Laboratories (Research and Testing): GLRPPR Sector Resources

Resource: Pollution Prevention Success Stories

Mon, 14 Jan 2013 19:42:30 GMT

Learn how companies have successfully reduced the amount of dangerous waste they produce, streamlined production processes, and saved money by implementing pollution prevention practices.

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Resource: Metering Plan: Monitoring Energy and Potable Water Use in PNNL EMS4 Buildings

Tue, 11 Sep 2012 21:50:10 GMT

The PNNL Metering Program operates within the Sustainability M&O Program and collects data, provides analysis, and makes recommendations in support of two of these deliverables: the SSP and the F&O Business Plan. This 2012 edition of the annual Metering Plan conveys the vision of the recently reorganized PNNL Metering Program. It will present our progress toward the metering goals shared by all national laboratories and discuss PNNL's contemporary approach to the installation of new meters. Perhaps most importantly, this Plan discusses the data analysis techniques with which PNNL is working to mature using the endless streams of data newly available as a result of increased meter deployment over the last several years. Previous PNNL Metering Plans (Olson 2007; Olson, Berman, and Schielke 2008, 2009, and 2010; Pope et al. 2011) have documented specific meter connection schemes as the Laboratory focused on deploying meters in a first step towards managing energy use. This year's Plan serves not only as a report on how far PNNL has come, but also as the beginning of a guideline on meter installation and data analysis that we intend to develop over time.

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News: Energy Department Announces New University-Led Projects to Create More Efficient, Lower Cost Concentrating Solar Power Systems

Tue, 28 Aug 2012 21:10:59 GMT

As part of the Energy Department's SunShot Initiative, which aims to drive solar energy to be cost-competitive with other energy sources by 2020, Secretary Steven Chu announced today new investments totaling $10 million over five years for two university-led projects to advance innovative concentrating solar power (CSP) system technologies. CSP technologies use mirrors to reflect and concentrate sunlight onto receivers that collect solar energy and convert it to heat that can be used to produce electricity. Heat transfer fluids are a key component of CSP systems that transfer heat from a receiver to the point where the heat is needed to drive a turbine. The investments announced today will dramatically improve heat transfer fluids, increasing their efficiency and lowering costs for CSP systems.

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News: Energy Department Announces New Investments in Innovative Manufacturing Technologies

Thu, 14 Jun 2012 20:06:20 GMT

As part of the Obama Administration's blueprint for an American economy built to last, the Energy Department has announced new investments that support American leadership and global competiveness in manufacturing. The Energy Department awarded more than $54 million--leveraging approximately an additional $17 million in cost share from the private sector--for 13 projects across the country to advance transformational technologies and materials that can help American manufacturers dramatically increase the energy efficiency of their operations and reduce costs. These projects will develop cutting-edge manufacturing tools, techniques, and processes that will be able to save companies money by reducing the energy needed to power their facilities. These projects are a part of the Administration's strategy for investing in emerging technologies that create high-quality domestic manufacturing jobs and enhance the competitiveness of U.S. companies in today's global markets.

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News: Northwestern University Team Wins Energy Department's National Clean Energy Business Plan Competition

Thu, 14 Jun 2012 19:41:54 GMT

As part of the Obama Administration's Startup America Initiative that works to encourage and accelerate high-growth entrepreneurship throughout the nation, the Energy Department today announced that NuMat Technologies from Northwestern University won the first-ever DOE National Clean Energy Business Plan Competition. The competition aims to inspire university teams across the country and promote entrepreneurship in clean energy technologies that will boost American competitiveness, bringing cutting-edge clean energy solutions to the market and strengthening our economic prosperity. NuMat Technologies presented a plan to commercialize a nanomaterial that stores gases at lower pressure, reducing infrastructure costs and increasing design flexibility. One potential application for this innovation is in designing tanks to store natural gas more efficiently in motor vehicles.

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News: MI: DEQ Opens Nominations for Michigan Green Chemistry Governor's Awards

Wed, 28 Mar 2012 16:11:42 GMT

The DEQ has announced open nominations for the fourth annual Michigan Green Chemistry Governor's Awards. The Governor's Awards recognize advances that incorporate the principles of green chemistry into chemical design, manufacture, or use, or that promote activities which support or implement those technologies and efforts. The awards acknowledge efforts to design and implement safer and more sustainable chemicals, processes, and products. Awards are open to individuals, groups, and organizations, both non-profit and for profit. The program was established by the Michigan Green Chemistry Roundtable, and it celebrates innovations using green chemistry in Michigan. Eleven awards have been presented in the first three years of the program. Entries must be sent no later than July 20.

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News: Energy Department Announces Over $12 Million to Spur Solar Energy Innovation

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 22:56:28 GMT

As part of the Obama Administration's blueprint for an American economy built to last, today U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu announced over $12 million to speed solar energy innovation from the lab to the marketplace through the Energy Department's SunShot Incubator program. The funding will accelerate American innovation in solar energy and manufacturing by supporting advancements in hardware, reductions in soft costs, and the development of pilot manufacturing and production projects.

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News: Agriculture Secretary Vilsack Streamlines Access to Energy Investment Information at USDA

Fri, 20 Jan 2012 22:49:18 GMT

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack has announced the launch of a USDA energy website that will provide stakeholders fast and efficient access to USDA energy efficiency and renewable energy data. Today's announcement builds on the Secretary's commitment to develop a modern and efficient service organization as outlined in USDA's Blueprint for Stronger Service announced last week. USDA's energy website provides access to all USDA energy resources, including: agricultural, forestry, economic, and social data. This is done in part through a set of new complementary web-based tools: the USDA Renewable Energy Investment Map, the Renewable Energy Tool and Energy Matrix. These tools focus on USDA's energy, energy efficiency and renewable energy investments and projects; provide information and data to a broad spectrum of stakeholders; and empower the user with the ability to easily navigate USDA's energy web resources. In addition, the site provides a link to all USDA state and local offices and energy resource coordinators.

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Training: Air Quality Training

Wed, 11 Jan 2012 14:54:05 GMT

Six training sessions dealing with a wide variety of air quality topics.

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News: Activists begin work on recycling archive in Illinois

Tue, 06 Dec 2011 21:46:58 GMT

Neil Seldman, president of the Institute for Local Self-Reliance (ILSR), Dan Knapp, co-founder of Urban Ore, and others have started the U.S. Recycling Archives project at the University of Illinois-Springfield. The U.S. Recycling Archives will allow for research and analysis of economic and environmental policy decisions influenced by technology, social activism, entrepreneurs, corporate resistance and corporate leadership, Seldman said.

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