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The American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy reports that for the first year since 1991, energy-related carbon emissions did not rise. They remained flat in 1998 despite four percent economic growth. Emissions are 10.3 percent above 1990 levels. In comparison, the UK’s emissions declined 9 percent from 1990-1997; the U.K. emits less than half as much per capita as the U.S. ACEEE 1998 carbon emissions scorecard: [sorry this link is no longer available]
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In a June 3 Executive Order, President Clinton directed federal agencies to cut energy use 35 percent by 2010 compared to 1985 levels, expanding the current goal of 30 percent (of 1990 levels) by 2005. When the measures are fully implemented, taxpayers will save $750 million annually. Reportedly, about half the goal has been met. The federal government is the largest U.S. energy user, consuming 32 percent more per square foot than the average private sector building, and spends about $4.2 billion a year. The new policy covers about 500,000 government buildings, ranging from the Pentagon (which recently installed a 15 kW PV system) to local social security administration offices. The Defense Department accounts for 75 percent of the energy used. The Order also states that each agency must expand its use of renewable energy. As part of the Million Solar Roofs initiative, the President said the federal government is looking to install 2,000 solar energy systems at federal facilities by the end of 2000, and 20,000 solar energy systems at federal facilities by 2010. Provisions included in earlier drafts would have mandated the purchase of renewable energy to meet a minimum share of federal electricity needs. SMUD (Sacramento Municipal […]
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SGS International Certification Services Canada certified Toronto’s Pearson International Airport as the first in North America to receive 14001 environmental management certification. It’s 25th largest airport in the world and handles 28 million passengers per year. To meet certification standards, the airport’s plan calls for proper accounting and handling of fuel, de-icing chemicals, cars and taxis, and solid waste disposal. An environmental emergency contingency plan deals with substances such as jet fuels, dangerous goods in transit, deicing and maintenance chemicals and poly-chlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). At least once a year there is a mock environmental emergency exercise and the plan is updated annually. A state-of-the-art system called Differential Optical Absorption Spectrometry will monitor air quality. The information will be reported to all levels of government and will be used to keep passengers away from emissions. Aircraft and runway deicing requires spraying glycol solution, which can get into nearby storm water. Fuel and fire-suppression chemicals may spill, and occasionally there are spills while refueling. All this flows into storm water – a leading cause of contamination. Stormwater is monitored at five locations, with additional sites during the winter. About 60 percent of the waste generated by the airport is recyclable. The airport’s […]
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Just two weeks before appropriation committees of the U.S. House and Senate voted to cut DOE’s programs for renewable energy and energy efficiency, and increase funding for nuclear and fossil fuels programs, a survey showed that Americans want the opposite. For the fifth year in a row, the Sustainable Energy Coalition survey found that a majority of all Americans (62%) give the highest priority to funding DOE’s renewable energy and energy efficiency programs. 31 percent of respondents indicated that nuclear power R&D should be the first program to receive budget cuts, followed by fossil fuels (21%). Some of the other results of the survey are: — 78% support including a Renewable Energy Portfolio Standard requiring 10% of electricity be generated from solar, wind, geothermal, and biomass sources as part of federal electric utility restructuring legislation. — 59% favor creating a Public Benefits Fund, supported by a 2-3% surcharge on utility bills, to fund energy efficiency, low-income energy assistance, and renewable energy R&D programs. — 89% believe electricity suppliers should be required to disclose to customers the type of fuel used and amount of air pollutant emitted. — 76% believe electric utility shareholders, not customers, should be responsible for paying off […]
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The Brazilian Agriculture Ministry approved five varieties of genetically modified soybeans made by Monsanto, a significant decision considering the country is the world’s second-largest producer of soybeans. The ministry claims the soy is more resistant to disease and less expensive. The southern state of Rio Grande do Sul, however disagrees and threatened legal action to prevent cultivation there. On the other side of the Atlantic, the British Medical Association called for an indefinite moratorium on planting GMO crops because of “the lack of scientific evidence on their long-term safety,” according to the London Telegraph. They believe GMOs should be labeled and processed separately from other foods. Source: UN Foundation: http://www.unausa.org
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The Alliance for Environmental Innovation and Dell Computer are partnering to address environmental solutions for the personal computer industry. The Alliance works with industry leaders to find environmentally preferable ways of doing business. Dell, the number two PC manufacturer in the U.S. is looking for ways to provide eco-efficient products and packaging that are economically viable and meet its performance and safety specifications. The partnership will also establish criteria for Dell’s suppliers, and will conduct market research for Dell to explore ways to expand markets for environmentally preferable computer systems. [sorry this link is no longer available] FROM EDF Letter
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The Los Angeles basin already has the most stringent paint pollution standards in the U.S., but now the rules are tightened even more to reduce volatile organic compounds. The rules, which may impact paint manufacturers nationally, will be phased in over the next seven years, and cover a wide range of primers, sealers, industrial and household enamels. Although most of the paint is water-based it still contains petroleum solvents. The industry may need to spend about $800 million to reformulate the paint and will add six dollars a gallon for glossy paint. The new standards will eliminate slightly more than two percent of the compounds from the LA basin from all sources, including cars and industry. To learn more: http://www.aqmd.gov
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Norm Thompson Inc., one of Oregon’s oldest “Northwest style” clothing retailers, is working with students at the University of Portland to conduct a Natural Step-based environmental audit of the 50 million catalogs the company annually distributes. They are tracing the life of a catalog, beginning with a living tree. The team will develop ways to significantly reduce the environmental impact of the company’s three catalog divisions. FROM The Compass: The Natural Step News
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An international partnership has formed to develop an international protocol for measuring and reporting greenhouse gas emissions from business. The protocol will help businesses simplify reporting, and improve the credibility, comparability, and usefulness of information. Standardized measurement and reporting is an important first step toward reducing emissions and responding to global climate change. The group includes Arthur D. Little, BP Amoco PLC, CERES, CEO Coalition to Advance Sustainable Technology, Consolidated Edison Co. of New York, Climate Neutral Network, Enron International, Global Environmental Management Initiative, Global Reporting Initiative, Interface Research Corporation, Norsk Hydro, The Pew Center on Global Climate Change, PowerGen, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, Public Service Enterprise Group, Royal Dutch Shell, ThermoRetec, Tokyo Electric Power Company, Trexler and Associates Inc., United Nations Environment Programme, World Wildlife Fund, World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD), and the World Resources Institute (WRI). It aims to reach agreement on unresolved reporting issues, such as how a reporting entity is defined, which reporting formats, units, and conversion factors to use, how to define measurement and reporting boundaries, and how to relate to national reporting and emissions inventory schemes.
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Ford Motor Co. announced it will voluntarily sell only low-emission SUVs in the U.S. and Canada by next year, with no added cost to customers. On a total fleet average basis, Ford’s LEV trucks will be about one-third cleaner than they are today, equal to removing 350,000 SUVs from the road. “Last year, when we announced our LEV Sport Utility initiative, we said that when the technology allowed, the cost to the customer was affordable, and we could do it in volume we would proceed with environmental actions without regard to regulation or regulatory timetables,” said Jacques Nasser, president and chief executive officer. We are finding other efficiencies so that no cost from this action is passed to the customer.”
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