Leeding Green

No one said they couldn’t or shouldn’t do it but they did it anyway, making some nice enviro points along the way. The Plastiki, a 60-foot catamaran made out of more than 12,000 recycled plastic water bottles and its 10-member crew arrived in Sydney, Australia Monday after sailing some 8,000 nautical miles in 130 days. [...]

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If you’ve done any digging into the green building realm, whether it’s as a homeowner, contractor, or just a design fan, it’s a cluttered field that can start to look all the same. But then there are certain companies that get your attention. Portland, Oregon based Eleek does that for me. Beyond being gorgeously designed, [...]

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It may be a thoroughly carpetbagging idea, but a new study published by the Southeast Energy Efficiency Alliance (SEEA) suggests Dixie could have a lot to gain from energy efficiency, in terms of dollars saved, jobs gained and water conserved. In fact, if all of the efficiency programs covered by the study, such as stricter [...]

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The energy efficiency services sector is set to boom, but a lack of qualified personnel could jeopardize that growth, according to a new report (PDF) from the Department of Energy’s Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. The report argues that increased training in, and awareness of, energy efficiency methods in the building design and construction trades will be necessary. [...]

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At today’s Waste Management Investor Summit, a 200 slide 4 hour presentation about all aspects of the business, I was in the minority.  There were very few other women in the room, and I was the only representative of the media.  Nearly every non-WM attendee was analyst or banker.  And judging by their questions at [...]

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It’s hard not to see the flurry of activity preceding Dec 2010’s slated electric vehicle launches as an expression of joyous excitement. A range of stakeholders are taking action, and coordinating to prepare for widespread electric vehicle ownership. But are they in fact preparing for a new Golden Age in transportation, for the most significant [...]

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I attended the State of Green Business Forum today in Chicago,  hosted by the Greener World Media.  It was an opportunity for industry experts and leaders to share insights and observations on this dynamic topic.  Here are some of the ideas and themes that were raised at this event, although it is certainly not an [...]

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The fight against climate change must in some way involve changes in the energy performance of buildings. Addressing the basic rules that govern how buildings are designed and constructed is an important first step in the process. These basic rules, referred to more commonly as building codes, are updated by a group called the International [...]

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The California-based software design firm Autodesk recently launched an online game, called RETROFITS , to help educate everyone–from industry professionals to teachers, parents and students –about green building issues.

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Ed: This story has been amended since it was first published to include comments from PG&E A class action lawsuit in Bakersfield, California claims newly installed smart meters inflate customers electricity and gas use, resulting in steep hikes in utility bills. The plaintiffs, a group of about 200 residents, are suing Pacific Gas & Electric, [...]

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Kohl’s Department Stores is going all-in on carbon neutrality. The Wisconsin company says it’s the first retailer to commit to reaching a net zero greenhouse gas emission as part of a partnership with the Environmental Protection Agency’s Climate Leader program. It’s a bold assertion but Kohl’s appears ready to back up it with action. It [...]

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A maker of thermostat data systems that claims to be able to reduce heating and cooling costs for buildings by 20-30 percent won Grand Prize at this year’s Cleantech Open, one of the leading environmental technology competitions in the country. Ecofactor makes integrated systems that calibrate a residential or commercial thermostat for maximum energy efficiency [...]

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Colorado-based restaurant chain, Chipotle Mexican Grill, is going solar.  The popular restaurant chain is taking another step towards a more sustainable future. According to a company press release, Houston-based Standard Renewable Energy will be installing solar panels at 75 Chipotle restaurants during the next 12 months, making the chain the largest producer of solar power in [...]

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In honor of World Habitat Day, designated as October 5, 2009, we wanted to help remind the world of its collective responsibility for the future of the human habitat. World Habitat Day this year is celebrated under the theme Planning Our Urban Future to raise awareness of the need to improve urban settlements to deal [...]

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Up to 12% of the world’s cargo ships are standing down, absent cargo or crews. Will there be a commensurate reduction in shipping-related CO2  emissions? Will 2009 be  the baseline year against which shipping companies could be required to accomplish reductions? For details, see Ghost Fleet Moored Off Singapore: 12% Of Ocean Shipping Armada Stands [...]

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If the drawing to the right looks like something out of the Jetsons, you’re not far from the truth. It’s a schematic of a home to be built in Palm Springs this winter made out of Binishells, self-supporting concrete shells erected in hours using only air pressure. The technology was invented by architect Dante Bini [...]

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More evidence that Europe is advancing more rapidly than other regions on the environmental front: It is the largest waste-to-energy plants market in the world, with well-developed infrastructure and more than 429 such incinerator facilities, according the London research and consulting firm Frost & Sullivan. A new analysis from Frost, trenchantly titled European Waste to [...]

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Over the past couple of years, I’ve noticed a significant increase in the number of hybrid vehicles I see driving the streets here in Boulder, Colorado. Maybe it’s just a heightened awareness due to those special “alternative fuel vehicle” parking spaces now in place at the new 29th Street Mall shopping area; but at times, [...]

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As I was exploring possible summer internship positions, a professional colleague suggested that I meet with Mark Reiner, President of Birambye International (BI). I found Mark’s work to be so impressive that I wanted to share it with a wider audience. Mark is an extraordinary person who commits his time, energy and money in alignment [...]

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“More than individuals, businesses can influence policy because they carry huge weight with government. And businesses can get things done while waiting for policy change to take place.” –Auden Schendler, “Getting Green Done” In terms of sustainability, Boulder, Colorado is turning into the pre-party, the party and the after-party. Juggling the numerous green-themed opportunities like [...]

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Last month at a peace rally, I saw a woman with a sign that read “where is my social progress?” and she got me thinking…. Where is social progress if not in socially active individuals? I thought of Margret Mead’s famous quote: “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens could change the [...]

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Affordable housing projects face enough challenges of their own without the added challenge of making them green. And yet, low-income families face a greater challenge from the burden of housing costs – the more families have to spend on maintaining a home reduces the amount they can spend on other basic necessities. Green features such [...]

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Last week, I attended the fourth annual Sustainable Opportunities Summit, held at the Colorado Convention Center in downtown Denver. The purpose of the event is to bring together individuals from business, government, academia, entrepreneurial ventures and the investor community to explore the essential role of business in making our global economy more sustainable. Throughout the [...]

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Like many twenty-somethings, I’ve spent a good deal of time backpacking across Europe in the coach class of countless high-speed rail cars. It’s great to pass time looking out the window at stunning scenery, plotting out a plan of attack for the next destination or trying to avoid sitting next to the smelly guy in [...]

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