Environmental News

Pharmacy retailer CVS Caremark plans to phase out toxic chemicals from its house-branded products in favor of safer alternatives. Source: GreenBuzz, 5/8/08

Source: GreenBuzz, 5/7/08

While worldwide consumption and demand of seafood is increasing, stakeholders in the U.S. seafood industry are making efforts to support and advance sustainable seafood. Source: GreenBuzz, 5/6/08

In a drive to reduce the packaging of its products, PepsiCo. will unveil a new bottle this month that will be made with 20 percent less plastic and sport a trimmed label size. Source: GreenBuzz, 5/7/08

Companies can make an enormous difference in the global environment and forest communities by adopting strict purchasing policies. Source: GreenBuzz, 5/12/08

The American Trucking Associations rolled out a sustainability program Thursday aimed at scaling back fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. Source: GreenBuzz, 5/9/08

The Chicago Green Festival returns for a second year this weekend at Navy Pier, with more than 350 local and national "green" businesses displaying and selling eco-friendly, fair trade and sustainable products. Source: Chicago Tribune, 5/14/08

Going green continues to gain momentum and if you need proof, you can look no farther than your neighborhood farmers market. In addition to new markets opening in the area, many will be selling sustainable fruits, vegetables and gourmet specialties. Many markets open this week. Source: Chicago Tribune, 5/14/08

The creative approaches by Midwestern states to completing successful brownfield redevelopment projects have made them models for the rest of the country, according to brownfield redevelopment leaders. Source: Crain's Detroit Business, 5/5/08

Innovative businesses, schools or municipalities may reap financial rewards by applying for a Pollution Prevention (P2) grant through the Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) by August 29, 2008. Source: Indiana Department of Environmental Management

West Branch Middle School pupils will stand beside Gov. Chet Culver on Monday to see their two environmental bills signed into law. The bills stem from two extra-curricular science projects and would ban the disposal of oil fiters and mercury thermostats into landfills. Source: West Branch Times, 5/13/08

Minnesota is the first in the nation to ban intentionally-added mercury in cosmetic products. Minnesota will now have a more stringent standard than the federal government. The federal government currently allows a small amount of mercury as a preservative in eye makeup. Source: Natural News, 5/7/08

If all goes as planned Boulder will become the world's first "fully integrated Smart Grid City," says regional utility Xcel Energy. Envisioned as the first true innovation in electricity distribution in close to a century, the Smart Grid movement is essentially developing ways to bring digital Internet-based technology to power lines, giving utilities and business and residential customers greater control and efficiency in the flow of electricity. Source: New West Network, 5/9/08

About a year ago, a client of mine came to me and asked me to design a house that would have no energy bill -- a "Net Zero House," producing as much energy as it used. During the same year, I found that my energy bill for my own house was beginning to become much more of a burden on our family budget. These two events led me to research energy costs and how those costs are impacting the average American household. It was immediately clear from the research that energy prices are outpacing income and our current way of building houses will create energy bills that will not be sustainable for the average household. Source: New West Network, 5/10/08

A workshop scheduled for next month will offer information on how water suppliers can better protect drinking water sources. The workshop will be held from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Wednesday, June 4, at the Holiday Inn Conference Center in Fogelsville, Lehigh County. The workshop will explore how communities can assess the areas surrounding water sources, facilitate better local decision making on land use and open space preservation, and involve the public in contamination prevention efforts. Information on DEP's source water protection technical assistance program will also be presented. Source: PA Department of Environment, 5/9/08

Department of Environmental Protection Secretary Kathleen A. McGinty announced today that businesses and nonprofit organizations can now apply for a portion of $400,000 in grants to help increase the use of composted materials in finished products and reduce the amount of organic waste disposed in landfills. Source: PA Department of Environment, 5/9/08

Students across northern and central Ohio will learn about the birds and bees, flowers and trees in the Ohio Young Birders Club. The Oak Harbor-based Black Swamp Bird Observatory has been awarded a $25,355 Ohio EPA Environmental Education grant to provide field trips for students in 12 counties. Nine grants were awarded statewide for a total of $350,000. Source: Ohio EPA, 5/12/08

Erie County General Health District staff will use a $49,742 Ohio EPA Environmental Education grant to train staff at schools in four counties on the environmental health and safety requirements of Jarod's Law. It was one of nine grants awarded statewide for a total of $350,000. Source: Ohio EPA, 5/8/08

NYSERDA is hosting turn-in events across the state this spring and offering energy-saving tips to help New Yorkers keep their homes cool without breaking their budget. Residents with coupons from their local municipality can turn-in old room air conditioners and dehumidifiers. Source: NYSERDA, 5/8/08

The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) has released the most recent evaluation of its New York Energy $martSM public benefits program. NYSERDA was named administrator of this program in 1998 by the New York State Public Service Commission (PSC). The New York Energy SmartSM Program helps to maintain momentum for the State's efforts to develop competitive markets for energy efficiency; demand management; outreach and education services; research, development, and demonstration; low-income services; and to provide direct economic and environmental benefits to New Yorkers. Source: NYSERDA, 5/12/08

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency and the Recycling Association of Minnesota have launched a statewide educational effort to promote and reinvigorate recycling at home, at work and on-the-go. The state's rate of recycling -- 41 percent of trash -- is admirable, but hasn't increased significantly for the past 10 years. The goal of the Recycle MORE Minnesota campaign is to increase our recycling rate to 50 percent by 2011. Source: Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, 5/8/08

Water quality experts have known for years that the use of rain gardens can have a positive effect on nearby lakes, rivers and streams. And a growing number of Minnesotans are discovering the benefits of these gardens designed to soak up rain water -- rain gardens can attract butterflies, bees and birds, too. Source: Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, 5/9/08

RGGI is an agreement by 10 Northeastern states to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, with participating states issuing their own regulations. When fully implemented, RGGI will achieve a 16 percent reduction in emissions from projected business-as-usual emissions. Comments on the revised regulations will be received until June 23, 2008. The public is invited to submit comments in writing to DEC and NYSERDA and/or attend one of two public hearings. The state expects to finalize the regulations by the end of this calendar year. Source: New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, 5/7/08

Department of Environmental Quality Director Steven E. Chester will participate in legislative hearings being held in Ann Arbor and Southfield and host an additional public meeting in Grand Rapids to discuss Michigan's role in addressing global climate change. The first hearing of the House Great Lakes and Environment Committee being hosted by State Representative Rebekah Warren will take place on Thursday, May 15, from 7:00 - 9:00 p.m. at Concordia University's Black Box Theater in Ann Arbor. The event is a formal hearing of the committee and will be free and open to the public. Source: Michigan Department of Environmental Quality, 5/8/08

For the sixth consecutive year, Illinois EPA presented the Environmental Excellence Award to four Illinois students at the State Science Exposition, hosted by the Junior Academy of Science in Champaign, held this year on Saturday, May 3. Source: Illinois EPA, 5/8/08

Saturday marks the opening of fishing season in Minnesota - 10,000-plus lakes packed with anglers and sportsmen of all kinds. This year, however, the University is playing a role in monitoring the health of the fish being caught. Source: Minnesota Daily, 5/8/08

US Sens. Carl Levin, D-MI, and George Voinovich, R-OH, co-chairmen of the Senate Great Lakes Task Force, introduced on May 8 the bipartisan Great Lakes Legacy Act of 2008, which would expand on legislation passed six years ago and continue cleanup efforts of "areas of concern," according to a press release from Levin's office. Source: Water Technology, 5/9/08

Intensified farming this season to capitalize on high corn and soybean prices could be a boon for Wisconsin farmers but also could have a harmful effect on wildlife habitat, water quality and soil erosion control. Source: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 5/11/08

There is an SOS coming from communities across the nation: Save Our Schools. With the rise of new financing tools like power purchase agreements (PPAs)and the right support from the public and politicians, I believe we have an answer: Schools On Solar. Source: Renewable Energy World, 5/8/08

American consumers just coming to grips with higher gasoline prices can now count on another worry: higher electricity prices. Something has to give--but will it be electricity demand, or power-company profits? Source: Environmental Capital, 5/7/08

EPA Region 7 has developed fact sheets to inform plumbing, heating and cooling contractors who repair or replace mercury-containing gas regulators, pressure gauges, heat generators and thermostats about the health risks and liability issues associated with a mercury release. Source: U.S. EPA, 5/8/08

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region 5 has reached an agreement with Black Beauty Coal Co., Evansville, Ind., and with its subsidiary Arclar Co., Equality, Ill., for filling in streams and wetlands without a permit while mining in Indiana and Illinois. Black Beauty Coal is a subsidiary of Peabody Energy. Black Beauty Coal and Arclar will pay a total fine of $75,000, and Black Beauty Coal has agreed to spend $292,344 to create a forested wetland near its Farmersburg mine in Indiana. Source: U.S. EPA, 5/8/08

Consumer interest in buying green environmentally friendly products and healthy organic food remains high despite the tough economy and rising food and energy prices. A recent market research survey released by Mambo Sprouts Marketing showed that consumers are placing a priority on buying green and finding ways to keep doing so. Source: Environmental Protection, 5/8/08

An Arkansas nanotechnology company has been awarded $224,997 from the Environmental Protection Agency and the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program to develop a green alternative to fluorescent lighting. Source: U.S. EPA, 5/8/08

The Center for Resource Solutions announced today that The Philadelphia Phillies are the first Major League Baseball team to join Green-e Marketplace by purchasing enough Green-e Certified renewable energy to meet 100% of the annual electricity needs for its stadium, Citizens Bank Park. The team purchased 20,000 MWh of Green-e Energy Certified renewable energy certificates from WindStreet Energy. As a member of Green-e Marketplace, The Philadelphia Phillies can now display the Green-e logo to inform consumers that they purchased 100% Green-e Certified renewable energy. Source: Press release, 5/8/08

eBay Inc. (Nasdaq: EBAY) today announced the opening of an environmentally friendly building on its North Campus in San Jose. It is the first building in San Jose to be built to LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Gold standards for new construction, which is the second-highest LEED rating a building can receive. The building sits on a campus with the largest commercial solar installation in the city. Source: Press release, 5/8/08

America's aging sewer systems continue to dump human waste into rivers and streams, despite years of fines and penalties targeting publicly owned agencies responsible for sewage overflows, a Gannett News Service analysis shows. Source: USA Today, 5/8/08

As anglers in Minnesota prepare their gear for the Saturday fishing opener, state officials are asking that only lead-free tackle be used. Source: Minneapolis Star-Tribune, 5/8/08

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region 5 has awarded a $37,271 grant to the Manitowoc Public School District in Manitowoc, Wis., for a project to cut diesel emissions from the district's school buses. Source: U.S. EPA, 5/8/08

Soaring gas prices are forcing employees -- and employers -- to adjust the way they plan and execute business trips within the USA. Source: USA Today, 4/30/08

At Yahoo! headquarters, we recently installed an interactive touch screen next to our corporate cafeteria. The Green Screen, as we fondly call it, tracks our electricity consumption by building over time. Employees can compare one building against another and translate it into kilowatt-hours, dollars, or (for those who want something more tangible) laptop-hours or compact florescent lightbulb-hours. Source: Environmental Leader, 5/1/08

Reducing the weight of Honest Kids organic juice drink pouch bulk packs sold at Wal-Mart is one of the success stories highlighted at the April 30 Federal Trade Commission "Eco in the Marketplace" public workshop on product packaging claims. Source: Environmental Leader, 5/1/08

As climate change and renewable-energy policies level the playing field in the energy industry, alternative-energy companies are racing to assure investors, policymakers and the public that they can scale to meet the needs of energy-starved consumers. During the last few years, a clutch of clean energy projects have emerged on a scale never seen before. Forbes.com has identified the biggest and boldest projects among them. Source: Forbes, 4/30/08

Taco Bell recently announced their plans to install new "Grill-To-Order" cooking machines in all of their locations. The company is making this step to not only reduce water and energy usage, but also improve cost efficiency. Each installation is estimated to save $5,900 a year in electricity cost per store. System-wide Taco Bell expects to save more than $17 million a year. Source: Triple Pundit, 5/1/08

Nearly three-quarters of landscape architects said in a recent survey that their clients are very interested in sustainable issues. Top issues relate to water, energy efficiency, accreditation, habitat and green roofs. Source: GreenerBuilding News, 4/29/08

Made famous in the Discovery Channel show, "American Choppers," Orange County Choppers is now housed in a 92,000 square-foot building that sports exterior glazing upgrades, daylight harvesting, variable air volume system, efficient rooftop HVAC equipment, efficient lighting and demand-based garage exhaust, among other features. Source: GreenerBuilding News, 4/30/08

More than 200 Target stores have been fitted with submetering systems so building managers can closely monitor how energy is used throughout their facilities. Source: GreenerBuilding News, 5/5/08

By gaining control over water use, companies help protect a precious resource, reduce runoff pollution and comply with new conservation legislation. Saving water also has a powerful multiplier effect by reducing the vast amount of energy expended in transporting it. Source: GreenerBuilding News, 5/8/08

Please join a dynamic panel discussion with national and local experts working at the forefront of issues surrounding climate change and the school environment. Source: Health Schools Campaign, 5/8/08

Even with the addition of thousands of students and hundreds of faculty and new teaching and research facilities to support them, Texas A&M University in College Station, Texas, has managed drastic drops in water and energy consumption, making the nation's sixth-largest university a campus conservation leader. Source: Water & Wastewater News, 5/7/08

A University of Missouri-Columbia researcher has found that silver nanoparticles may destroy benign bacteria that are used to remove ammonia from wastewater treatment systems. The study was funded by a grant from the National Science Foundation. Source: Water & Wastewater News, 5/6/08

Grand Rapids has been fluoridating its tap water since 1945, but now some city officials say they're studying the question because of increased concerns over the potential long-term effects of exposure to what some consider a toxic chemical. Source: Grand Rapids Press, 5/7/08

More than 120 Great Lakes policymakers and interested parties turned out for the first annual meeting of the Great Lakes Wind Collaborative, which concluded today in Buffalo, N.Y. Existing wind mapping models show many areas along and in the Great Lakes have good promise for wind generation. Source: Buffalo News, 5/7/08

Energy Matters, the Best Practices quarterly of DOE's Industrial Technologies Program, is now available online. The issue focus is Resources to Save Energy Now. Source: U.S. DOE Industrial Technologies Program

A health firm that serves 13 hospitals and other health care facilities in northwestern Pennsylvania today signed an agreement with the Department of Environmental Protection that will pave the way for the company to move into the former Talon Plant #7. Vantage Holding Co. LLC plans to develop the site as its corporate headquarters and move about 120 of its 300 employees there. The facility has been empty since the early 1990s when pioneering zipper manufacturer Talon ceased local operations. The property covers approximately 14 acres on Meadville's South Main Street, including a 66,000-square-foot building. Source: PA Department of Environment, 5/5/08

As you go through your tackle box to get ready for the 2008 fishing opener, the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) encourages anglers to switch to lead-free fishing tackle. Lead is a toxic metal that has adverse effects on the nervous and reproductive systems of mammals and birds. Found in most fishing jigs and sinkers, this metal is poisoning wildlife such as loons and eagles. Source: Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, 5/6/08

As a cost-effective and environmentally friendly alternative to conventional energy sources, photovoltaic energy systems have exhibited steady growth over the past 20 years. Demonstrating its support and commitment to renewable energies, the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) is now the sole provider of a quality mark for the expanding global photovoltaic industry. Source: Environmental Protection, 5/6/08

Taking action to combat climate change in Los Angeles, Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa signed the Private Sector Green Building Plan into law setting Los Angeles, Calif., on course to cut carbon emissions by more than 80,000 tons by 2012. Source: Environmental Protection, 5/6/08

A Massachusetts Institute of Technology class has studied the carbon emissions of Americans in a wide variety of lifestyles and estimated that people in the United States contribute much more than the global average. Source: Environmental Protection, 5/5/08

Local governments have the power to promote or eliminate wind projects in their communities, Brion Dickens told a Muskegon Countywide planning commission meeting earlier this week. Source: Muskegon Chronicle, 5/3/08

Alliance Energy is proposing to generate up to 110 megawatts of electricity using underwater currents from the St. Lawrence River. Source: Watertown Daily Times, 5/6/08