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Sustainability Books You'll Want to Read

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A couple of years ago, after publishing Neville William?s fascinating article on his experience as founder of the Solar Electric Light Company (SELCO) – which sells solar PV systems in the developing world – I had the pleasure to meet him in person. His story was so inspiring that I encouraged him to write a book about it and to my surprise, he did!Released October 12, Chasing The Sun: Solar Adventures Around the World, chronicles Neville’s 15-year odyssey which resulted in bringing solar electricity to 50,000 families in the developing world. Williams tells the story of the “maverick” devotees who believed fervently in solar power from the “beginning” and what they went through to get it where it is today. Says Ross Gelbspan, author of “The Heat Is On” and “Boiling Point,” “Chasing the Sun is a maddeningly frustrating and extremely inspiring diary of the 15-year effort by Neville Williams and his colleagues to provide solar energy to rural areas of the developing world. The book chronicles the mindless obstructionism of the development establishment, misguided competition from a multinational oil giant and the reflexive skepticism of conventional investment bankers. But the saving grace of this meticulously detailed odyssey is the […]

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Business Schools Increasingly Incorporate Sustainability

An increasing number of business schools are offering courses in ethics, corporate social responsibility, or environmental sustainability, concludes the biennial report Beyond Grey Pinstripes, which surveys the extent to which business schools incorporate sustainability concerns into curriculum. The report was released jointly by World Resources Institute and the Aspen Institute. Stanford University’s MBA program tops the list this year, distinguishing itself not only by offering a large number of courses, but also by the relatively large proportion of students who attended those classes. “To be competitive, corporations need to recast social and environmental problems as business growth opportunities,” said Jonathan Lash, president of World Resources Institute. “These schools are leading the way in providing students with the skills that are becoming increasingly valuable to business – bottom line, including searching for innovative technologies and entrepreneurship opportunities around climate change, water scarcity, labor issues, and poverty alleviation.” In the survey, changes in coursework proved noticeable. Of the 91 business schools surveyed on six continents, 54 percent require a course in ethics, corporate social responsibility, sustainability, or business and society, up from 45 percent in 2003 and 34 percent in 2001. Additionally, the report finds that some leading schools are launching innovative […]

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Rebuilding After Katrina – Green

The U.S Green Building Council (USGBC), the Enterprise Foundation, Habitat for Humanity, the Trust for Public Land and others have announced a full complement of initiatives and ideas designed to assist in the rebuilding efforts of the Gulf Coast communities ravaged by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. During the upcoming USGBC 2005 Greenbuild Conference & Expo (Atlanta, GA, November 9-11), design charrettes have been organized with Gulf Coast experts and government leaders and mini-charrettes will take place on specific topics with regional experts. Scholarships have been arranged for 30 Gulf Coast community leaders to come and participate in the proceedings. “This is about collaboration, partnership, and leadership,” said Rick Fedrizzi, President, CEO & Founding Chair, USGBC. “The rebuilding effort will be a Herculean task, and the USGBC is committed to providing our specific expertise to helping the citizens of Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Texas re-set their roots and restore their communities as viable, vital, healthy and productive places, as quickly as possible and in a way that support them in the long term .”Greenbuild panel sessions will focus on embedding sustainable strategies in the rebuilding effort and will culminate in a documentation work session on Friday, November 11, that will compile […]

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Canada Home to World's Largest Certified Forest

At 13.6 million acres, Alberta, Canada is now home to the largest area of FSC-certified forest (Forest Stewardship Council) in the world. Alberta-Pacific Forest Industries has achieved certification by accredited certifier SmartWood, a program of the Rainforest Alliance. The certification follows a comprehensive 10-month assessment according to FSC Canada’s National Boreal Standard. It included verification of Alberta-Pacific’s forest management operations, interviews with more than 100 stakeholder, Aboriginal and community representatives, and reviews of written responses to surveys sent to 200 residents in the area.Andy Neigel, Alberta Pacific’s general manager and vice president of operations, says Alberta-Pacific pursued FSC certification because of it’s credibility in the global marketplace, track record as a results-oriented independent organization, endorsement by Aboriginal people, environmental and conservation groups and businesses, and focus on achieving social and economic as well as environmental standards.“We are now able to satisfy requests we receive from customers worldwide who are introducing FSC- certified paper and seeking suppliers of FSC- certified kraft pulp.”Heiko Liedeker, executive director of FSC International, says the size and location of Alberta-Pacific’s forest area will have a ripple effect on the supply and demand for FSC-certified products on the global market. “We expect other companies and other countries […]

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Weekly Clean Energy Roundup:October 12, 2005

News and Events Virginia Tech Claims Early Lead in the Solar Decathlon Johnson Controls Teams with Saft on Hybrid Vehicle Batteries EPA and DOE Launch Campaign Encouraging Use of Energy Star Lights DOE and USDA Award $12.6 Million for Biomass Energy Research New Mexico and North Carolina Governments to Employ Alternative Fuels New Building Efficiency Standards Take Effect in CaliforniaEnergy ConnectionsU.S. Utilities Move Ahead with Plans for Three Nuclear PlantsNews and EventsVirginia Tech Claims Early Lead in the Solar DecathlonThe Solar Decathlon team from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University took first place in both the Dwelling and Architecture competitions on Monday, giving the team a narrow early lead in the competition. On Tuesday, the University of Colorado team won the Communications contest, vaulting it into third place. Eighteen teams from 13 states, Puerto Rico, Canada, and Spain, are competing in the Solar Decathlon, which challenges student teams to design, build, and operate the most attractive, effective, and energy-efficient solar-powered house. The teams have built their 18 solar homes on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., forming a temporary solar village. See the Solar Decathlon Web site.The Dwelling, Architecture, and Communications competitions were the first three of ten competitions at […]

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Weekly Clean Energy Roundup:September 28, 2005

News and Events California Approves $2 Billion for Energy Efficiency Ford to Offer Hybrid Versions of Half its Lineup by 2010 Netherlands’ Nuon Solar Team Leads the World Solar Challenge National Solar Tour Comes to 43 States and D.C. this Weekend Solar Panels and Biodiesel Aid in Hurricane Recovery Efforts DOE Draft Plan Examines Technologies to Cut Greenhouse GasesSite NewsDOE’s Efficiency and Renewable Office Renews its Consumer Site News and EventsCalifornia Approves $2 Billion for Energy EfficiencyThe California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) approved last week $2 billion in funding over the next three years for energy efficiency and conservation programs throughout the state. Referred to by the CPUC as “the most ambitious energy efficiency and conservation campaign in the history of the (U.S.) utility industry,” the effort includes consumer rebates of up to $600 for appliances that carry the Energy Star label. It also provides $230 million per year for the state’s Green Building Initiative, which aims to cut energy use in government buildings by 20 percent.The campaign includes online energy audits for homes and voluntary energy audits for businesses, schools, hospitals, and other buildings, followed up with design assistance and equipment rebates for energy efficiency improvements. Efforts will focus […]

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