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Implementation of the Kyoto Protocol will create one to two million jobs in environmentally-related fields in the European Union over the next 11 years, according to Ritt Bjerregaard, European Commissioner for Environment and Nuclear Safety. At least 3.5 million people in the European Union presently work in such jobs. Energy-efficient technologies, renewable energy sources and taxes on conventional energy sources will all create jobs. “Estimates show the job potential of wind energy can be as high as 320,000 jobs, and that of biomass production to 1,000,000 jobs,” Bjerregaard said. She predicted that it would be mainly small and medium-sized companies that will create these new jobs as they change production processes. Companies that use clean technologies and innovative solutions will gain competitive advantage as they save costs, avoid pollution, use fewer resources such as energy and water. Their expansion will lead to job creation. Bjerregaard says, “Studies in Germany and the U.K. show that cleaner cars and more and better public transport systems not only improve urban air quality but also create employment. Similarly, increased activity in recycling and the provision of green spaces result in new businesses opportunities and thus new jobs.” She predicts organic farming and sustainable forestry […]
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You can run an environmental management system (EMS) gap analysis on Greenbridge Management’s website. Save your results and track your progress. The diagnostic tools are accompanied by extensive “how-to” tips, references, sample procedures, list of environmental issues across industries, and discussion forum. green@greenbridge.com http://www.greenbridge.com
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The oil industry is heavily subsidized at US$114.6 billion a year. If we included the costs of securing and protecting oil supplies, extracting and processing it, gas would cost $15.14 per gallon. The International Centre for Technology Assessment released a report which examined over 40 cost factors associated with gasoline production – adding up to $1.69 trillion per year. The U.S. government spends $1.6 billion yearly on regulatory oversight, pollution cleanup and liability costs connected to the oil industry. The U.S. Defense Department allocates $55-95 billion a year to safeguard the world’s petroleum resources. Most state income taxes are based on oil firms’ lower federal tax bills, which result in companies paying US $123-323 million less in state taxes. The renewable energy and energy conservation industry sectors are concerned that the subsidies distort the free market and make renewables less economically competitive. They call for leveling the economic playing field, either by giving them the same subsidies, or by withdrawing the subsidies from the oil industry. FROM Gallon Environment Letter
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In these four videos world renowned authors, scientists, and scholars provide convincing, illustrated discussions of the challenges we face as we restructure our economy to include environmental and social “externalities”. The concepts of national accounting methods, resource exhaustion, energy efficiency, carrying capacity, and biodiversity are clearly presented in interviews, lectures, and documentary illustrations. In “An Introduction to Ecological Economics,” you’ll learn about the field with Gaylord Nelson, the founder of Earth Day; Herman Daly, founder of ecological economics and co-author of the classic book, For the Common Good. “Investing in Natural Capital” explores carrying capacity issues related to agriculture, international trade, property rights, and over-population. “Conversation for a Sustainable Society” features Amory and Hunter Lovins, Dennis Meadows, David Orr, and others, discussing energy efficiency, economic renewal, utility reform, resource efficient technologies, and commercial retrofits. “Costa Rica Counts the Future” is produced in Spanish and English and presents examples of Costa Rica’s adoption of ecological economics as official policy. Griesinger Films: Prgfilms@ix.netcom.com 800/872-4456
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A study by the ICF Kaiser Consulting Group for the US EPA’s Energy Star Homes Program found that homebuyers are willing to pay substantially more for energy-efficient homes. Energy Star homes use at least 30% less energy than a Model Energy Code home while maintaining or improving indoor air quality and increasing comfort. EPA estimates that the cost to upgrade a new home to Energy Star levels ranges from $2,000 to $4,000, and reduces utility bills by $420 per year. For every $1 saved in annual utility bills, $20 is added to a home’s market value. Therefore, a savings of $420 a year in utility bills translates into an additional $8,400 for the home when it’s sold. To read the report: [sorry this link is no longer available] EPA Energy Star Homes: [sorry this link is no longer available]
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The CADDET Renewable Energy Centre website has international case studies on renewable technologies: biomass, geothermal, waste, hydro, solar, and wind. Some examples: Kalbarri Photovoltaic System, Australia, is the country’s largest PV system, a 20 kW grid-connected plant. It demonstrates a local current-controlled inverter and provides operating data on the benefits of distributed generation. A Heat Pump System in Japan uses ambient energy, such as natural convection, wind and solar radiation. Outdoor panels absorb and dissipate heat; storage units make ice by direct expansion refrigeration. The Brundtland Centre in Denmark employs advanced technologies and new materials to reduce grid energy consumption and provide optimum comfort for users. It includes integrated PV panels, daylighting, passive solar heating and natural ventilation. Water Current Turbines in the UK pump and generate electricity from rivers and canals. This project is used on the Nile river to provide drinking water for about 5,000 people. http://www.caddet-re.org
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A new California state law requires energy service providers to disclose the source of their power to help Californians choose an energy supplier. The “power content label” will be sent to customers along with quarterly information from electric service providers. The label indicates the energy sources used by their provider and compares them with the generic California system power mix. For Californians who choose to purchase green power, the label adds a strong measure of confidence that their energy dollars are flowing to renewable resources. [sorry this link is no longer available]
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The Murdoch University Energy Research Institute and the Australian Cooperative Research Centre for Renewable Energy have placed elements of a renewable energy display site on a new website, WebRAPS. The physical site, on which WebRAPS is based, was developed and opened to the public in 1994. It demonstrates available renewable energy technologies and system options using Australian-made products from local suppliers. Visitors can view and interact with the systems. [sorry this link is no longer available]
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The new German government has launched a 100,000 solar rooftop program that is expected to create a market for some 500 MW of photovoltaic modules – valued in the billions of dollars over the next few years – almost four times greater than the entire world’s shipments of 122 MW of solar cells in 1997. In the U.S., the Department of Energy is making an additional $900,000 available nationally to fund the Million Solar Roofs Project (solar energy on 1 million buildings by 2010). About $90,000 will initially be granted in the New England region. Vermont pledged to add 1,000 solar energy systems to roofs around the state.
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At the new online EPA database, E-GRID, you can access information about the emissions produced by power plants across the U.S. E-GRID integrates information for 1996 from 12 federal databases. You can compare your local power plantto others nationally, since it is based on emissions per unit of electricity. It also displays, for individual plants, companies, states, and regions, the amount and percentage of power from different sources, such as coal, natural gas, nuclear, hydro, solar, and wind. EPA considers this information an important “right-to-know” tool. People in 18 states can choose among competing electricity suppliers; this information can help them understand the ramifications of their decisions and help them choose clean energy suppliers. egrid@epa.gov http://www.epa.gov/acidrain/eg rid/egrid.htm
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