How To Build A Quick-Charging Electric Battery

No one promised that going green would be easy. Just look at the up and down story of technology innovator Altair Nanotechnologies. Altair makes a nano-particle compound used by Boeing to coat the wings of its stealth fighters and by paint maker Sherwin-Williams to make pigments with fewer toxic residues. But Altair has grander plans: It aims to make batteries that can power an electric car for 150 miles and recharge in the same amount of time it takes to fill up a gas tank and grab a Big Gulp.

The technology seems to be getting close to practical application. Phoenix Motorcars, a Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.-based electric vehicle start-up, plans this year to start selling a small electric pickup truck with drive batteries based in part on the Altair technology. That said, precisely how many Phoenix will buy isn't clear. (Phoenix reported in November that it was scaling back its plans to purchase at least $16 million of batteries from Altair.)

Source: Forbes

'Green business' gets more real, but consumers still wary

There is real money behind the claims of corporations "going green," but consumers still need convincing that it's more than just feel-good PR, a couple of recently released studies show.
Nearly every day seems to bring fresh news of corporations boosting their commitment to the environment, either through internal energy-efficiency measures or plans to introduce green tech products.

In a report released on Wednesday called the State of Green Business, consultant and writer Joel Makower and his colleagues from Greener World Media say that businesses are making progress in addressing environmental problems, such as climate change or toxic waste. But those efforts don't appear to be enough to sufficiently reduce greenhouse gas emissions or meet other environmental targets.

Source: CNET

Dead trees may fuel future

It could be a solution to Colorado's 1.5 million acres of dead and dying lodgepole pine trees struck by an infestation of mountain pine beetles: turning the rotting trees into ethanol. Canadian companies Lignol Innovations and Suncor Energy plan to build Colorado's first cellulosic ethanol plant, which would convert beetle-kill and other wood residues into motor fuel. The $88 million project received the federal government's blessing Tuesday, with the U.S. Department of Energy announcing its decision to foot more than a third of the total bill, or $30 million. The plant, to be completed by 2012, could be built in Commerce City.

Source: Rocky Mountain News

It's Time To Drink Toilet Water

Officials in Orange County, Calif., will attend opening ceremonies today for the world's largest water-purification project, among the first "toilet-to-tap" systems in America. The Groundwater Replenishment System is designed to take sewage water straight from bathrooms in places like Costa Mesa, Fullerton, and Newport Beach and—after an initial cleansing treatment—send it through $490 million worth of pipes, filters, and tanks for purification. The water then flows into lakes in nearby Anaheim, where it seeps through clay, sand, and rock into aquifers in the groundwater basin. Months later, it will travel back into the homes of half a million Orange County residents, through their kitchen taps and showerheads.

Source: Slate

Cellulosic Ethanol a Reality: First American Plant in Production

RAPID CITY, S.D., Jan. 29 /PRNewswire/ -- In a development that could dramatically advance the renewable fuels industry, cellulosic ethanol is now in production at the first small scale waste wood commercial facility operating in the U.S. Located just 1 mile South of Upton, Wyoming, the plant was engineered, constructed and is operated by KL Process Design Group (KL). This is the result of six years of development efforts between KL and the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology.

KL's cellulosic ethanol plant is converting waste wood into a renewable fuel. "It is now possible to economically convert discarded wood into a clean burning, sustainable alternate motor fuel," said Randy Kramer, president of KL Process Design Group, a design firm that has been working in corn ethanol. "We're proud of what this small company has accomplished, and believe that our design will be a cornerstone from which we can build our country's renewable fuel infrastructure providing a better source of motor fuel, starting today."

Source: PR Newswire

U.S. shoppers go green, while federal environmental policy struggles

Organic grocery store giant Whole Foods Market has announced that customers soon will be hearing a different question at the checkout stand: Recycled paper or reusable bag?
Starting on April 22 Earth Day plastic bags no longer will be an option, company officials said last week. The reusable bags, made from 80 percent recycled materials, will cost 99 cents each.
A.C. Gallo, Whole Foods co-president and chief operating officer, said in a statement on the company’s Web site that pilot programs in San Francisco, Toronto and Austin, Texas, “created a great forum for discussion and awareness” among customers.
If only such awareness would rub off on U.S. policymakers.

Source: Las Vegas Sun

Home builders bet 'green' will sell

Home sales have been slowing for months. Job growth is flat. The inventory of unsold houses is up 25 percent from a year ago. Is this any time to push construction methods that can add thousands of dollars to a home's cost? The Home Builders Association of Raleigh-Wake County thinks so. The 2,800 member group announced Monday that it is joining its counterpart in Durham, Orange and Chatham counties to form the Green Home Builders of the Triangle.
The group said it wants to promote housing that meets environmental standards. It also hopes its new "green" certification will help members market homes in a glut of unsold houses.

Source: The News & Observer

Red light for green-tech start-ups?

For green-tech start-ups, 2008 could be the year of either break-neck speed or just hitting the brakes. A tidal wave of venture capital has poured into clean tech over the past four years, reflecting the confidence investors and entrepreneurs have that high energy prices and climate change make the sector ripe for technical innovation. But the economics of the energy business pose funding challenges to start-ups in the field, a situation that could be exacerbated by a softening economy, say investors.

Source: ZDNet News

Rechargeable batteries have marginal impact on environment

The research covers the first worldwide study of the environmental impact of disposable (alkaline) batteries versus rechargeable batteries (Ni-MH). Rechargeable batteries have up to 28 times less impact on climate warming than disposable batteries. This ratio can mainly be explained by the impact caused when manufacturing disposable batteries and distributing them (transportation in trucks and the related greenhouse gas emissions).

Source: Computing SA

Intel says it will become largest buyer of green power in U.S.

Intel Corp. said Monday it will purchase more than 1.3 billion kilowatt hours a year of renewable energy certificates as part of a multi-faceted approach to reduce its impact on the environment.
Santa Clara, Calif.-based Intel (NASDAQ:INTC) said the purchases will make it the single largest corporate purchaser of green power in the country, according to U.S. Environmental Protection Agency figures.

Source: BizJournal

Maryland Wind farms hit opposition

Business and political leaders in Western Maryland's Garrett County are lining up against a proposal to allow the clearing of up to 400 mountaintop acres of state forest for the construction of 40-story wind turbines.With a pair of public hearings scheduled this week, Garrett's Chamber of Commerce, Board of Realtors, Democratic Central Committee and Republican state delegate and senator have come out against the proposal to use two state forests in the county for wind farms.

Sources: Baltimore Sun

Michigan Panel votes to require green energy by 2015

LANSING -- Within eight years, 10 percent of the electricity sold to Michigan consumers would have to come from renewable energy sources such as wind under bipartisan legislation passed Wednesday by a state House committee.

The standard would be nearly triple by 2015 the amount of renewable energy now being sold by utilities and other power producers in the state.

Because renewable energy can be more expensive to produce, the higher standard could cost residential customers an extra $36 a year, commercial customers an extra $199 and industrial customers an extra $2,250.

Source: MLive.com

New York - Large, Chain Stores Must Recycle Plastic Bags

By Special to the SunJanuary 24, 2008

Plastic bag recycling will be required in large stores and chains across the city under legislation signed into law by Mayor Bloomberg yesterday.

"It is important to take as many steps as we can to recycle plastic bags," Mr. Bloomberg said at a public hearing yesterday. "They are not biodegradable, but instead break down into small pieces that pollute the water and soil. Due to their light weight, plastic bags can easily escape from our sanitation system – even when properly disposed of – winding up in trees, waterways, and as litter in our neighborhoods."

Source: The Sun

Biofuels 'detrimental to environment' say MPs

A report by the Environmental Audit Committee raised concerns about the absence of strict sustainability standards and mechanisms to prevent destruction of land such as rainforests to grow the crops that make biofuels.

MPs called for a moratorium on targets for the use of biofuels and for Government to concentrate on sustainable biofuels such as waste vegetable oil and the development of more efficient second-generation biofuel technologies, echoing comments from Defra's chief scientific advisor, Professor Robert Watson, earlier this month.

Source: http://www.edie.net/news/news_story.asp?id=14092&channel=0

Hybrid School Buses Hit The Road; Researchers Test Their Performance

Dan Taghon, the director of transportation for the Sigourney Community School District in southeast Iowa, said his district's new hybrid bus has been running routes since Jan. 3. And Taghon, who drives the bus on one of the district's six routes, said he likes the 65-passenger machine powered by an electric motor and a V-8 diesel engine.

Source: ScienceDaily

District to save money, environment with solar panels

In an innovative effort to save money and teach students about the environment, the district plans to install solar panels on the roofs of all its schools.

The district board of trustees approved a 20-year deal with a private solar energy provider, UPC Solar. The deal would require no investment by the district and will save more than $3 million in energy costs over the next two decades, district Superintendent Mike Crilly said.

“It’s the first large-scale solar project covering all school buildings in a district in San Mateo County,” he said. “It has the potential to save money over time and also puts our students in touch with the way things are going to be in the future and sets up a pretty good example.”

Source: Examiner

Wind, solar power components may fuel Michigan's economy

With Michigan now leading the nation in unemployment, this circle seems as broken as the rusted gates that stand sentry over those now-silent factories. This was the case in Greenville three years ago when Montcalm County's biggest employer, Electrolux Home Products Inc., shuttered its doors and shipped its manufacturing jobs to South Carolina and Mexico. The area lost more than 7,000 jobs.It was the end of an era -- or so it seemed. Greenville is now a leader in the production of alternative energy components -- an industry that manufacturing leaders, economists and energy experts say could be the next big boom in Michigan's economy.

http://blog.mlive.com/cns/2008/01/wind_solar_power_components_ma.html

Safeway Goes Green

Safeway Inc., one of the nation’s leading retailers announced Wednesday that it has converted its entire U.S. truck fleet to cleaner-burning biodiesel fuel.That announcement is part of the company’s “lead by example” green initiative, is being made at events throughout the country this week to raise awareness about sustainability and exploring new opportunities to protect the environment and reduce carbon emissions while embracing environmental friendly initiatives throughout its business operations.

http://www.thedenverchannel.com/news/15069649/detail.html

Going green can attract and keep employees

Corporations and smaller workplaces are jumping aboard the green bandwagon and developing environmental platforms displayed proudly on websites, annual reports and recruiting brochures. It seems saving the planet doesn't only save money and boost brand value, it might even recruit or retain the best employees. Or does it?

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20080119.RWEEKENDWORKDOUT19/TPStory/Business

Cheap Ethanol from Tires and Trash

Yesterday at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, General Motors announced a partnership with Coskata of Warrenville, IL, a new company that claims it can make ethanol from wood chips, grass, and trash--including old tires--for a dollar a gallon. That's significantly less than it costs to make the biofuel from corn grain, which is the source of almost all the ethanol made in the United States.

http://www.technologyreview.com/Biztech/20056/

Biofuel: Major Net Energy Gain From Switchgrass-based Ethanol

ScienceDaily (Jan. 14, 2008) — Switchgrass grown for biofuel production produced 540 percent more energy than needed to grow, harvest and process it into cellulosic ethanol, according to estimates from a large on-farm study by researchers at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

However, caution should be used in making direct ethanol yield comparisons with cellulosic sources and corn grains because corn grain conversion technology is mature, whereas cellulosic conversion efficiency technology is based on an estimated value.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/01/080109110629.htm

Biofuels 'do more harm than good to environment' says Royal Society

Biofuels will cause more harm than good to the environment unless strict controls are imposed on how they are grown, the Royal Society has cautioned.
While they have the potential to help reduce the greenhouse gas emissions that are driving climate change, biofuels will devastate forests and other habitats unless controlled, scientists said.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/environment/article3185588.ece

China to promote new taxation system to protect environment

Chinese authorities are thrashing out a taxation system to boost awareness of the need to protect the environment and they say they are already considering three possible options.
http://www.cctv.com/program/bizchina/20080108/103545.shtml

Divorce takes its toll on the environment; it's better to share

Yet another function of modern life has been determined to be dangerous to the environment: divorce. Divorce rates have been rising in countries around the world, and each time a family dissolves the result is two new households.
http://www.bayjournal.com/article.cfm?article=3244

Efficient Biofuel Made From Genetically Modified E. Coli Bacteria

Researchers at the UCLA Henry Samueli School of Engineering and Applied Science have developed a new method for producing next-generation biofuels by genetically modifying Escherichia coli bacteria to be an efficient biofuel synthesizer. The method could lead to mass production of these biofuels..........
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/01/080106202952.htm

Some Biofuels Are Worse Environmentally Than Fossil Fuels, Analysis Shows

Smithsonian researchers highlight a new study that factors in environmental costs of biofuel production. Corn, soy and sugarcane come up short. The authors urge governments to be far more selective about which biofuels they support, as not all are more environmentally friendly than fossil fuels............http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/01/080103144404.htm

Sears to reduce and phase out the use of PVC in its packaging

US retailer Sears Holding (Hoffman Estates, Illinois / USA; www.searsholdings.com), owner of the Kmart and Sears brands, has begun to reduce and phase out the use of PVC in its packaging and merchandise. The company says it has adopted a policy of identifying more sustainable choices, “given the potential health and environmental risks tied to the manufacture, use and disposal of PVC.”
http://www.plasteurope.com/pie-ticker/detail.asp?id=209790

E-waste and sustainable environment

The electronics sector as well as Information and Communication Technology (ICT) are reputed to be the world’s fastest growing industries. Their growth, however, has brought with it an unimaginable growth in discarded electronics equipment, known as e-waste, especially in the developing countries.........http://www.thetidenews.com/article.aspx?qrDate=01/07/2008&qrTitle=E-waste%20and%20sustainable%20environment&qrColumn=ENVIRONMENT

Calif. sues EPA over tailpipe rules

SACRAMENTO, Calif. - California sued the federal government in its struggle to set the country's first greenhouse gas limits on cars, trucks and SUVs, asking the Environmental Protection Agency to review its decision to deny the state a waiver that would allow it and 16 other states to regulate emissions. ........http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/california_greenhouse_gases;_ylt=ArYYmZzEVsRRQ_.cxHpAhbzYeMUA

GREEN GROWTH: Small-scale alternative energy projects gain momentum in Massachusetts

The massive offshore wind farms proposed for Nantucket Sound and Buzzards Bay generate most of the headlines. But most of the progress in renewable energy in Massachusetts this year will be seen among much smaller turbine projects........http://ledger.southofboston.com/articles/2008/01/05/business/biz01.txt

Interest heats up for investing in green companies

A host of major firms, including Wal-Mart Stores Inc., Kohl's Corp., L.L. Bean Inc., Best Buy Co. and General Electric Co., are actively promoting their companywide environmental sustainability initiatives.......http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/yourmoney/chi-ym-green-0104jan04,0,2541195.story

Frito-Lay getting Greener

Frito-Lay's snack foods may not contribute much to a healthy diet. But its corporate strategies are healthy for the planet. The company is shrinking its use of water, natural gas and electricity....... http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/opinions/articles/0106quickhit-ingley06.html