Archive for July, 2009

GreenBiz reports that the entertainment industry that has a reputation for being comprised of “tree-hugging liberals,” is not so green after all.  In a report entitled “2009 Entertainment Sector Analysis,” the Roberts Environmental Center at Claremont McKenna College analyzed the social responsibility reporting efforts of the world’s leading entertainment companies. While a majority of the entertainment companies surveyed for the report has published an environmental visionary statement, few actually report on the major environmental issues.  Or anything at all, for that matter.  Only four of the 14 companies surveyed received points for environmental reporting, and no company received points for environmental performance.

As Environmental Leader reports, FedEx Ground is building a 2.4 megawatt solar array atop its distribution facility in New Jersey.  This array will provide up to 30 percent of the hub’s annual energy needs, and will be the largest in the U.S.  To give you a sense of what a 2.4 MW installation looks like, it will cover 3.3 acres of rooftop space, featuring approximately 12,400 solar panels, and will generate 2.6 million kilowatt hours of electricity annually.

The New York Times’ Green Inc. reports on the efficacy of the much-discussed “Cash for Clunkers” program.  While good-intentioned, there was clearly someone asleep at the wheel when this was initially drafted.  Apparently, you could trade in your “clunker” that gets 18 mpg, for a “whiz-bang new model” that gets 22 mpg.  What am I missing?  In any case, the White House has approved an additional $2B in funding (pending a Senate okay), as if that’s going to help at all… Adam Lee, a co-owner of Lee Auto Malls, one of the largest car dealerships in Maine, outlined for Green Inc that “we [they were] having all sorts of problems” with the program.

Business Week’s Green Business blog reports on the difficulties airlines will be facing once the European Emission Trading System begins including their industry in the mix beginning in 2012.  Based on current market prices in Europe ($20.50 per metric ton of CO2), airlines will have to pay approximately $1.6 billion annually for all flights that land or take off within the EU, including those operated by companies registered overseas.  Delta will face a carbon shortfall of 3.5 million metric tons (worth an estimated $71 million) and United must offset 3.3 million metric tons (worth an estimated $67 million). “The American carriers in the scheme will be the first sector in the U.S. to be drawn into mandatory international emissions trading, even though it is implemented by the EU,” Point Carbon senior analyst Andreas Arvanitakis said in a statement.

Tim Woodall at FD Element

Have Renewables Really Eclipsed Nuclear Power?

Exxon Profits Down a Massive 66% - Power of Passing Up the Pump Revealed

Socially Responsible Procurement - Doing the Right Things for Everyone

The Eternal Durability of Greenwash

Energy efficiency could save U.S. $600 billion 

Intel Makes $10M Bet on Smart Grid, Energy Efficiency  

The Nation’s First Platinum LEED-Certified Supermarket Opens in Maine  

GE’s Smart (and Subsidized) Appliances  

 Green states to get few rewards in U.S. climate bill  

White Roofs Catch On as Energy Cost Cutters 

Canada green power stocks fall on surprise ruling 

J&J On Track To Meet 2010 Climate Goal  

Green technology stifled by funding woes: experts 

Unilever to Push Customers Towards Concentrated Detergent  

China says wants climate deal this year: U.N.’s Ban 

Siemens and Viridity Energy Partner on Smart Grid Solution 

Dell Unveils Energy Savings Calculator  

European Nations Wary on Environmental Protectionism  

Powerful Ideas: Chicken Feathers Could Store Fuel  

India to unveil 20GW solar target under climate plan  

Climate change: New study backs UN panel on ocean rise 

Not much is known about the world’s largest nation. Its immense size, fascinating culture, and brutal history have dazzled people for centuries, yet few truly understand its intricacies (and yes… Russia does offer more than Moscow’s Red Square, borscht, fur hats and Chelsea football club owner, Roman Abramovich)  

A few points of interest:

• Russia is one of five permanent members of the UN Security Council

• After the United States, Russia is home to the most billionaires on the planet 

• Russia has the world’s largest natural gas reserves, the second largest coal reserves and the eighth largest oil reserves

• Russia is the largest exporter of natural gas, and the second largest supplier of oil

• Russia’s energy intensity  - “an economic concept used to describe, roughly, the amount of energy a country burns through to achieve a unit of gross domestic product — is double that of the United States, more than double the world’s average, and three times as much as in Japan and most countries in Europe.” (Source: The New York Times)

Considering its vast impact on the energy market, it is truly shocking how long Russia has remained out of the global warming debate. Thus far, chatter around the climate talks this December in Copenhagen has focused on the U.S., China and India.

However, according to the New York Times, Russia has recently stepped out of the dark to discuss energy and its recuperating economy. At a gathering earlier this month, Russia’s President Dmitri A. Medvedev stated the following:

“While dealing with the problems of today, the challenges of the future must be addressed as well, so we also need to think about the kind of energy resources that will ultimately be the staple of the future power industry”

“Currently, this does not seem like a problem that is relevant now or in the near future, but we must nevertheless analyze how alternative sources of energy may be introduced” 

“We need to promote these alternative sources of energy, because sooner or later, they will replace today’s traditional hydrocarbons, as sad as that may sound to us.”

Russia, a Kyoto signatory, is a bit of a wild card in terms of its future energy policies and whether it will sign any treaty created in Copenhagen. For the sake of the environment, let’s keep our fingers crossed in the hopes that Russia’s economy, and investment in renewable energy, continues to develop.   

Cheryl Mihalin at FD Element 

Spotlight on Russia’s Role in Climate Control

EDF, First Solar to build French solar panel plant 

Recession cuts pollution but also green investment 

Nissan says working on hybrid system for smaller cars  

A report recently released by the Pacific Institute may help to saturate California’s drought-like condition. The report, “Sustaining California Agriculture in an Uncertain Future,” contends that the following three agriculture-related water conservation and efficiency practices could save 4.5 – 6 million acre-feet of water annually (equivalent to 17% of all of the water used by agriculture in California):

• Efficient Irrigation Technology  – shifting a fraction of the crops irrigated using flood irrigation to sprinkler and drip systems; 

• Improved Irrigation Scheduling – using local climate and soil information to help farmers more precisely irrigate to meet crop water needs; and 

• Regulated Deficit Irrigation – applying less water to crops during drought-tolerant growth stages to save water and improve crop quality or yield.  

As part of “Commitment 2020,” Coca-Cola Enterprises (CCE) has set a series of goals for its five strategic Corporate Responsibility and Sustainability focus areas (Energy Conservation/ Climate Change, Water Stewardship, Sustainable Packaging/Recycling, Product Portfolio/Well-being, Diverse and Inclusive Culture). CCE has committed to achieve rather lofty goals by 2020 including: reducing its overall carbon footprint by 15 percent, compared to its 2007 baseline, and having a water-neutral impact on the local communities in which it operates. 


As reported by Reuters, expectations of increased second-quarter sales cause shares to rise for solar companies including China’s LDK Solar Co Ltd and U.S.-based SunPower Corp. Positive forecasts are partly due to new incentives in China and the U.S., and slight improvements in credit availability.  

Cheryl Mihalin at FD Element 

Coca-Cola Enterprises Emissions Reductions, Recycling Goals 

Sustainable Asset to launch $300 million fund  

EPA reconsiders lead-monitoring plans foiled by Bush White House  

Global Biofuel Market to Top One-Quarter Trillion  

Germany calls carbon tariffs “eco-imperialism” 

Price put on Copenhagen success 

LDK Solar bumps up second quarter sales forecast, shares rise  

Fair Trade Chocolate Hits the Mainstream 

U.S. Army Widens Effort to Track its Carbon ‘Bootprint’  

SunPower second quarter earnings top Street, shares rise 

Report Urges Efficiency as a Solution to California’s Water Wars

U.S. top greenhouse gas emitter, counting imports 

Is Exxon Green Washing or Beginning Shift to Clean Energy? 

GE Cuts Overall Emissions 13 Percent, Meets Greenhouse Gas Intensity Goal  

Will Health Battle Wound Climate Effort?  

B.C.’s go-green business incentives lead all other provinces, firm says  

USDA says climate bill an income boost for farmers 

Rubber sidewalks are springing up around North America. What does a rubber sidewalk feel like, you ask? Check out almost any children’s playground - the ground will most likely be made of rubber tiles.

So, why is it time to feel good? Because rubber sidewalks:

·     Preserve urban trees by slowing root growth and providing trees with sufficient water and oxygen

·     Reduce storm water runoff (storm water runs through the seams in the modules and infiltrates into the soil instead of running into gutters)

·     Produce far less greenhouse gas emissions than concrete sidewalks and thus help curb global warming.

In addition, many manufacturers, including the aptly named company, Rubbersidewalks, use recycled materials such as
used tires and waste plastic; this further contributes to the environmental benefits of rubber sidewalks.

Rubber sidewalks seem like the natural choice for the future grounds of our walking and biking activities. And hey, if you ever forget your yoga mat… 

Cheryl Mihalin at FD Element

UN panel to study impact of climate change on poor countries

FedEx Boosts Hybrid Delivery Truck Fleet by 50 Percent 

Scientists Weigh in on Research Money and Climate Fixes 

NOAA Reports Record Ocean Surface Temperatures for June

Samsung Electronics to Invest $4.3B in Green Transformation 

India says no to emission reduction 

Meeting Shows U.S.-India Split on Emissions

Shipping emissions plan ’stalls‘

Are Aluminum Bottles Greener than Glass? 

Chemicals That Eased One Woe Worsen Another

Sun’s Activity Cycle Linked to Earth Climate 

According to GreenBiz, there may soon be legal repercussions for ignoring, and not reporting on, environmental risks. The United Nations recently produced a report, which suggests “advisors to institutional investors may end up in court if they ignore environmental and social concerns.” In addition, the Securities and Exchange Commission is contemplating whether to force public companies to inform their investors on the financial and physical risks they face from climate change.

Xerox has saved money, and reduced waste and energy consumption by investing in twenty earth-friendly projects around the world. All in all, these employee-initiated projects helped save Xerox “$7.3 million, eliminate 1.3 million pounds of waste and reduce energy use by 500,000 kilowatt hours.”

The New York Times reports that the U.S. and China have agreed to jointly study ways to improve the energy-efficiency of buildings. The two nations, the world’s largest emitters of greenhouse gases, plan to create a team of experts that will “study ways to provide heat, air-conditioning and light for buildings while minimizing their electricity needs.”  

Cheryl Mihalin at FD Element