1 in 5
DeHavilland: political news feed, public and current affairs, news information service:dehavilland: "One in five people want to be more environmentally friendly but believe that going green can be too expensive or time-consuming.A survey of 1,000 people by the Energy Saving Trust (EST) found that almost half believed green products were too expensive, while almost as many said being green was too time-consuming.The poll found that many adults were not satisfied with the level of access provided to green services such as recycling facilities, while a third said they would like more information on how they could be more environmentally friendly.EST chief executive Philip Sellwood said: 'Reducing the environmental impact of your home can be as simple as upgrading to energy-saving lightbulbs and insulating cavity walls and roofs.'"
- posted by Chuck Eesley @ 7:20 PM (0) comments

 
Daily News Tribune - Local News Coverage
Daily News Tribune - Local News Coverage: "Grant to encourage Charles-friendly development-- The Charles River Watershed Association has received a $50,000 grant to design environmentally friendly approaches to urban development that focus on managing water and protecting open space.

One of the things we're seeing is there's not as much careful or innovative attention being paid to water issues, and particularly in a redevelopment situation,' said Kate Bowditch, the project manager for the Charles River group.

The three-year project, funded by the Boston Foundation, will allow the Charles River group to work with developers, community groups and government officials to design environmentally sustainable approaches for redevelopment projects in Allston, Cambridge and Fenway."
- posted by Chuck Eesley @ 10:59 AM (0) comments

 
Taking the environment personally
Taking the environment personally: "Taking the environment
personally: what can I do?
by
Mike Toffel & Jessica
Marshall"
- posted by Chuck Eesley @ 3:38 PM (0) comments

 
If only their labor practices were friendly . . .
TheHometownChannel.com - News - Wal-Mart To Open Environmentally Friendly Store: "Wal-Mart To Open Environmentally Friendly Store

An environmentally friendly Wal-Mart Supercenter is set to open in Rogers this week. Video Wal-Mart To Open Environmentally Friendly Store The 230,000 square-foot store features dozens of skylights in the ceiling to let natural light into the store. Sensors constantly monitor the light level and adjust with artificial light accordingly.Instead of the usual Wal-Mart blue and gray, the prototype is painted in warm earth tones. Although the concrete floor may look freshly waxed, it is actually made shiny through lots of scrubbing. Wal-Mart said the practice is better for the environment because it eliminates wax runoff from shopping cart wheels."
- posted by Chuck Eesley @ 2:49 PM (0) comments

 
Donate your phonte with Staples and CollectiveGood
Donate your phonte with Staples and CollectiveGood

Just found out that Staples has a cell phone recycling program that benefits the Sierra Club. Fortunately there's a Staples near my apartment so I'm going to walk my old cellphone over there now!
- posted by Chuck Eesley @ 12:01 PM (1) comments

 
PwC Urges Ecological Travel Policy In U.K.
PwC Urges Ecological Travel Policy In U.K.: "PricewaterhouseCoopers has launched a strategy for its U.K. travel program to 'go green' with a wide-ranging series of environmental measures. The project includes investing in videoconferencing as an alternative to travel, attempting to 'carbon-neutralize' its air and car journeys through such compensatory measures as tree-planting, assessing suppliers' environmental credentials and adopting a policy of 'rail first.'
The PricewaterhouseCoopers initiative is just one example of growing acknowledgement in Europe that business travel is a significant contributor to global warming through the carbon dioxide emitted by aircraft and cars. Such companies as HSBC are tracking employee mileage%u2014and corresponding carbon dioxide emissions%u2014and listing the information in annual or corporate social responsibility reports. A small number of companies are adopting similar measures to those of PwC. "
- posted by Chuck Eesley @ 6:20 PM (0) comments

 
Green building
Marin Independent Journal - Marin: "Green building covers a range of environmentally friendly and healthy building practices, such as using alternative energy sources like solar power, organic building products and non-toxic materials.
Previously, both commercial and residential developers, as well as homeowners looking to remodel, avoided building green, primarily because the cost of developing green buildings was 5 to 10 percent higher than traditional construction. But the green premium has narrowed in recent years, and green building is winning converts.
More than 30 federal, state and local agencies have adopted the energy-efficient and environment-friendly standards established by the U.S. Green Building Council, which certifies buildings as green under its three-year-old Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design program.
And the county's Community Development Agency has converted as well, offering lower permit fees and faster permit processing for projects that meet certain green building standards. The county also waives the design review process and reduces permit fees for the installation of solar photovoltaic panels.
Even Gov. Arnold Schwarz-enegger is on board. The governor's plan to invest $2 billion in rooftop photovoltaic systems through state rebates and incentives was approved by a state Senate energy committee last week."
- posted by Chuck Eesley @ 10:44 AM (0) comments

 
Cloak protects glacier from sun
In the 1800s a massive industry began in Massachusetts to harvest ice and ship it around the world. Now a new industry may be starting to protect ice where it previously formed naturally. Ironic.

Cloak protects glacier from sun: "Workers at a Swiss ski resort have wrapped part of a retreating glacier in reflective sheeting to protect it, they say, from global warming.
The Gurschen glacier, nearly 3,000m (10,000ft) above sea level, is melting like many others worldwide, with the worst damage done in summer.
The thin protective layer of foil covers an area of 3-4,000 sq m (about 43,000 sq ft).
Officials at the Gemsstock resort think others may follow their lead.

'We think it will become common practice to cover parts of the glaciers,' said Urs Elmiger of Andermatt Gotthard Sportbahnen, the cable car operator carrying out the project."
- posted by Chuck Eesley @ 3:04 PM (0) comments

 
GE doubles spend on green agenda
GE doubles spend on green agenda: "General Electric is to double its spending on environmentally friendly technology, committing $1.5bn a year on creating new 'green' products.
The world's largest company by market value said the move would address the growing need for more efficient energy sources and reducing harmful emissions.
By 2010, the firm plans to sell $20bn worth of products providing environmental benefits to customers.
GE products range from airplane engines and medical scanners to light bulbs."
- posted by Chuck Eesley @ 10:59 PM (0) comments