Arlington County, Virginia is the first local government to reference the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED rating system in official policy. The county, which is a member of the USGBC, voted to allow developers preferential treatment in their requests for bonus density if their projects achieve a high LEED rating. The policy takes effect in April, when LEED 2.0 is slated for release. Source: Environmental Building News
The Green Century Balanced Fund, with a total return of 30.55 percent for one-year ending September 30, was ranked #6 of all 421 balanced funds tracked by Lipper Analytical Services, Inc. Jackson Robinson, the portfolio’s manager and President of Winslow Management Company, stated, “In a year of relatively lower returns for many stocks and mutual funds, many of the proactive environmental companies in which the Fund invests shone, such as AstroPower and Vestas Wind Systems in the alternative/renewable energy sector. This success puts hard numbers behind our belief that green companies may have a competitive advantage.” A total of US$2 trillion is now invested in a socially responsible manner, representing about 13 percent of the $16 trillion total of funds under professional management. The fastest growing component of socially responsible investing is the growth of portfolios that employ both screening and shareholder advocacy, in which shareholders use their ownership positions to mold corporate action. [sorry this link is no longer available]
On November 12, in San Francisco, a new organization was formed – the World Green Building Council. Its purpose is to foster the development of national green building councils around the world to develop and promote standards, rating and certification systems, performance measures, technologies, products, and resources in green building and construction. Currently there are formal councils in the U.S, Japan, Spain and Korea. A new website will help members communicate and will include a “tool kit” to provide a model for countries interested in forming their own national green building councils. The next World Green Building Council meeting is currently scheduled to be held March 30-31, 2000 in Paris, France. The website will be: http://www.wgbc.org. For more information, contact Michelle A. Crozier, WorldBuild Technologies.
Kinko’s and Time Warner have joined the growing list of businesses running on renewable energy. Kinko’s signed on with GreenMountain.com for its 75 California stores and for several branches in Pennsylvania. Time Warner chose Commonwealth’s Green Power for its 1700 accounts in the Los Angeles area. The Los Angeles Department of Water & Power has signed up over 20,000 customers for its green power program and predicts the program will reach 200,000 customers in the next two to three years. The utility supplies customers with free compact fluorescent light bulbs to offset the six percent green power premium with lower electric costs. The City of Palmdale, California also announced it is switching to Commonwealth Energy’s green power program. Customers in regulated states will be able to access green power through The Center for Resource Solutions’s – the group responsible for Green-e green power certification – new “Green Pricing Accreditation Initiative.” Utilities that offer verifiable green power options to customers in regulated states can receive accreditation. Participating utilities must meet stringent environmental standards and must undergo an annual independent audit.
Mobile phone users in Australia can now return handsets, batteries and accessories from major suppliers like Ericsson, Nokia, and Philips, to local recycling stations, thanks to the Australian Mobile Telecommunications Association (AMTA). New phone equipment from participating vendors will carry a surcharge of AUD$1 (US$.63) to pay for the program. It will benefit vendors as well since Australia is changing from its older analog cellular phone network to a cellular network; as customers recycle their older equipment they will purchase phones designed for the new network. More than 400 retail stores in the country will serve as collection points. A Melbourne-based recycler will remove hazardous battery components and melt the plastic and metal pieces. AMTA collected 100,000 batteries in six months during a pilot phase. The group is considering including computer laptops and two-way radio phones in the recycling program if suppliers get involved. Australian Mobile Telecommunications Association: [sorry this link is no longer available] To learn about a similar program in Europe, read last month’s Spotlight section.
IKEA announced it is working with its suppliers to ensure that, by September 2000, the solid wood used to make its products does not originate from ancient forests unless it carries Forest Stewardship Council certification. “Our long term goal is to ensure that all wooden products comes from well-managed forests. The first step is to see that no solid wood is coming from ancient forests,” said Susanne Pulverer Bergstrand, environmental manager for the IKEA Group. Two companies – Wickes Lumber and HomeBase – targeted as part of the “Foolish Five” by Rainforest Action Network (RAN), quickly made commitments this month to stop selling old growth wood products. HomeBase and Wikes, the sixth and tenth largest U.S. home improvement retailers respectively, will end such sales by 2001. The remaining “Foolish Five” – home improvement companies that sell old growth wood products – are 84 Lumber, Menard’s and Payless Cashways. RAN has been applying relentless pressure on the industry group since its two-year campaign resulted in Home Depot’s August announcement that it would stop selling old growth wood products. A long list of corporations have made similar commitments including 3M, Dell, IBM, Kinko’s, Levi-Strauss, Mitsubishi Motors America, Mitsubishi Electric America, and Nike.
Insurer RheinLand Versicherung is offering European customers car, home and business policies with an added attraction the ability to sequester CO2 to stem climate change and the possibility of future profits, too. Customers can buy shares in a reforestation project in Panama for 1,000 Euro (US$1,041) each. The Panamanian forest company Futuro Forestal, which is certified by the Forest Stewardship Council, will manage the forest until the trees are ready to be cut (about 25 years). If investors receive annual returns between 7-12 percent, as RheinLand predicts, a person with the minimum share in combination with car insurance will earn back the total cost of the insurance premiums for the period. RheinLand Versicherung: [sorry this link is no longer available]
At this writing, the WTO meeting is in mid-session. Not since the Vietnam War protests have so many thousands of Americans joined to voice their concerns and clamor for inclusion in negotiations that affect their lives. Washington state Governor Gary Locke proclaimed a state of emergency after environment and labor demonstrators blocked streets and delayed the opening of official proceedings. Seattle Mayor Paul Schell requested the assistance of the National Guard. Police used tear gas, pepper spray gas, rubber bullets and paintballs to clear key intersections and to push back crowds. The common charge from the 40,000 protesters be they engineers or teachers, farmers or environmentalists, is: WTO sponsored “trade liberalization is lowering standards for environmental protection, public health and food safety.” On the agenda: forest products, chemicals, medical equipment and scientific instruments, environmental goods, energy, fish, gems and jewelry, and toys. David Roberts, international economist at BancAmerica, expects the WTO talks to conclude with an amorphous statement that leads to a new round of global trade talks where negotiations will move toward a new global agreement in three to 10 years. Roberts thinks the protesters achieved one of their main goals: “They’ve put their foot in the door and […]
As of December 15, the first hybrid-electric car in the U.S. is available in west coast showrooms (east coast in January). The 2-seater Honda Insight costs $18,880 (manufacturer’s retail price). The “Boston Globe” calls it “the start of a potentially momentous change in America’s automobile culture.” At 61 mpg in the city and 70 mpg on the highway, the car earns the EPA’s top mileage rating ever. It also meets California’s stringent Ultra Low Emission Vehicle (ULEV) standards. The Insight is the culmination of 40 years of Honda research into lighter, more fuel-efficient and cleaner-burning vehicle technologies. Its advanced aerodynamic design and aluminum body makes it almost 50 percent lighter than a comparable steel-bodied model. All the perks are there too: variable assist electric power steering, power windows, mirrors and door locks, stereo-cassette player, anti-lock brakes, a theft-deterrent system and remote keyless entry. Honda is marketing the Insight to three groups: people interested in high technology and concerned for the environment; the “sensible” family that can appreciate a high-mileage, fun commuter car that is good for the environment; and young, environmentally aware adults who are attracted to the distinctive styling. Visit EVWorld or the Honda Insight web site for specs […]
A new report from the National Environmental Trust argues the United States can meet more than 50 percent of its Kyoto Protocol required greenhouse gas reductions through simple, low- or no-cost improvements in energy efficiency in electricity generation, transportation, and other fields. They recommend increasing such efficiencies as: – coal and gas-fired power plants by 5-10 percent – vehicle fuel economy by 10 percent – replace 5 percent of gasoline-powered vehicles with alternative fuel vehicles – aircraft fuel efficiency by 10 percent – commercial/industrial lighting and cooling systems by 25 percent – standards for new appliances The full report is available at [sorry this link is no longer available]
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