Archives

April 2009 Archives

Solar Tech: Not Just on the Roof Anymore - 2009-04-30
PHOTOVOLTAIC cells are already a familiar sight on rooftops. But one day, miniature cells may also be found in more unconventional places: power-generating windows, car sunroofs or even awnings.

First Solar 1Q profit triples on new projects - 2009-04-30
First Solar, the nation's largest solar panel maker, reported Wednesday that first-quarter profits more than tripled as the company inked numerous new power projects and cut its production costs.

Pint-size yoga benefits kids' bodies, minds - 2009-04-29
That stress-relief method is a reason Sherri Kurek says she takes her two children, Alayna and Olivia, 7, to classes for kids at the Yoga Studio of Shelby.

Wind industry adds nearly 3,000 MW, group says - 2009-04-29
Wind farms added more than 2,800 megawatts of capacity in the first quarter, a trade group reported Tuesday, offering a sliver of good news for an industry pummeled by frozen credit markets and the recession.

Spain plugs in largest solar-tower power plant - 2009-04-28
Abengoa Solar of Spain on Monday reported successful tests of its second solar tower in operation, in which the sun's heat is used to make electricity.

Try these unsung superfoods in your diet - 2009-04-28
Step aside, blueberries, spinach and broccoli. It's time to give unsung superfoods a chance.

Feds, Mayors Group Announce Plans for Clean Cities - 2009-04-28
City infrastructure, from transit to recreation, is the focus of two new greening initiatives announced last week.

ADB Study Finds Annual Economic Losses in Southeast Asia from Climate Change Could be More Than Twice the Global Average - 2009-04-27
Southeast Asia, one of the most vulnerable regions in the world to climate changedue to its long coastlines, high concentration of population and economic activity in coastal areas, and heavy reliance on agriculture, natural resources, and forestryis likely to suffer more from climate change than the global average, according to a new Asian Development Bank (ADB) study, titled The Economics of Climate Change in Southeast Asia: A Regional Review.

Scientists Warn Of Serious Health Consequences If Governments Don't Prioritise Natural Food - 2009-04-27
Dr Chopra stated that the removal of just 5 groups of products from the food supply, namely antibiotics, hormones, slaughterhouse waste, genetically modified organisms (GMOs) and pesticides, would transform the safety and sustainability of the food supply. These products, claimed Dr Chopra, were hazardous, in most cases unnecessary and offered relatively few long-term benefits.

EU Targets Windows And Taps With Eco-Design Rules - 2009-04-27
Showers, taps, windows and home insulation will have to conform to environmental standards in the European Union, after lawmakers voted to widen the scope of existing "eco-design" regulations on Friday.

Yakima grower goes all organic - 2009-04-27
After a three-year wait, one of the Pacific Northwest's largest fruit growers has had 100 percent of its peach and nectarine crops certified as organic.

Kansas Governor Vetoes Milk Labeling Bill! - 2009-04-24
In a victory for local dairy farmers and consumers, Gov. Sebelius vetoes controversial bill that would have limited rbGH labeling on dairy products in the state.

Green Product Trends: More Launches, More Sales - 2009-04-24
Research ranging from product launches to retail sales shows that green products are staying strong, with long-time green companies like Seventh Generation seeing strong sales and mainstream companies launching more green lines, AdAge reports.

U.S. Sets Survey Of Organic Farming And Marketing - 2009-04-24
The U.S. government will make its first in-depth survey of organic farming this spring, an eight-page questionnaire on which crops and livestock are produced, how they are grown and where they are sold.

Hunger for organic foods proves hard to satisfy - 2009-04-17
Organic food is more popular than ever in Switzerland but consumer enthusiasm is making it hard for producers to keep up with increasing demand.

Ireland's ESB Sees 3,700 Jobs From Green Investment - 2009-04-17
Ireland's Electricity Supply Board (ESB) expects private industry to create 3,700 jobs over the next five years, largely on the back of investments in green energy, the utility group said on Thursday.

Budweiser Brewery Uses Solar Energy to Help Power Plant - 2009-04-17
More than 6 acres of ground-mounted photovoltaic solar arrays are now up and running at the Anheuser-Busch brewery in Fairfield, California.

EarthQuest Institute Plans for "Epcot- Styled" Green Theme Park in Houston - 2009-04-14
"The new EarthQuest development will encompass retail stores, an outlet mall, restaurants and hotels, a convention center, office space, a research facility, a zoo and "green" homes, according to Don Holbrook, president and CEO of the EarthQuest Institute..."

Study Says Minicar Buyers Sacrifice Safety - 2009-04-14
"WASHINGTON Consumers who buy minicars to economize on fuel are making a big tradeoff when it comes to safety in collisions, according to an insurance group that slammed three minimodels into midsize ones in tests..."

New Financial Study: Living Buildings Are Cost Effective - 2009-04-14
"Today the Cascadia Green Building Council published their findings of a financial study of Living Buildings. The study -- officially named The Living Building Financial Study: The Effects of Climate, Building Type and Incentives on Creating the Buildings of Tomorrow -- is extensive and we're still going through all the details..."

Nissan, Renault To Provide China With Electric Cars - 2009-04-14
"BEIJING - Japan's Nissan Motor Co and France's Renault said on Friday they will supply electric cars to China, the world's largest auto market. The Franco-Japanese alliance will provide the Chinese government with a comprehensive plan for marketing and for a battery-charging network, with the aim of selling electric vehicles to China in early 2011..."

Eliminate Newspapers, Save the Planet? - 2009-04-14
"Marriott, the hotel group, announced on Monday that it no longer will automatically deliver newspapers to guests..."

Regimens: Broccoli Sprouts May Be Germ Fighters - 2009-04-14
"Eating broccoli sprouts may be an effective way to control the germ that causes most peptic ulcers and is strongly associated with stomach cancer, a small study has found..."

Food supplements proving recession-proof - 2009-04-14
"The ongoing slide of global capitalism is decimating industries, but the food supplement industry is not one of them as fraught consumers turn to its potential low-cost, anti-medical, wellness promise..."

European Investment Bank Approves 866M in Loans for Cleaner Cars; Majority to Nissan and Jaguar - 2009-04-13
The European Investment Bank Board of Directors last week approved loans worth a total of 866 million (US$1.14 billion) to European-based car makers to help design and build cleaner cars with lower CO2 emissions. The loans include 400 million to Nissans European operations to develop and build more fuel-efficient vehicles in the United Kingdom and Spain, and 366 million to Jaguar Land Rover to help cut vehicle emissions.

Organic Dairy Farming Avoided 40M Pounds of Fertilizer in 2008: Report - 2009-04-13
According to the Organic Center, organic milk production in the U.S. avoided some 40 million pounds of fertilizer in 2008. The 761,000 acres of organic feed cropland or organic pasture also dodged the use of 758,000 pounds of pesticides. Cows also given 1.7 million fewer drug treatments, including antibiotics and hormones

A123Systems Raises $69 Million in New Round of Private Financing - 2009-04-13
A123Systems has raised $69 million from GE and other investors to accelerate the expansion of its US lithium-ion battery manufacturing and smart grid capabilities. The capital will help support the expansion of A123s facilities in Hopkinton, MA, and Novi, MI, as well as build planned new factories in Michigan. The funding will also support A123s efforts to develop applications for the smart grid, such as utility-scale energy storage.

Taking a Bite of Organic: Cereal Success - 2009-04-10
According to data provided by The Nielsen Company, retail dollars in the natural cereal segment were up 4.3 percent for the 52-week period ending Nov. 29, 2008, and organic cereals were up 4.6 percent. That compares with just a 1.7 percent gain in dollars for the overall cereal category.

DOE Forms Commercial Real Estate Energy Alliance - 2009-04-10
The U.S. Department of Energy and 19 commercial real estate companies launched the Commercial Real Estate Energy Alliance Thursday to link building owners to the latest efficiency research and technologies from the agencys laboratories.

Los Angeles Building Retrofit Designed to Boost Green Jobs - 2009-04-10
A new law on the books in the city of Los Angeles offers big hope for both the green building and green jobs movements.

The Energy That's Quietly Gaining Steam - 2009-04-09
Often overlooked when it comes to cleantech fanfareI've even called it the bastard child of renewable energyit's only a matter of time until the industry gains rock star status.

AMB Distribution Center Receives Japan's Highest Green Building Rating - 2009-04-09
AMB Property Corporation's Kasugai Distribution Center has received the highest rating possible under the Comprehensive Assessment System for Building Environmental Efficiency maintained by Japan's Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism.

FedEx Express Road Test of Iveco Hybrid Van Shows Fuel Savings of More Than 25 Percent - 2009-04-09
FedEx Express and commercial truck-maker Iveco say their road test of 10 hybrid vans in Italy has shown a 26.5 percent drop in fuel consumption and a reduction of 7.5 tons in CO2 emissions in six months of testing.

Own A Hybrid? Stay One Night Free At Ithacas Eco Bed & Breakfasts - 2009-04-09
Hows this for a great promotion? Eco-lodges around Ithaca, NY located in the heart of the Finger Lakes wine region are offering a free nights stay to anyone who comes in a hybrid.

Converted Organics Inc ships 14 tons of fertilizer to Baltimore-based distributor - 2009-04-09
Converted Organics Inc (NASDAQ:COIN), a producer of natural, organic soil amendment and fertilizer products through food waste recycling, reported on 8 April the shipment of over 14 tons of its Lawn & Turf 8-1-4 and Flower & Garden 4-1-8 all-natural fertilizers to Baltimore-based Commerce Corporation, a member of Gro Group's North American network of lawn and garden distributors.

A123 To Make Batteries For Chrysler Electric Cars - 2009-04-08
Chrysler LLC on Monday named US-based A123 Systems as the supplier of batteries for its first electric vehicles slated for debut in showrooms 2010.

Empire State Building going green - 2009-04-08
The $20-million (U.S.) project is expected to save $4.4-million annually in energy costs, and will reduce its carbon dioxide emissions by 105,000 metric tons during the next 15 years, equal to the annual emissions of 17,500 cars.

Winn-Dixie to sell organic wines - 2009-04-08
Winn-Dixie Stores Inc. has established a vendor relationship with an Oregon-based wine maker to sell organic wines in the companys Florida stores.

Tailwind Outdoor receives eco-certification through Sustainable Travel International - 2009-04-08
Sustainable Travel International announced that Tailwind Outdoors eco-lodge, located near Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, has just received a 2-star rating through its Sustainable Tourism Eco-certification Program (STEP).

Renault, Nissan To Supply Electric Cars In Ireland - 2009-04-06
France's Renault and Japan's Nissan will supply electric cars to the Irish market within two years as part of a government plan to have 10 percent of vehicles electric by 2020, Ireland's Energy Minister said on Friday.

Low-income nutrition aid to increase in Pa. - 2009-04-06
Fronted by photo-friendly open crates of fresh apples, oranges, green beans, and celery in the Reading Terminal Market, U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack yesterday announced an increase in nutrition benefits for low-income families in Pennsylvania.

Organic wines vs. wines made from organic grapes whats the difference? - 2009-04-06
Organic Wines have been talked about with increasing frequency. However, it is important to distinguish the difference between organically produced grapes and organic wine.

TripAdvisor Unearths Top 10 Green Eco-mmodations - 2009-04-06
TripAdvisor®, the world's most popular and largest travel community, today announced its top 10 eco-friendly accommodations, according to TripAdvisor editors and travelers.

Green Buildings Earn Higher Rents, Study Finds - 2009-04-03
A clear link between buildings boasting a high Energy Star rating and those commanding high rental premiums has been revealed by a new study of US commercial properties.

Organic Valley Farmer-Owners Celebrate $528 Million in 2008 Sales - 2009-04-03
Organic Valley, the nation's largest cooperative of organic family farmers and one of the nation's leading organic brands, is reporting record sales of $528 million in 2008, a 22 percent increase over 2007.

General Motors to Seek $2.6B to Build Plug-In Hybrids - 2009-04-03
General Motors this week asked the federal government for an additional $2.6 billion in low-interest loans, which the company said it would put to use to develop new hybrid vehicle lines.

US Senate paves way for carbon revenues to go to consumer - 2009-04-02
The US Senate approved language Tuesday that would pave the way for revenues from a carbon allowance auction to be given back to consumers to help alleviate rising energy costs.Senator Barbara Boxer, Democrat-California, introduced an amendment to the chamber's budget resolution which passed 54-43. The budget resolution is a non-binding document, but it sets out legislative priorities for Congress.

Platinum HGTV Green Home 2009 - 2009-04-02
"If you didn't win the Dream Home, you now have another chance to win a home. The HGTV Green Home 2009 contest is slated to begin on April 17, so get your bookmarks ready. We mentioned the HGTV Green Home 2008, which was actually a handsome home, and thought we ought to give it a go this year, too..."

Probiotic ingredient could reduce oral cavities, says BASF - 2009-04-02
"BASF and OrganoBalance have developed a probiotic ingredient for oral care products that they claim helps fight against dental caries.Tooth decay is caused by bacteria such as Streptococcus mutans that change the sugars left in the mouth after snacks and meals into acids. These acids attack the tooth enamel and lead to lesions or caries..."

New Exchange Seeks Funds For "Green" Start-Ups - 2009-04-02
"LOS ANGELES - Seeking to breathe life into the bleak fund-raising environment for clean technology companies, a new private exchange wants to make it easier to invest in promising biofuels, solar or other green start-ups. Known as GREENDAQ, the new exchange goes live on Wednesday at www.greendaq.com. It claims to be the world's first equity and commodities exchange created exclusively for the green technology sector..."

Pistachio recall widens amid salmonella fears - 2009-04-02
"NEW YORK - The U.S. recall of pistachio nuts due to potential salmonella contamination widened as more snack makers and retailers removed their nuts from store shelves as a precautionary measure..."

Schools turn to yoga and pilates as alternative to PE in the rain - 2009-04-01
Pupils are shunning traditional PE lessons to take up yoga, skateboarding, martial arts and cheerleading, according to Ofsted.

Carbon-Neutral, Five-Star Hotel Planned in China - 2009-04-01
Mayland Seaside Hotel, a five-star hotel project to be situated along the Zhujiang River, will feature an architecture style focused on sensibility to social responsiveness, energy use, urbanism and ecological awareness.

Green Travel Month in VA - 2009-04-01
With Virginia marking the 40th anniversary of the Virginia is for Lovers marketing campaign and environmentalists the world over looking forward to Earth Day 2009, Gov. Timothy M. Kaine Tuesday declared April as Virginia Green Travel Month.