September 29, 2012
Phila: Platinum Barnes
The Barnes Foundation's new home in Philadephia is the first art museum to win a LEED Platinum rating
September 28, 2012
They've Got Gas
And the 10 most gas-guzzling counties in the US are...
Busses For Urban Buses
A new generation of buses could attract urban commuters
Up In The Air
What are the prospects for high-altitude wind power?
The Sound Of Silence
Environmental groups petition Obama & Romney to end their silence on the subject of climate change
September 27, 2012
Streaming Sustainable Ideas
Pick from a menu of videos about making smart, sustainable urban energy choices
Cross-Pacific Carbon Market
Australia eyes a link to California's carbon emissions permit market [ClimateWire $ub]
India: Troubling Trends
India will become the most populous nation on Earth just as climate-driven monsoons worsen and temperatures rise
Not Your GrandMa's Electric
Remember your land line phone? Next up -- distributing the electric power system
Today's Quote
“If Alexander Graham Bell were to come back, he would never recognize today’s telecommunication network. If Thomas Edison were to return, he would immediately recognize today’s electric power system and he would know how to fix it. “ Anonymous
Bay Area: 20 x 14
Eleven firms aim to cut energy, water and waste in existing Bay Area commercial buildings 20% in just two years
Portland: Solar Centner
Portland, Oregon is home to a new $600 million solar panel plant that sees bright market opportunities
EU: Wind Power Winner
With 100 gigawatts of installed power, the EU has the most wind power of any region on Earth
Gulp
Last year's Hurricane Irene led to pollution of New York City's drinking water supply
September 26, 2012
An Ode To Deep Retrofits
Energy retrofitting the Depression-era Empire State Building is an inspiration
In Defense Of Data Centers
Yes, computer data centers are huge energy eaters, but that's not the whole story and Greenpeace has kind words for Google
EU: Ailing Carbon Market
A glut of carbon permits undermines the EU emissions trading market
UK: Facts Favor WInd Power
Will facts finally end local opposition to wind power?
UK: The Wood Age
Power plants to replace coal with wood to generate electricity in the UK
Park Fees Backfire
New user fees for NYC Parks Department recreational facilities look like a loser
Bee Careful
You never know when you'll need to rescue an urban bumble bee
Benchmarking 101
How to start making sense of a building's benchmarking data.
Urban Mass Transit Moves
The glass might be half full for new mass transit projects in US cities
Rail Freight Revival
From Brookhaven to Brooklyn, there are rumblings of a regional rail freight revival
September 25, 2012
The End Is Near
Bloomberg News says the world needs to face the end of the affordable-coal era
RIP Filthy Heating Oil
Replacing #6 heating oil with natural gas in NYC boilers is a winner for the environment and public health
Mothball the Grid
Research points the way for retiring a mainstay of the 20th Century, the fossil-fueled electric power grid
Microsoft Gets EPA Energy Award
EPA Green Power Leadership Award winners. (Question: what's Microsoft doing on this list after the exposé in the New York Times?)
Going Green - Not
Why is making green, high performance building the new normal such slow going? But wait, here's another new LEED Gold winner
Wind's Power's Corporate Allies
19 household-name companies urge Congress to extend the wind production tax credit
Court Tosses AG Fracking Suit
A federal court dismisses a lawsuit against federal agencies brought by New York's Attorney General over the need for environmental review of fracking because it is premature [Energywire $ub]
September 24, 2012
And The Winners Are...Oops
ReCharge, a New York program that provides inexepensive electricity to big job-creating businesses, has a fact problem
Germany: Renewable Dissent
A coalition member of the Merkel government calls for ending renewable energy subsidies
Undecideds On Climate
Poll finds voters who don't know whether to choose Obama or Romney do know they're concerned about climate change
China: Urban Cap And Trade
Shenzen, China, population 14 million is one of five cities to launch a carbon cap & trade market
It's Not Easy Being Solar
Think just US solar panel makers struggle to survive? Think again
Mann v Silver
Climate scientist Michael Mann faults number-crunching journalist Nate Silver for confusing scientific and economics predictions
Dow's Energy Bonanza
Dow Chemical makes money from fracking natural gas and from energy efficiency
Illuminating Atlantic Wind Power
Can Atlantic offshore wind power keep the lights on from Maine to Florida?
About That Cloud
The New York Times posts a forum on what to do about energy-ravenous computer data centers But wait, there's more
Brazil: Intercity High Speed Rail
A proposal to build a bullet train running from Rio to Sao Paulo attracts foreign investors
September 22, 2012
Fly In The Face Of Carbon
The Senate votes against compliance with EU aviation carbon fees
PV: Soft Costs Matter
In Germany the soft costs of installing small PV systems are consistently lower than in the US, why?
It Takes A Supply Chain
Educating the entire supply chain is key to making high performance building the new normal
Finding The Value In Microgrids
Calculating the value of microgrids is harder than pricing widgets, so start here
September 21, 2012
North Pole: Closer Than You Think
When it comes to climate change, what happens in the Arctic doesn't stay in the Arctic
PA: Fracking Omens
The pitched battle over hydrofracking in Pennsylvania could be an omen for what will happen in New York
A New Way To See The World
Mash up Google Street Views with thermal imaging and here's what you get
Kerry's Climate Red Alert
John Kerry, possibly the next Secretary of State, calls the threat of climate change a top-tier international crisis
BASIC Climate Confab
Brazil, South Africa, India and China (BASIC) meet to coordinate climate policy in preparation for November's global meeting
Holes In the Insurance Umbrella
Citing the insurance costs of recent weird weather events, a new study casts doubt on future coverage for climate damages
MIA At the NYT
The New York Times reports the City has chosen the most fuel efficient new taxis, but their MPG performance is anybody's guess
Electrons From Ireland
Now, 500 MW of electricity from Irish Sea wind turbines can flow into England
September 20, 2012
Zero Means A Lot In Brooklyn
Again, Brooklyn is ahead of the curve, now with a net-zero energy building
San Francisco Gets Power Choices
San Francisco residents may soon get to choose whether to buy all their electricity from renewable sources
UK: Community Benefits
The British government considers ways wind power installations could benefit host communities
Science At Work - The Big Melt
Why do scientists' predicted dates for the disappearance of arctic ice vary so much?
India: Achieving Energy Security
What role could renewable energy play in creating energy security for India?
Attention Insurers
The US property and casualty insurance industry is urged to take the lead on calculating cllmate-related risks
Science At Work - Extreme Weather
Join the red-hot debate over the climate science significance of extreme weather events
There'll Be Some Changes Made
Scientific American environment and energy writer David Biello tries to imagine a world without oil
Cash-Strapped MTA
A consultant reports, even with toll increases, the MTA must find new sources of revenue to take care of its assets
UK: A Trashy Brain Teaser
What happen to the BTU value of our trash the more we recycle?
September 19, 2012
A Fine Italian Hand
A shopping mall near Rozano, Italy displays the world's largest vertical garden
Blogging NYC Climate Week 2012
NYC has a million buildings and myriad opportunities to make them green, get the climate message right and more!
Searchable Footprints
Now you can discover Google's carbon footprint size and see if it gets smaller
Japan: Goodbye To Nukes - NOT
Making a U-turn, Japan announces it will not phase out nuclear power
New Hampshire Likes RGGI
Revenues from the New Hampshire RGGI program benefit local small businesses
Dream On
Ezra Klein shares his daydream about how passage of a carbon tax would keep the federal budget from plunging off a cliff
Wind Power Jobs Whittled
Siemens announces cuts of 615 US wind-turbine manufacturing jobs
Cuomo FOIL'ed
An environmental group sues the Cuomo administration to get more fracking information under New York's Freedom of Information Law
September 18, 2012
Climate Math Matters
Wonky economics debates over picking a discount rate are crucial to calculating future costs of climate change
It Adds Up
A paint-by-numbers portrait of the the globe's current state of sustainability
Dinosaurs And Wind Turbines
Today's wind turbine designers draw on dinosaur aerodynamics
Global Climate Revenues Swoon
Investors in climate-friendly assets face a tough time in a down market
Germany: Export-Led Wind Strategy
German backs domestic wind turbine production to aid expanding its export market
Brooklyn Bar Brands With Wind
A Brooklyn bar brands itself using its wind power purchasing agreement
Maybe Next Summer
The promise of the smart grid to pare down electric use on hot summer days was not fulfilled this year
September 17, 2012
Drink Muddy Water
EPA orders the clean up of a muddy stream that flows into NYC's drinking water supply
Evolution And Energy Efficiency
Think walking on two feet is more energy efficient than walking on four?
Seeing Is Believing
Honest Buildings is a platform for transparent building performance data today and market transformation tormorrow
New Zealand: Skeptics Court Defeat
A suit brought by a climate skeptics group attacking government climate research is dismissed by the New Zealand High Court
Cheaper In Brooklyn
Learn why installing solar panels on Brooklyn rooftops is such a bargain
Fracking In Slo-Mo
Take a close look at Governor Cuomo's political protracted decision-making about hydrofracking in New York
Japan: Sunset, Sunrise
With 2040 as the sunset date for nuclear power in Japan, prospects for solar power should be bright, but are they?
Smarter Buildings
Smart buildings offer a business opportunity to operators who can maximize their performance potential
UK: Bonding Climate Change
How can corporate debt instruments help combat climate change?
September 14, 2012
Corporations Plug Into Renewables
Adobe, Ernst & Young and Kohl's lead th way on purchasing renewable power by corporate America
Wind Power Aloft
Low and high altitude potential for harvesting wind power is almost limitless
EU: Carbon Prices Hit New Lows
An oversupply of EU carbon permits, related to improved coal efficiency, sinks market prices
Italy: In Vino Veritas
Italy's wine growers say they see the impact of a changing climate
He Said No, No, No
What else can be said about Romney's addiction to fossil fuel?
The Lord Said To Noah...
What can NYC do to address chronic flooding in southeast Queens?
Japan: 0 x 40
The Japanese government commits to zeroing out nuclear power by 2040
September 13, 2012
The End of The Carbon Decline
While US CO2 emissions have been dropping, the EIA projects rising emissions in 2013 linked to increased coal-burning as natural gas prices go up
How Green Buildings Can Save Real Money
High performance buildings can have a big impact on occupants' budgets by reducing absenteeism
Town And Gown - Sustainable Together
Find the synergies for cities and their universities to ramp up sustainability
Science At Work - Climate Modeling
The National Academy of Science reports on the need for continued evolution toward unified climate modeling
PV: Purchase Cap Concerns
The US solar industry worries that electric utilities will refuse to buy all the electric made from rooftop PVs
Russia: Another Nail In Kyoto's Coffin
Russia will not cut its carbon emissions to meet future Kyoto treaty goals
Ireland: Offshore By 2017
A multinational effort, including China will link 1.2 GW of offshore wind power to Ireland by 2107
Japan: Wind Power Wanted
By 2030, Japan could have as much off-shore wind power as created by eight nuclear power plants
September 12, 2012
Climate Week 2012 In NYC
India: Sunny Side Down
With 1,000 MW of installed solar power, how does India rate compared to other Asian nations
Hooray For The Wind, But Watch Out
What's so great about wind power? Meanwhile, the stock of a giant Swedish wind turbine maker plunges on fears the company is running out of money
Dubai: Price-Driven Energy Efficiency
Now that it imports natural gas and sees its oil reserves dwindling, Dubai uses pricing to make domestic consumers more energy efficient
Ferries Need Commuters
To date, NYC ferries seem to be more popular with tourists than commuters
Corporate Climate Action
The latest annual survey of corporate America finds an increase in carbon disclosures and emissions reductions. Also, a list of ten biggest survey non-responders
EU: Unlinks Energy Savings From Carbon Cuts
The EU advances on new energy-efficiency rules, but on a separate track from tightening carbon permits
Wind Power Gets An A
Contrary to some recent reports, wind power does not warm up the planet and there is plenty of it
September 11, 2012
Better Management By Measurement
The on-line power to share and compare building energy use and its impact on the bottom-line gets a boost from investors
Mexico City's Carbon Model
How did Mexico City beat its own goal for cutting its CO2e over the last four years?
The Cement Race Is On
Submit your idea to the competition for cutting CO2 emissions in the energy-intensive cement industry
China: Slow To Frack
China is not moving full-speed ahead to frack its vast shale gas deposits; lack of usable water is one reason
Green Energy Patent Patterns
Compare green energy patents across countries, states and technologies
Summer Heat Year-by-Year
US Solar Power Hits New Highs
Today, the US has 5.7 gigawatts of installed solar power, with more on the way
Summer Heat State-by-State
It's been a hot summer in New York, but it's been record-breaking in Wisconsin
9.11
IN MEMORIAM
September 10, 2012
After Dirty Dancing
London: Elevated Bike Lanes
The Mayor of London proposes to build elevated bike lanes to permit safer pedaling
Green Jobs In Red States
A new study discovers the biggest growth in green jobs is taking place in red and swing states
The Sun's Still Rising
"The United States is scheduled to install as much solar power this year as it did from 2000-2010, and the price of the alternative energy is becoming more affordable too." [WSJ-$]
Trouble In Mind
The US power industry and water managers see risks in shifting rainfall patterns and rising water temperatures
Mitt's Mouthful
No big surprises, but it's worth looking at candidate Romney's own words on climate change
Clean Tech - The Killer App
While facing fierce political headwinds and a mixed record in venture capital backed projects, clean tech advances in the big industrials sector
Germany: Clean Tech Economic Sparkplug
By 2025, Germany expects its clean tech economic sector to double in size, creating jobs and sustaining exports
India: Nuclear Future Drawing Near
India's plan to commission two 1 GW nuclear reactors stirs both local protests and corporate interests
Energy Policy Is MIA
The US needs leadership to forge a national energy policy that's more than 'all-of-the-above'
September 07, 2012
UK: Solar Investmment Fund
Individual and pension investors have a new vehicle for making money on solar power installations
France: Tidal Ties
Work is completed on a cable linking a 2 MW tidal power generator to Brittany
Benchmarking Data Goes Public
Benchmarking data for 2,065 New York City commercial buildings now available on-line
Greening The Grass Roots
A call for New York City's grass-roots organizations to take up the cause of urban sustainability and for supportive City resources
EU-Australia: Carbon Nuptials
What to make of the 2015 merger of the EU and the Australian carbon emissions permit market?
Copenhagen: What Sustainabiity Means
Working at at the neighborhood scale, architects in Copenhagen make sustainability city-specific
Take A Hike
Con Ed's proposed gas & electric rate hike is another good reason to advance energy efficiency
Legislative To-Do List
Get a first look at what's on top of New York's environmental legislative agenda
September 06, 2012
London: Airport Flap
Greens dispute claims by a jet plane maker that innovations will cut overall GHG emissions while expanding London's Heathrow airport
Germany: Fracking Limits
Germany considers keeping fracking away from its drinking water supplies, but no outright ban
Dem Convention Word Cloud
The term "climate change" has yet to be uttered once in Democratic National Convention speeches
NYC Builder Goes Green Its Own Way
The next project for NYC's Durst organization, known for its LEED-rated buildings, will use a homegrown rating system
Big Green Data Cruncher
The National Renewable Energy Lab invests in an energy efficient, super-computer for its research projects
Money Blows Offshore
Wnd power investments are flowing to offshore projects, leaving onshore developments high and dry
Look Who's Cutting Carbon
Some jumbo firms are stepping up on energy efficiency and smaller carbon footprints, while federal climate legislation remains MIA. Your Q&A soon
Science At Work - Soot Reconsidered
Them's Fightin' Words
Utah anti-coal campaigners learn how to be heard
September 05, 2012
The Sports Pages
Surprised to see a story about pro sports and energy efficiency?
Decoding Candidates' Climate Code
Just what do Obama and Romney mean when they talk about climate change?
High Value Proximity
With its green campus blueprint, the Roosevelt Island Applied Sciences NYC project could burnish the concept that industry clustering is the key to success
Australia: Big Solar Plans
With American financial backing, Australia plans for a 20 MW solar power project near Canberra
Walk The Walk
Could the war of words over climate change be obscuring practical forward steps?
Global Commons: A Green Tools Platform
It is WIPO's mandate to develop useful tools by contributing to the shared search for solutions to the challenge of climate change
Scotland: Offshore Wind Plan Grows
The electric output of a planned Scottish offshore wind farm grows to 1,500 MW, enough to light a million homes, but not everyone is pleased
Urban Studies
Come on uptown to the Hudson's riverside
NYC Goes Ultraviolet
After years of planning, NYC is ready to kill any microbes in its drinking water with ultraviolet light
September 04, 2012
Science At Work - Remaking Monsoons
Knowns, unknowns and some unknown unknowns regarding links between climate change and monsoon change
Don't Be Fuelish
Why does Nestles, the world's largest food company, oppose the use of biofuels?
EU: Rethinking Carbon Permits
The EU carbon market could be overhauled ttie emissions permits to economic performance
It's Big, It's Green, It's Walmart
Walmart plans to create a 40,600 square foot green roof on its newest big box in Portland, Oregon
Rx For The Budget Gap
Here's how a carbon tax could relieve our political aches and pains
Listening For A Price Signal
Check out the Canadian discussion on putting a price on carbon and crating a market signal
Coming Ashore
All systems are go for a wave power project to generate electricity for Oregon
UK: Fresh Greens
Natalie Bennett, new head of the UK Green Party vows to woo Liberal Democrat and Labor voters
A Senor Moment
A top Romney aide, Dan Senor, is author of a book extolling Israel's beyond-oil-cleantech-innovation-economy