Articles from environmentalleader.com

Arizona’s Energy-Efficiency Ruling to Save Utility Customers $9B over Next Decade

Explore Article environmentalleader.com (18 hours, 39 min ago)

The Arizona Corporation Commission (ACC) has voted in favor of a measure that now requires electric utilities to reduce the amount of power they sell by 22 percent by 2020 as part of its drive to help businesses and homeowners conserve energy, reports The Arizona Republic. Arizona’s measure mirrors a national push by utility companies to [...] (Read Full Article)

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CT Companies Paid to Reduce Energy Demand

Explore Article environmentalleader.com (Jul 19 2010)

Connecticut companies are receiving up to $100,000 in payments in exchange for reducing their electricity demand at peak times, according to a report in the Hartford Business Journal. The program is an initiative by ISO New England, a non-profit Regional Transmission Organization to cope with increased demand at peak times during the summer. ISO New England [...] (Read Full Article)

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Commercial Buildings Guzzle 37% of CA’s Energy

Explore Article environmentalleader.com (Jul 15 2010) Emissions

Commercial buildings are responsible for 37 percent of California’s energy needs, according to a new report by Next 10. The findings suggest a new, untapped resource for reducing the state’s energy needs through efficiency measures. The report, Untapped Potential of Commercial Buildings: Energy Use and Emissions, suggests that energy use by commercial buildings could be reduced by up to 80 percent through energy efficiency measures, based on national averages. Simple energy efficiency improvements to existing buildings, such as insulating window films, yield three dollars in savings on average for every dollar invested. Existing building stock represents the greatest opportunity for ... (Read Full Article)

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World Cup Responsible for 2.7M Tons of CO2 Equivalent

Explore Article environmentalleader.com (Jul 14 2010) Carbon Footprint , Emissions , Fossil Fuel

The total carbon footprint for the recently concluded 2010 World Cup came to 2,753,250 tons of CO2 equivalent, according to a recent study by Ernst & Young, an eight-fold increase over the last World Cup in Germany. The majority of emissions were the result of international travel: teams, fans, administrators, and support staff all contributed to the 1,856,589 tons emitted as the result of international travel to South Africa, by far the largest component of the World Cup’s carbon footprint, representing 67.4 percent. The second largest component, intercity travel, generated 484,961 tons and represented 17.6 percent of the total. The ... (Read Full Article)

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How to Green Your Machines – Optimization and IT

Explore Article environmentalleader.com (Jul 13 2010) Carbon Footprint

Just like a faucet that never turns off, the enterprise is dealing with a constant flow of digital information. At the same time that human beings continue to implement and use the blazing speeds of technology, our new computers eventually become slower to boot up, they crash and involve lengthy and painful interactions with technical support. On top of this they become energy hogs. Rather than fix the problem, too many of us prefer to simply replace the machine. That’s not good from a “green” standpoint – cash-wise and eco-wise. Most people think it’s a memory problem, but it’s not. ... (Read Full Article)

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U.S. Utilities Need to Deliver Low-Carbon Electricity to Remain Competitive

Explore Article environmentalleader.com (Jul 12 2010) Monitoring , Emissions , Fossil Fuel

U.S. utilities, which are responsible for 40 percent of the nation’s greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, will need to provide cleaner, low-carbon electricity and enable their customers to better manage and reduce their energy use in order to remain competitive, according to a report from Ceres. A key finding of the report, “The 21st Century Electric Utility: Positioning for a Low-Carbon Future,” authored by Navigant Consulting, indicates that making the transition will require significant changes to the utility industry’s traditional business model. These include implementing energy-efficiency measures and delivering cleaner low-carbon electricity through renewable and smart-grid technologies. (Read Full Article)

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Climate Bill Would Save $19B, CBO Reports

Explore Article environmentalleader.com (Jul 8 2010) Monitoring , Carbon Footprint , Emissions , Fossil Fuel

The climate bill being discussed in Congress would cut $19 billion off the national debt, according to the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) in a finding that could increase the odds of the bills passage, according to press reports. The Associated Press reported that several senators have told Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-CT), one of the bills co-sponsors, that they would oppose the bill if it added to the national debt. The CBO report could convince many of those senators to support the bill. The bill, which would tax carbon emissions from large emitters like coal-fired power plants, would bring in an ... (Read Full Article)

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Data Centers Only Operating at 4% Utilization

Explore Article environmentalleader.com (Jul 8 2010) Carbon Footprint , Cloud Computing , Servers

A majority of servers in data centers operate at only four percent average utilization, representing a huge opportunity for organizations to reduce energy use through better design and operation, according to findings by Greening Greater Toronto. The statement is the result of a recent “Green Exchange” meeting on greening IT practices hosted by Greening Greater Toronto in partnership with the Ontario Institute of the Purchasing Management Association of Canada. The meeting brought together IT purchasers from large private and public sector organizations to delve into the trends, considerations and paybacks of buying green and increasing the energy efficiency of IT. (Read Full Article)

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Business Group to Track Cost of Green Energy

Explore Article environmentalleader.com (Jul 6 2010) Emissions

An association of Massachusetts businesses that have been upset about Gov. Deval Patrick Patrick’s green and renewable energy programs plans to launch an online calculator designed to estimate the cost of government environmental programs for businesses and individuals, according to a report in the Boston Herald. The group, known as the Associated Industries of Massachusetts (AIM) said the “energy surcharge calculator” will allow businesses to type in the amount of energy they use, and see an estimate of how much the government’s environmental initiatives are adding to their electricity bill. According to AIM, the programs add a combined $206 million ... (Read Full Article)

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Green Building Market To Hit $173.5 Billion by 2015

Explore Article environmentalleader.com (Jul 1 2010)

From 2010 to 2015, the total US green building market value is projected to increase from $71.1 billion to $173.5 billion, according to the latest issue of EL Insights. This represents a CAGR of 19.5% during this time period. The goals of building green include the efficient use of energy, water, and other resources, the protection of occupant health and improvement of employee productivity, and the reduction of waste, pollution, and environmental erosion. Buildings in the United States are responsible for 40% of total energy consumption, 12% of water consumption, 68% of total electricity consumption, and 38% of carbon dioxide ... (Read Full Article)

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UCSD Saves $900,000 with Energy Dashboard

Explore Article environmentalleader.com (Jun 30 2010) Monitoring , Emissions , Servers

The University of California, San Diego (UC San Diego) has installed an energy dashboard to help the school improve the efficiency of their operations, reduce energy use, and combat climate change, according to a press release. The dashboard provides updated energy information for the university’s facilities and equipment, helping the them to save $900,000 a year, reducing energy consumption by 19 million kilowatt hours, and reducing 9,600 metric tons of greenhouse gases. (Read Full Article)

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Navy Evaluates New Technologies as Part of Energy-Saving Efforts

Explore Article environmentalleader.com (Jun 28 2010) Solar

The Naval District Washington (NDW) has several improvement projects underway to reduce energy consumption ranging from testing experimental technologies to replacing light bulbs at a ballpark. The Energy Policy Act of 2005 mandates that federal agencies reduce their energy consumption 30 percent by 2015, based on a baseline year of 2003, said David Capozzoli, Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC) Washington utility and energy product line coordinator. Since energy use is based on use per square foot the Navy can construct new buildings as long as the consumption is decreasing per square foot, according to Capozzoli. (Read Full Article)

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Shanghai Could Reduce Emissions by 60,000 Tons

Explore Article environmentalleader.com (Jun 27 2010) Carbon Footprint , Emissions , Wind

Shanghai will get some help in its efforts to make its factories more energy efficient, according to an announcement by the World Resources Institute (WRI). WRI said it will launch a new initiative that could help the city reduce its carbon emissions by 60,000 tons a year. The initiative would also assist China in its efforts to reduce its energy intensity under its newly announced five-year plan. According to WRI, the initiative aims to aggregate 30 to 40 energy efficiency projects into one portfolio to reduce capital costs for companies and the transaction costs of energy services companies (ESCO) that ... (Read Full Article)

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CEOs See Sustainability as Crucial to Success

Explore Article environmentalleader.com (Jun 23 2010)

A new survey of CEOs by the United Nations Global Compact and Accenture found that 93 percent see sustainability as crucial to their future success. The report, “A New Era of Sustainability” interviewed more than 750 chief executives from almost 100 countries. Of these, 72 percent said that strengthening their brand, trust and reputation with consumers was the primary driver behind sustainability initiatives. Concerns about climate change were one of the most common voiced by CEOs, with 66 percent saying it was a critical development issue, behind education (72 percent). The results represent a significant shift from a similar survey ... (Read Full Article)

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Boston to Scan City with Infrared Tech to Determine Energy Efficiency

Explore Article environmentalleader.com (Jun 20 2010) Emissions

To drive energy-efficiency efforts in Boston, Mayor Thomas M. Menino announced plans to use infrared technology to scan all buildings in Boston to determine their energy efficiency, reports Boston Herald. The Boston Redevelopment Authority is accepting requests for proposals for scanning buildings for heat loss in the winter and heat emissions in the summer through July [...] (Read Full Article)

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Water Savings a Top Business Concern

Explore Article environmentalleader.com (Jun 17 2010)

RELATED STORIES IT Directors Cite Energy Savings As No. 6 Data Center Concern Concern About Climate Change Drops New Ice Machines Save Businesses 10-15% on Energy, Water RELATED TOPICS Consumption Feature Food & Beverage Major Players Water Water stewardship is one of the top five business concerns among 52 percent of sustainability professionals, according to a survey by Ethical Corporation, while 99 percent believed water will become a priority in the next five to ten years. Water savings can result in significant cost savings for businesses, according to a CNET report. (Read Full Article)

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CT Businesses Report Lack of Knowledge as Major Barrier to ‘Green’ Initiatives

Explore Article environmentalleader.com (Jun 16 2010)

Lack of knowledge is the primary challenge businesses face in their efforts to implement ‘green’ initiatives, with the gap widening significantly since last year, according to the Connecticut Business & Industry Association’s (CBIA) fourth annual Sustainability and Connecticut Business Survey, reports EastCourier.com. Twenty-nine percent of survey respondents said the greatest barrier to going green is a lack of knowledge, compared to 10 percent in 2009. Other barriers cited by respondents include cost (24 percent), a lack of clear business case for sustainability (21 percent), combination of several areas/other (16 percent), lack of company leadership (5 percent), and lack of tools ... (Read Full Article)

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‘Green’ Energy is Critical for a Secure Energy Supply

Explore Article environmentalleader.com (Jun 10 2010) Fossil Fuel

Green energy systems are essential in securing energy supply and protecting the environment, according to a new report from Lloyd’s 360 Risk Insight and UK think tank Chatham House. The report finds that the reliance on fossil fuels combined with rising demand from developing economies is pushing the search for reserves into more risky territories, citing the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico as an example. However, the report also indicates that this could drive the transition to more cost-efficient clean and renewable energy systems. (Read Full Article)

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Verdiem Powers CA Energy Savings

Explore Article environmentalleader.com (Jun 10 2010) Monitoring , Carbon Footprint , Emissions

Verdiem announced that several California state agencies, municipalities, schools and universities have deployed its PC power management software on nearly 70,000 PC’s with the goal of reducing PC energy consumption by up to 60 percent. According to a company press release, California’s Department of Transportation, Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, Department of Health Care Services, Department [...] (Read Full Article)

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Alcatel-Lucent Cuts Carbon Footprint 13% in 2009

Explore Article environmentalleader.com (Jun 9 2010) Carbon Footprint , Emissions , Wind

Alcatel-Lucent has reduced its facility-based CO2 emissions by nearly 112,000 tons from 2007 to 2009, exceeding its goal of cutting annual CO2 emissions by 10 percent from the 2007 level by the end of 2010, according to the company’s 2009 Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) report. The company has set a goal to reduce its carbon [...] (Read Full Article)

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New Haven Installs 400kW Fuel Cell

Explore Article environmentalleader.com (Jun 8 2010) Construction , Carbon Footprint , Emissions , Fossil Fuel

The city of New Haven, Conn., installed a 400 kW fuel cell in a new mixed-use 700,000 square foot residential development in the center of the city, according to a press release. According to a report in the New Haven Independent, it is the largest fuel cell used by a residential building. According to the press release, the fuel cell will provide power to 500 residential units, common areas and retail spaces within the building, 360 State Street. It will meet nearly 100% of the building’s electric needs as well as provide thermal energy for space heating, domestic hot water ... (Read Full Article)

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Greenpeace – 95% Renewable Energy Without Slow Growth

Explore Article environmentalleader.com (Jun 8 2010) Carbon Footprint , Emissions , Fossil Fuel

Greenpeace outlined a scenario in which 95 percent of energy generation comes from renewable sources by 2050 while creating 12 million jobs, for a price tag of around $18 trillion in global investment, resulting in an 80 percent decrease in CO2 emissions. According to the Greenpeace report, Energy [R]evolution: A Sustainable World Energy Outlook, such a drastic revolution in energy production is necessary, since even a 50 percent decrease in CO2 emissions by 2050 might not be enough to prevent runaway climate change scenarios. Under the Greenpeace scenario, CO2 emissions will peak in 2015 before dropping by more than 80 ... (Read Full Article)

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EPA Launches Energy Star Label for Data Centers

Explore Article environmentalleader.com (Jun 8 2010) Cloud Computing , Servers

Businesses can now apply for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Energy Star label for standalone data centers and buildings that house large data centers. To earn the label, data centers must be in the top 25 percent of their peers in energy efficiency according to EPA’s energy performance scale. EPA uses the power usage effectiveness (PUE) metric to measure for energy efficiency, which will determine whether a data center qualifies for the Energy Star label. In addition, a licensed professional must independently verify the energy performance of these buildings, which is sent to the EPA for review and approval. (Read Full Article)

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Companies Lack Green Metrics

Explore Article environmentalleader.com (Jun 6 2010) Monitoring

Companies in the U.S. and Europe lack sufficient systems to measure their environmental impact, according to a new survey by IFS. The survey found that, although C-level executives considered environmental metrics to be important in the three regions they tested (82 percent of participants in Scandinavia, 79 percent in Benelux, 83 percent in the U.S.), around three quarters of companies in Benelux and Scandinavia (75 percent and 74 percent respectively) lack the functionality to monitor the environmental impact in their current systems. (Read Full Article)

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