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As of January 1, 2001, British homeowners and developers will be required to integrate standard energy efficient products into construction and renovation projects. The proposed standards for attic insulation, windows, and other common energy efficient products will save homeowners money and reduce emissions by 25 percent. This act alone will fulfill the country’s commitment to the Kyoto Protocol. There are standards for insulation in new or repaired roofs and walls, boiler efficiency, windows, and requirements for compact fluorescent bulbs in new construction. Presently, 46 percent of Britain’s carbon dioxide emissions come from heating and hot water, cooling and lighting.
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According to a recently released report by USAID (U.S. Agency for International Development), environmental technologies and services that assist in reducing greenhouse emissions will be a rapidly growing market over the next ten years. The authors predict the market will grow from its present $29.9 billion today to between $52 -$65 billion by 2010. The report, “Market Opportunities for Climate Change Technologies and Services in Developing Countries,” explains that the energy sector is among the fastest growing sectors in most developing countries and also generates the largest proportion of greenhouse gas emissions. Energy suppliers will acquire over half of the market for climate change services – energy efficiency and clean fuel technologies.
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160 of the largest ski resorts in the U.S. (70 percent of visits) have endorsed the Environmental Charter for Ski Areas, produced by the National Ski Areas Association. It was developed with support from the U.S. EPA and in consultation from environmental NGOs. Its’ 24 pages commit the industry to ongoing environmental performance assessments, to setting goals for improvement, and providing guidance on best practices. The Charter outlines elements of sustainable planning and design, stakeholder relations, environmental facility management, wildlife and forest management, and ways to integrate visitor environmental awareness with the resort experience. Ski resorts that follow the principles may display a “Sustainable Slopes” logo. SKI Magazine printed thousands of copies of the charter for ski areas to distribute to visitors. NSAA will collect data from resorts annually and issue a progress report. The EPA is providing technical assistance through its Water Alliance for Voluntary Efficiency, WasteWise, Energy Star, and Smart Growth programs. NSAA: [sorry this link is no longer available]
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Agricola Bananera Reybancorp S.A. in Ecuador is the first banana company in the world to receive ECO-O.K. certification at all 33 of its locations. ECO-O.K. is the international ecolabel of the Better Banana Project, a program initiated in 1991 to halt deforestation by banana plantations. Deforestation has stopped on farms that meet the 256 criteria, replaced by programs in reforestation, soil conservation, waste management, and wildlife protection. Workers receive good wages, proper safety equipment, improved housing, schools, training for adults, and medical care. Pesticide use has declined dramatically, and the most dangerous chemicals have been outlawed. Ecuador is the world’s largest banana exporter and Reybancorp is the country’s second largest banana company. The company has planted hundreds of thousands of trees and restored about 7,054 hectares in the some of the world’s biodiversity hotspots. The company foundation supports 20 schools and is helping small banana farmers meet certification requirements. “For Reybancorp, the main benefit of the program has been in increased worker morale and safety,” says President Rafael Wong. “Certified farms are cleaner and safer – and production is higher.” More than 160 farms are certified, totaling more than 120,000 acres in Ecuador, Colombia, Panama and Costa Rica, Guatemala and […]
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In an attempt to phase out diesel fueled municipal vehicles, the Los Angeles air quality agency, the South Coast Air Quality Management District, voted unanimously to require that all future purchases of buses and garbage trucks be clean fuel vehicles. The rules apply to 3,700 transit buses and 7,200 garbage trucks to be purchased in the next two years. In a second phase, public agencies must purchase vehicles that meet Californias Super Ultra Low Emissions Vehicle standards, the cleanest on the market. The SCAQMD will release additional rules that cover school buses, taxis, airport shuttles, street sweepers and other fleets. Diesel fuel emissions account for over 70 percent of air pollution in the Los Angeles Basin, according to a recent SCAQMD study. The state-wide Air Resources Board adopted a similar but less stringent measure in February; it allows vehicles to run on clean diesel fuel and gives ten years for phase-in. As part of California’s smog reduction plan, as of July 1, car owners whose vehicles fail the state emissions may be paid to either repair or permanently retire the cars. Owners of 1974-1996 model cars will receive a $1000 “bounty” if they turn their car into a dismantling center. […]
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The “Clean Power Act” (HR.4861), introduced by Representatives Rick Lazio (R-NY) and Sherwood Boehlert (R-NY) on July 13, addresses the impact of electric utility restructuring on acid rain and greenhouse gas emissions by providing incentives for utilities to develop renewable energy resources. If enacted, electricity suppliers would be able to trade nitrogen oxide and carbon dioxide permits across the U.S. Participating facilities would be allowed to emit a ton of NOX for the year, except between May 1 – September 30 – the “ozone period” – when only half a ton would be permitted. One ton of CO2 would be permitted per year. Facilities would be subject to fines and fewer allotments for lack of compliance. Starting in 2004, renewable resources must contribute to at least three percent of total U.S. electricity generation as tracked by the Energy Information Administration (Department of Energy). If it falls below this percentage, electricity suppliers would be required to use (tradable) renewable energy credits equal to three percent of the total electric energy sold for that year. In 2010, the credits are scheduled to increase to six percent per year. On June 13, Senator Bob Smith (R-NH) introduced Bill S. 2718 to offer tax […]
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City Mayors passed a resolution 78-36 to reduce global warming during the U.S. National Conference of Mayors in June. The resolution calls on Congress and the Administration to fully fund the Clean Air Partnership Fund – which provides grants to states and municipalities to reduce emissions – and to support tax incentives and targeted investments that will accelerate the development and deployment of clean energy technologies. They note that scientific evidence demonstrates that global warming is a serious threat and that its impacts and costs are already being felt in the form of extreme weather events adding up to an estimated $140 billion in property damage. The group points to energy and transportation efficiency, waste reduction and recycling, and renewable energy programs as key methods to not only reduce greenhouse gas emissions, but also to save money, create jobs and strengthen the local economy.
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The Pennsylvania Environmental Quality Board approved air regulations that will reduce power plant and industrial boiler nitrogen oxide emissions by 75 percent of 1990 levels. Facilities have to meet a cap of 50,000 tons per year by 2003. There are incentives for facilities that reduce emissions earlier and that reductions in nitrogen oxide, heavy metals and sulfur dioxide. Pennsylvania calls on states in the Midwest and South to do the same since it can’t control emissions coming from other states. For some perspective on the quantity of emissions to be reduced through this regulation, the EPA just inked a deal with BP Amoco and the Koch Petroleum Group as part of their flexible enforcement program. According to the EPA, the agreements are the largest to date for clean air reached with companies from the petroleum refining industry. By 2004, the companies will eliminate 49,000 tons of nitrogen oxide and sulfur dioxide emissions annually from 12 refineries. BP Amoco is expected to spend over $500 million on pollution-control technologies and eco-efficiency improvements; Koch Petroleum Group will invest as much as $80 million at three refineries.
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In a bold move, Iceland Group, a U.K. food retailer with 770 stores, announced plans to convert to organic food at no extra cost to customers. The company is starting by using organic produce in its frozen food lines and has established long-term supplier contracts amounting to nearly 40 percent of the world’s organic vegetables (US$13.5 million). The company is donating US$1.5 million to the National Trust, Britain’s largest landowner and charity, to encourage organic farming there, since only three percent of Britain’s farms are organic. About 80 percent of its contracts have been sourced outside of the UK for this reason, angering local farmers. Iceland will absorb the difference in cost between organic and conventional produce to the tune of US$12 million so that the costs are not passed along to customers. Says Chairman Malcolm Walker, “It is our aim to stop organics being a niche market and make it accessible to all income groups.” According to Russell Ford, Iceland’s managing director, the decision was prompted by surveys that show three out of four customers would prefer to buy organic goods if they were competitively priced. Organic food sales are increasing by 40 percent a year in Britain, but […]
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Starting August 15, you can participate in online environmental management training. It takes about two hours a week to complete this five month practical course. Participants will receive training in state-of-the-art strategies and tools, with an emphasis on “best practices.” The inexpensive course is targeted to senior staff employed in the production or service sector who are responsible for the implementation of environmental protection measures in their companies. Participants will be asked to solve case studies taken from their professional environment and will have opportunities for feedback from trainers and fellow students. It will be offered in English and German. The training course is conducted by CDG, a German NGO that holds business seminars around the world, attracting over 23,000 participants each year. Application Deadline: June 30. Contact: Dr. Bernd Gutterer for more information.
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