A battle is looming over proposals to construct coal export terminals in the Pacific Northwest, the Obama administration’s leases of large tracts in the West for coal mining, and the important questions that these issues have raised about the use of coal in the United States. The Center for American Progress (CAP) released a report on…
Garnier, a hair-care brand made by L’Oreal, is reducing the amount of landfill waste generated by its products by partnering with TerraCycle to turn its packaging into playground equipment. Hard to believe, but they say personal care and beauty products account for one-third of all landfill waste. Garnier aims to divert a significant portion of its…
Its gas mileage of nearly 100 miles per gallon and parts made from recycled materials, including home appliances and plastic bottles, landed the 2011 Nissan Leaf at the top of Kelley Blue Book‘s Top 10 Green Cars for 2011 list. The editors from Kelley Blue Book’s kbb.com website named the 2011 Chevy Volt (below) to…
SAN DIEGO, April 13, 2011 – HYPERLINK “http://sdge.com/index/” San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) today announced that it has entered into two, 25-year solar power purchase agreements for a total of 80 megawatts (MW) and revised its agreement with renewable energy developer NaturEner to buy power from the company’s Rim Rock wind farm project in…
The Senior Experience Program matches teams of students with projects submitted by local businesses and organizations. Students gain by working as consultants on rigorous, real-world projects that require teamwork and application of classroom knowledge. Businesses gain by receiving concentrated attention from bright, energetic teams that provide a fresh, independent look at their projects. Each student…
The California State University’s commitment to sustainability is built on the foundation of efficient building design, construction, and operation of all 23 campuses. Innovative and dedicated CSU employees are essential to reducing the energy demands of the system’s 936 buildings and $130 million in annual utility costs. Floyd Dudley II, the assistant director of…
WASHINGTON, DC — The U.S. Department of Agriculture put its stamp on 60 products ranging from soap to carpet to engine oil in a bid to drive consumers to products made with biobased materials. Through its Biopreferred program, the USDA has identified more than 5,000 biobased products in the past eight years for federal agencies to…
MEXICO CITY, Mexico — Researchers are looking at two of the 200 different types of agave plant as potential sources of biofuels for arid lands around the globe. A special issue of the journal Global Change Biology Bioenergy is devoted entirely to agave as a source of bioenergy. The plant is an attractive potential source of…
First, researchers from the University of Warwick developed a race car made from potatoes, carrots and chocolate. Now Brazilian scientists have found a way to turn fibers from pineapples, bananas, coconut shells and other plants into plastics that can be used in automobiles. These fruits and plants contain cellulose, which can be processed into tiny…
“It isn’t what we don’t know that gives us trouble, it’s what we know that ain’t so.” — Will Rogers This nation’s energy policy for the past forty years is not that hard to judge — it’s disjointed, shortsighted and largely ineffective. We know it, we say it, but we continue to ignore it. It’s…