The Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP), which has been collecting GHG emissions data from companies for nearly a decade, recently released a report which revealed that there is a gap that exists between the carbon reduction performance of companies and that of their suppliers. The study, conducted in partnership with Accenture, was conducted with 50 CDP member organizations including L’Oréal, Philips and Walmart, and more than 1,800 of their suppliers. It found that while 43 percent of companies surveyed have achieved year-over-year reductions in their carbon emissions, only 28 percent of their suppliers have done so.

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Renewable energy merger and acquisitions surged 40% in 2011, with solar energy and energy efficiency leading the way, according to a PwC report. Larger, billion-dollar, deals dominated, a sign of the sector’s increasing maturity, but persistent EU debt problems and overcapacity will continue to plague the sector and M&A in 2012, PwC believes.

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By Ryan Matley, Rocky Mountain Institute President Obama’s call in his State of the Union address to capitalize on “the strongest two-year period of manufacturing growth since the 1990s” by encouraging businesses to bring work back to the United States can be accelerated with energy efficiency innovation. While Obama urged Congress to take a series [...]

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Since the discovery of oil just over a century ago, the Middle East has experienced major economic growth from this bountiful resource under the ground. The world was a different place then to what it is now. Oil, it seemed, was the answer to all our prayers and for the most part it has been, and for that we are extremely grateful.

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In parallel with the rise of new distributed energy systems that are putting renewable energy technology into the hands of consumers, the health care industry is heading for a distributed system of its own with the development of portable, consumer-friendly diagnostic devices. To push this “distributed health care” trend along, the X PRIZE Foundation and [...]

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The concept of the smart city is one that holds a lot of promise and potential in terms of how computerized, networked public infrastructure might improve energy efficiency, resource management, and the overall quality of life in cities. Cisco created an interactive infographic showcasing its smart, connected City of the Future. The company also recently announced the addition of a whole new suite of technologies and services that are aimed at helping utilities modernize their grids.

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These trends, which range from a boom in certified multi-family construction to the advent of consumer friendly home energy technology, were identified by us based on discussions with a broad range of audiences over the latter part of 2011.

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This article highlights the amount of embedded energy in food waste while exploring ways to tackle America’s dual problem of hunger and clean energy.

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Despite UPS headquarters being 20 years old, the company just announced that it has become the first in the package delivery and logistics industry to gain LEED Gold Certification from the US Green Building Council. UPS submitted the building for review in May 2011 (shortly after the appointment of Chief Sustainability Officer Scott Wicker) and [...]

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A start-up called re:char has a new take on an ancient idea that’s designed to enhance crop yields in the developing world by making  biochar accessible and affordable. Biochar is made by a process known as pyrolysis, which heats organic matter such as waste farm produce, without oxygen. Instead of releasing carbon dioxide into the [...]

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Accor, a leading hotel chain that owns a bevy of chains including Motel 6, is ramping up their corporate social responsibility efforts. Employee engagement and water stewardship are among the initiatives.

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In November 2011, Bill Weihl, left his post as the Green Czar at Google. Weihl oversaw much of Google’s $700M investments in clean energy and was a driving force behind Google’s Green Dream otherwise known as The Impact of Clean Energy Innovation. Now, it seems that Dr. Weihl, a former Computer Science professor at MIT, [...]

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The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers was aiming for high marks in sustainability  when it designed some elaborate green features into the Pentagon’s new $1 billion Department of Defense Office Complex in Virginia, and the good folks at the U.S. Green Building Council just rewarded it with LEED Gold certification earlier this month. Regular readers [...]

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Building occupant behavior is the holy grail of energy efficiency. Environmental psychologist Doug McKenzie-Mohr describes strategies for crafting behavior change marketing campaigns. Several college campuses have successfully implemented similar campaigns to induce their students to more efficient behavior.

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A nationwide smart grid is in the works but starting to stall out, making the goal of improved energy allocation across the U.S. seem unattainable. But with the emergence of “microgrids” on college campuses, what can we learn about building a nationwide system from institutions of higher learning?

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Two years ago, when the concept had just started to really gain traction, we reported the results of a survey conducted by Brighter Planet on engaging employees on sustainability issues. The company just released an update to that study which includes responses from employees at some of the companies leading corporate sustainability efforts including Walmart, UPS, and [...]

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In the building industry, designers and builders must balance a client’s desire for expansive outdoor views with the need to minimize solar heat gain and loss.  Often, these desires are not well balanced and solar heat is allowed to penetrate through windowpanes and into a space.  

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As we seek to discover new methods of generating and harnessing energy, there is one source that is worth discussing: the human body.

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Last week we released Sustainable Industries’ new microsite, the 2012 Sustainable Energy Guide. The guide contains an overview of everything an Operations or Facilities Manager needs to get started on the road to sustainability. We get a lot of questions about transitioning to renewable energy and purchasing carbon offsets and you’ll find updated information about [...]

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With stimulus initiatives in the form of soft loans, cash incentives, tax credits  and grants expiring, the U.S. energy sector must find new investors and new tax-based equity financing structures over the next 18 months or risk a sharp decline in new project builds, according to a report by the specialist research firm Bloomberg New [...]

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The Federal Aviation Administration is awarding $7.7 million in contracts to eight companies who will help the agency develop and approve sustainably-sourced “drop-in” jet fuels that can be used without changing aircraft engine systems or airport fueling infrastructure. The funds are being distributed by the Department of Transportation’s John A. Volpe Center. “These new green [...]

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A strong case can be made for grubbing on bugs, but in the United States and Europe there’s a prevalent cultural bias against insects as a source of edible protein. Find out why entomophagy—the practice of eating insects—has recently started gaining traction as a viable alternative.

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Davide Vassallo is a global practices leader for DuPont’s Sustainable Solutions Group. As environmental stewards for a company that is the owner and operator of more than 150 production facilities around the world, his group has found that energy efficiency improvements can often be achieved for little or no cost. After running a large number [...]

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A tour of Panasonic’s “Ene-Farm” outside of Osaka gives a clue about Japan’s current and future economic transformation. Fuel cells will be part of Japan’s future growth.

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One of SK’s futuristic buildings in north Seoul, the T Tower, hosts T.um, or “Ubiquitous Museum.” The tour is part Avatar, part futuristic living room and also provides a view of how our transportation options are going to change.

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Energy efficient datacenters enable an innovation economy with less environmental and financial cost. All this growth is enabled by the cloud. From the cloud I can update my status on Facebook, post photos on Flickr, share my location on FourSquare, announce my every thought on Twitter, download nearly anything on my iPad – even pursue an MBA in sustainable management.

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This post outlines key considerations for property owners to evaluate when leasing their land for renewable energy development. There are pros and cons to leasing your property to a renewable energy developer and/or owner to earn revenue. It is important to understand how to navigate the complexities of benefits and risks when dealing with newly emerging renewable energy development land leases.

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Panasonic is now determined to become the number one green innovation company in the electronics industry. That vision is on display in a prototype eco ideas house and planned smart community to open in 2013.

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Adam Capital Clean Energy Finance, a private investment firm, has agreed to lend $1 million to finance rooftop solar panels for 85 low-income homes in New Orleans. The loan is with Sustainable Environmental Enterprises of Louisiana, a community-development organization engaged in financing solar projects for disadvantaged communities. A joint press release from Adam Capital and [...]

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Shipping lines, shipbuilders, banks, insurers and shippers have joined forces on a major sustainability initiative “designed to help the industry make long-term plans for future success.” Officially launched on Monday, they call it the Sustainable Shipping Initiative/Vision 2040. The thrust of the initiative is that “radical changes” are needed to make the global shipping industry [...]

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