environmental health.

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    Gulf oil spill had dramatic impact on microscopic life, study suggests.

    Months after BP capped the gushing well in the Gulf of Mexico, Alabama’s beaches looked like they had returned to normal but new research suggests that significant changes had taken place in creatures too small to be seen by the naked eye.

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    Renewable energy could provide 80% of US electricity - at what cost?

    The United States could be getting 80 percent of its electricity from renewable sources by 2050 and all it would take is doubling the pace for installing renewable energy sources and then doubling it again and somewhere between $320 billion and $1 trillion.

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    Crop technology helps limit corn losses in drought.

    For months, Illinois farmer David Kellerman held out hope for rain, even as the worst drought in nearly 25 years spread across the country. He finally gave up when the temperature hit 108 three days in a row.

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    Update: Midwest drought slashes US corn estimate, jolts market.

    The worst Midwest drought in a quarter century is doing more damage to U.S. crops than previously expected with the government slashing its estimate for what was supposed to be a record harvest.

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    Disaster declared in 26 states as drought sears US.

    More than 1,000 counties in 26 states are being named natural-disaster areas, the biggest such declaration ever by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, as drought grips the Midwest.

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    Jul 11, 2012

    Stanford scientists give new life to Thomas Edison's nickel-iron battery

    Thomas Edison with his nickel-iron rechargeable battery in 1910 (Photo: Smithsonian)

    A green, rechargeable battery that is suitable for powering electric vehicles and stationary power storage applications, and that would survive tens of thousands of charge cycles in a useful life of 100 years without loss of capacity. What could be a better innovation for our times? Such a battery has been developed, and recently improved by Stanford researchers. Oh, one other thing. The battery was invented by Thomas Edison in 1901... Continue Reading Stanford scientists give new life to Thomas Edison's nickel-iron battery

    Triboelectric generator could allow electricity-generating touchscreens

    The pyramid patterns created in a polymer sheet increase current production in the new tri...

    Researchers at the Georgia Institute of Technology have taken advantage of the triboelectric effect, which sees an electric charge generated through friction between two different materials, to develop a generator that could supplement power produced by piezoelectric nanogenerators previously developed at Georgia Tech. The triboelectric generator could be used to produce electricity from activities such as walking and even has the potential to create touchscreens that generate their own power... Continue Reading Triboelectric generator could allow electricity-generating touchscreens

    Cost-effective solar power module energy twice as efficiently, could also serve as an eco-friendly furnace

    A dish-shaped mirror focuses sunlight onto a glass ball, which distributes it evenly onto ...

    Borrowing technology from sophisticated telescope mirrors as well as high-efficiency solar cells used for space exploration, a group of students and researchers at the University of Arizona are putting the final touches on a novel power plant that promises to generate renewable energy twice as efficiently as standard solar panel technology with highly competitive costs and a very small environmental impact... Continue Reading Cost-effective solar power module could also serve as an eco-friendly furnace

    IEA Predicts 40 Percent World-Wide Increase of Renewable Energy Usage by 2017

    hydropower, Medium-Term Renewable Energy Market Report of 2012, bioenergy, onshore wind, offshore wind, solar photovoltaics, concentrating solar power (CSP), geothermal, renewable energy, International Energy Agency, ocean power, green design, eco design, sustainable design

    The International Energy Agency (IEA) just published an optimistic prediction for the future of renewable energy, suggesting that world-wide green energy usage will increase by forty percent or more by 2017. The agency estimates that the use of wind, solar, hydro and biopower will jump exponentially over the next five years as the world embraces renewable energy, reducing our dependence upon fossil fuels.


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    Jul 10, 2012

    Amtrak Unveils $151B Plan For Northeast High Speed Rail By 2040 | TPM Idea Lab

    Amtrak, the government-owned national rail corporation, on Monday released an ambitious $151 billion plan to develop a high-speed rail line along the currently existing Northeast Corridor rail network by 2040.

    The proposed high-speed rail line would travel at top speeds of 220 miles-per-hour in some sections and be able to deliver passengers from Washington, D.C. to Boston in a little over 3 hours.

    Travel times between other major Northeastern cities would be shortened even more markedly, with travel times between New York and Boston or New York and Washington, D.C. down to 94 minutes, and a little over a half-hour between New York and Philadelphia.

    Compare that to the current fastest Amtrak trains along the route, those in the Acela Express line, which take three-and-a-half hours to get from Boston to New York and a little under three hours to get from Washington, D.C. to New York.

    The new Amtrak plan included the following chart showing the estimated time saved as construction on the new plan proceeds over the next 28 years.

    "With an expected 30 percent population increase by 2050, we must move beyond mere preservation and rehabilitation of the current system to a new vision for expanded transportation capacity and growth," said Amtrak President and CEO Joe Boardman in a statement.

    But the plan proposes that Amtrak spend the next 13 years making improvements and upgrades to the 457 miles of current rail infrastructure in the Northeast Corridor, which stretches from Washington, D.C. to Boston, before laying down the new track that would be necessary for a high speed rail line.

    In fact, Amtrak's detailed outline, titled "The Amtrak Vision for the Northeast Corridor: 2012 Update Report," is itself an updated and consolidated version of two other rail plans released by the corporation back in 2010, one focused on improving existing infrastructure and the other on high-speed rail, which Amtrak at that time estimated would cost $117.5 billion

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    #Energy Department Announces New Case Studies, Business Models to Support Energy Efficiency Upgrade Programs

    EERE News July 10, 2012 - As part of the Obama Administration's all-of-the-above strategy to reduce energy costs for consumers and American businesses, the Energy Department today released a new suite of resources supporting the design and implementation of energy efficiency upgrade programs. Developed through the Department's Better Buildings Neighborhood Program, these new resources include six case studies, a business model guide, and a video, all of which leverage the experiences and knowledge of participating partners in testing new program models while upgrading more than 20,000 homes. These tools will help communities across the country replicate successful energy efficiency programs—creating new jobs and business opportunities and saving consumers money on their utility bills.

    Three of the new Better Buildings Neighborhood Program case studies announced today profile the successes and lessons learned in workforce and small business development efforts in Maine, Oregon, and Pennsylvania, which are training American workers for jobs as energy efficiency professionals. Three additional case studies provide details on how Better Buildings Neighborhood Program partners are leveraging incentives in Maine, Michigan, and Oregon to increase the demand for and availability of energy efficiency upgrades for homes. By providing practical information to help boost the participation of homeowners, engage local partner organizations, expand job training opportunities, and reduce cost barriers, these case studies show how Better Buildings Neighborhood Program partners are creating sustainable business models and impactful programs to help residents live more comfortably and save money.

    Additionally, The Better Buildings Business Models Guide is now available to assist Better Buildings Neighborhood Program partners, energy efficiency program administrators, and building contractors deploy successful local energy efficiency initiatives. The guide offers multiple approaches for expanding the range of energy efficiency services available, carrying out effective business strategies, and developing partnerships to deliver home energy upgrades to consumers.

    The Energy Department also announced a new video today, Strengthening the Workforce in Better Buildings Neighborhoods, a three-minute piece that captures how Better Buildings Neighborhood Program partners are training and expanding their local contractor workforce.


    Please Read Full story at EERE
    http://apps1.eere.energy.gov/news/progress_alerts.cfm/pa_id=765

    #CBO - Income for All Households Fell 12% from 2007 to 2009 in Real (Inflation-Adjusted) Terms

    CBO - The recent recession has had a substantial impact on income, the amount of taxes owed, and average tax rates. Changes in households’ before-tax income and average tax rates in 2008 and 2009 were substantial and differed markedly across the income distribution. Average after-tax income fell notably, owing to a drop in market income caused by the recession that began in December 2007 that was only partially offset by increases in government transfers and decreases in federal taxes.

    In this report CBO extends its estimates of the distribution of household income and federal taxes through 2008 and 2009, the latest year for which comprehensive data are available, and compares those estimates with estimates for 2007 and for the 1979–2009 period.

    Average Before-Tax Income for All Households Fell 12 Percent from 2007 to 2009 in Real (Inflation-Adjusted) Terms

    ...The overall average federal tax rates of 18.0 percent in 2008 and 17.4 percent in 2009 were the lowest in the 1979–2009 period and were well below the previous low of 19.4 percent in 2003 and the average of 21.0 percent over that period. For most income groups, the 2009 average federal tax rate also was the lowest observed in the 1979–2009 period. The pattern in the intervening years is more varied, reflecting the interaction of numerous changes to tax law and changes in the composition and distribution of income.

    Average Federal Tax Rates, 1979 to 2009

    With the decline in before-tax income offset in part by the decrease in federal taxes, average after-tax income fell 10 percent in real terms. The decline in after-tax income for the highest-income households reversed a substantial portion of the sharp rise in their income between 1979 and 2007.

    Please see full at Source: http://www.cbo.gov/publication/43373

    California's $100 billion Bullet Train May to Nowhere...while running $16 billion budget deficit

    For Now, Bullet Train May Go Nowhere - BY JIM CARLTON & MAX TAVES Wall Street Journal
    After clearing a major legislative hurdle, California's proposed bullet train between Los Angeles and San Francisco still faces obstacles—including lawsuits and uncertainties over future funding—that could delay it for years. Friday's narrow state Senate vote approving $4.7 billion in bonds for the train and related projects sends the funding bill to a likely signing by Gov. Jerry Brown, a proponent of high-speed rail.

    Defining Insanity Down. By Victor Davis Hanson - There are lots of insane things about California, like going ahead with a $100 billion high-speed rail project — while running a $16 billion budget deficit — designed to run, in the first phase, from above Fresno to Corcoran, apparently for those tourists interested in visiting at high speed Charles Manson in the Corcoran prison at the end of the proposed line.

    Electric Power Facility Converts Sewage Sludge into Carbonized Biomass Fuel

    ...utilizing sewage sludge at a facility built in the Kinuura Tobu Sewage treatment Center. It plans to produce 2,700 tons of carbonized biomass fuel annually which will then be used at the adjacent Chubu Electric Power Co.'s Hekinan Thermal Power Plant for the next 20 years starting from fiscal 2012.

    Read on at:
    http://www.japanfs.org/en/pages/032036.html

    Pollution kills 500 each year in Sheffield.

    Five hundred people a year are dying prematurely because of illegal levels of pollution in Sheffield, a shock new report reveals.

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    Wind farms on land grow with few critics. Via @bostonglobe

    Despite controversy that has slowed the Cape Wind project in Nantucket Sound, land-based wind farms are expanding rapidly in the US Northeast. Driving this growth are technological advances reducing the cost of wind turbines and increasing their efficiency, making wind power more competitive with traditional power sources.

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    System for Predicting Wave Energy Could Double Wave Power Generation

    EcoGeek has a post on research into optimising wave power generation - System for Predicting Wave Energy Could Double Wave Power Generation.
    As part of a new study on wave power, the University of Exeter and Tel Aviv University have come up with a system that predicts the power of waves in order to maximize wave energy devices' ability to generate energy from the sea. The researchers found that this system could potentially double the amount of wave energy generated by a device.

    Phys.org reports, "The research focused on point absorbers, commonly-used floating devices with parts that move in response to waves, generating energy which they feed back to the grid. Point absorbers are already known to be much more efficient in the amount of energy they produce if their response closely matches the force of the waves and previous research has looked at trying to increase this efficiency. However, this is the first study that has focused on increasing the device's efficiency by predicting and controlling internal forces of the device caused by forthcoming waves."

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    First half of 2012 USA's warmest on record, 4.5 degrees above average

    USA Today - Twenty-eight states and more than 100 cities have posted their warmest first six months on record, based on national weather data that go back to 1895, according to the report from NOAA's National Climatic Data Center.

    The national temperature this year was 52.9 degrees, which is 4.5 degrees above average and 1.2 degrees above the next-warmest year, which was 2006, the climate report notes.

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    Monsanto's Roundup: What's Behind Illinois Stealing Local Hero's Bee Hives?

    An Illinois beekeeper whose bee hives were stolen and allegedly destroyed by the Illinois Department of Agriculture has stirred up a hornet's nest with his questions on why the state did this, and most importantly, what they did with his bees.

    The state claims the bees were destroyed because they were infected with a disease called foulbrood.

    But when the 58-year apiary keeper had his hearing—three weeks after the removal of his bees without his knowledge—the state's "evidence" had disappeared, leaving more questions than answers about the raid on the beekeeper's hives.

    Some people, including the beekeeper, Terrence Ingram, suspect the raid has more to do with Ingram's 15 years of research on Monsanto's Roundup and his documented evidence that Roundup kills bees, than it does about any concerns about his hives.

    Interestingly, the state's theft targeted the queen bee and hive he'd been using to conduct the research.

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    Jul 9, 2012

    China starts stockpiling rare earths: AP report

    SHANGHAI — China has started stockpiling rare earths for strategic reserves, a state-backed newspaper said Thursday, in a move that may raise more worries over Beijing's control of the coveted resources.
    China has already started the purchase -- using state funds -- and storage of rare earths for strategic reserves, the China Securities Journal said, but did not specify exactly when the initiative was launched.
    "This is China's start of work for state strategic buying and storage of rare earths," the newspaper said.
    The country produces more than 90 percent of the world's rare earths, which are used in high-tech equipment ranging from iPods to missiles, and it has set production caps and export quotas on them.

    Please continue reading at:
    http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5gSMK_qr0ed7lHzPIX34ytLuEKjgw

    Firefly a 100% Solar-Powered 6 person Boat That Only Costs $2900!

    Firefly, Dan Baker, solar-powered boat, solar power, green transportation, electric boat, electric motor, green boat

    This awesome boat, dubbed Firefly, is a six-person boat that is powered entirely by the sun. The first Firefly was built in 2010 by Dan Baker who decided to construct his own pontoon to cruise around Fraser Lake, British Columbia. Originally the Firefly was powered by two trolling motors and a car charger, but today it’s the ultimate 100% solar-powered lake boat. The Firefly got its name from the 900 LED lights that are positioned on the top of the boat.

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    Free Technical Assistance Webinar on Improving #Water & #Energy Efficiency - ICORE Project

    Improving Water and Energy Efficiency Through Technical Assistance: The ICORE Project

    Through the Illinois Conservation of Resources and Energy (ICORE) project, the Illinois Sustainable Technology Center (ISTC) provides technical assistance to water and wastewater treatment facilities and businesses to reduce water and energy consumption; wastewater generation; and carbon emissions. This webinar will focus on the first two years of ICORE, covering activities, obstacles, and achievements, as well as example(s) of technologies and case studies relevant to the project.

    Join us for a Webinar on Thursday, July 19, 2012
    Time: 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM CDT

    Reserve your Webinar seat now at:
    https://www4.gotomeeting.com/register/960023943

    Progressing Unevenly, China’s Smart Cities Offer a $153 Billion Opportunity via @luxresearch


    While China’s build‐out of “smart cities” is significantly smaller than the hype might suggest, it still represents a $153 billion opportunity across 54 projects, mostly in the southern and eastern provinces. This week’s graphic appeared in a report (client registration required) published in March by Lux Research’s China Innovation Intelligence Service. It illustrates analysis revealing that over half – 31 – of China’s smart city projects are slated to unfold in cities that in 2010 yielded a minimum GDP of USD 100 billion (Tier A) and USD 60 billion (Tier B).

    In terms of the speed at which these projects are unfolding, 15 are already under construction. Another 21 were announced with details such as investment amount, smart city applications involved, project deadline, and even participating suppliers. Fifteen additional smart city projects rated an official announcement, but few details to date. Finally, three Tier C cities – with a minimum 2010 GDP of USD 15 billion – have expressed an intention to launch projects, but haven’t formally announced them yet.

    Read  on at Lux Research

    Bank Uses #CSR, #Environmental and #Socialmedia Tools to Choose Clients.

    Standard Chartered Bank has developed sector-specific environmental and social (E&S) risk assessment (ESRA) tools used to evaluate a client’s operations and ability to manage E&S risks. ESRAs help the bank assess a client’s performance against industry peers and build a long-term view of their ability and capacity to manage E&S risks and associated challenges. It considers prospective clients’ track record in complying with relevant laws and regulations along with their E&S management systems, and their plan and strategy for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and water conservation and pollution. All project finance transactions are categorized and assessed against the Equator Principles. Standard Charter will not finance certain projects such as forestry operations in primary forests or operations with evidence of child labour.

    Read full at:
    www.standardchartered.com/en/sustainability/index.html

    Sources provided by David Schaller
    www.sustainablepractices.info

    #CSR Research Shows Increasing Customer Demand for #Sustainable Products. Truth in Marketing - Shopper sensitivity to greenwashing

    One Green Score for One Earth is the first in a series of sustainability research white papers Ryan Partnership Chicago and Mambo Sprouts Marketing will publish to assist brand marketers and retailers in communicating sustainability to consumers. Three trends emerge from the white paper: Sustainability Wins - Shoppers will devote a larger share of their spending to products and stores that are able to convince them of their sustainability claims; 2) Truth in Marketing - Shopper sensitivity to greenwashing will intensify and consumers will demand an accurate way of understanding and comparing sustainability across products, companies and retailers; and 3) Eco-Accounting - Brands and retailers will increasingly focus on the triple bottom line and strive to provide their customers with product sustainability information. The research shows shoppers would increase sustainable product spending if only they could determine which products were truly green and which had been green-washed.

    See report at:
    http://onegreenscore.com/images/One_Green_Score_for_One_Earth_WHITEPAPER_opt.pdf

    Post source:
    www.sustainablepractices.info

    Marketplace for #Sustainable Community Transactions in #Environmental Credits.

    Mission Marketplace is a new financial marketplace for the impact and sustainability community. Members can raise capital, discover investment and crowdfunding opportunities, buy and sell environmental credits, access comprehensive data, promote 3rd party products and services and connect and collaborate with stakeholders using investor and community building tools. On The Mission Marketplace members can transact in a variety of regulated and voluntary credits including water pollution, carbon, sustainable agri-commodities, habitat and wetlands. The Mission Marketplace is the first platform to offer multi environmental credit and sustainable commodity certificate transactions in one centralized location.

    Source:
    http://www.sustainablepractices.info

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