Federal Fee Freezes Nuclear Power
The federal loan guarantee program designed to ease financing for new nuclear power projects may not deliver
January 31, 2013
NYC: Solar For All
NYC luxury high-rises don't have a monopoly on cost-saving solar power
Beijing: Smoke The Air
Levels of health-harming fine particles in Beijing air are higher than in airport smoking lounges
UK: Green Deal Details
Q&A on the new British energy efficiency fund (looks something like the US PACE program)
Scotland: Decarbonize The Power
Scotland sets ambitious goals to cut CO2 emissions from its electric sector 85% by 2030
Science At Work - Chlllin' With Lasers
Tomorrow's cooling systems could replace ozone layer-eating chemicals with lasers
I'll Have What She's Having
Failing to win support for its own federal tax breaks, the renewable energy industry looks for some of the same assistance the fossil fuel business has
Embrace The New
The bad boys of the environmental movement, Michael & Ted, blame energy 'tribalists" for occluding policy and practical progress
Lessons And Limits From Jamaica Bay
Soft natural and engineered features of Jamaica Bay helped protect it from Sandy's wrath, but can they be be used elsewhere on NYC's shoreline?
January 30, 2013
Top Sustainability Stories Of 2013
Dust off your crystal ball and gaze at this list of the year's big sustainability developments
UK: Dead End For Hedgehogs
Steep declines in urban hedgehog sightings could signal extinction for this charismatic UK critter
Building Blocks Of Retrofitting
Murray City, OH tackled energy efficiency make-overs block-by-block, using federal stimulus funds
2012 Solar Power Predictions In 2013
An industry observer reflects on the solar power predictions she made last year
Australia: Carbon Tax Politics
The governing Labor Party enacted a carbon tax, but if the opposition wins an election, they would abolish it
Carbon Tax Now - Or Not
A strong case for imposing a carbon tax on energy now might not persuade some who expect drought and disaster aid later
Denmark: Doubling Off-Shore Wind
To get an additional 1,500 MW of wind power, Denmark will open bids soon
Deep In The Heart Of Renewables
Prices and output for solar & wind power are competitive with natural gas in Texas
Google Friends Smart Grid
Google antes up for lobbying to shape smart grid regulations
January 29, 2013
Experts Mull Washington's Climate Mojo
Environmental, corporate & media pros weigh in on what Washington can do about climate change
Media Mulls Obama's Climate Mojo
MSNBC looks into the President's climate action powers and the environmental movement's role
Smart Grid, Grok That
By mimicking the human brain, a new device could make the electric grid smart
Beijing: Stay Home
Another day of dirty air leads officials to urge Beijing residents to stay indoors
Oak Park: Smart Grid Test Bed
Oak Park, IL wants to control its energy destiny and volunteers to be a test bed for a resilient smart grid
Energy Sector Shortchanges Innovation
Despite the challenges of climate chaos & decarbonization, the energy industry ranks low on R&D spending
China: Power From Heat
China taps process waste heat to create electricity as part of its overall lower-carbon energy strategy
January 28, 2013
LEED Loather
The LEED rating program for federal buildings is attacked by the Taxpayer Protection Alliance
Urban Heat Islands Blobs
The impact of city heat could be felt 1,000 miles away
Superfund's Silver Lining
Is a Superfund designation for the Gowanus Canal affecting the neighborhood's warp-speed transformation?
Update On Commercial PACE Loans
While banned in the housing sector, PACE loan programs for energy efficiency upgrades in commercial buildings are on the books in 28 states
UK: Cashback For Energy Effiiency
Cashback, a controversial UK program to upgrade home energy efficiency, is launched
Antarctica: Shackleton Returns
A descendant of explorer Ernest Shackleton goes with MBA students to Antarctica to study climate change and business opportunities
Europe Loves Offhshore Wind
2012 saw the installation of 1,166 MW of offshore wind in European countries
January 26, 2013
Brooklyn Builder Goes Passive
Get comfortable with the near-passive house plans for a Wisconsin cabin done by a Brooklyn designer
Power Water
What is the hydroelectric potential of New York City's drinking water supply?
Boulder Power: A New Era
What lies ahead for the Boulder Colorado go-it-alone electric power utility and its renewables goals?
January 25, 2013
Ferry Service Stays Afloat
NYC East River ferry routes will remain in service until at least 2019
The Metrics Of Power Forecasting
Every two years California regulators predict how much electricity the state will need and the role of energy efficiency, but are they using the right metrics?
Climate Inside The White House
Speculation about how the White House could coordinate its climate action effort
Japan: Go For Global Wind Market
Replacing mechanical with hydraulic systems, Mitsubishi aims for 10% of the world's offshore wind power business
Davos: Renewed Climate Focus
Climate action reappears on the agenda the this year's meeting of international elites in Davos
Emerald Green Exports
The UK tries to meet its renewable energy targets by importing wind power from Ireland
Sustainable Urban Systems
Get introduced to the latest research on sustainable urban systems that applies industrial ecology to the development of cities
The Climate Funnies
Better Batteries, Not Yet
If better batteries are the silver bullet for clean power, why haven't they been invented?
January 24, 2013
Japan: 25x20 Not
Japan walks away from its target to cut GHG emissions 25% by 2020
Be Prepared
A peek into how corporations and insurers are growing their climate resilience
Ukraine: Inks Big Shale Gas Deal
The Ukraine and Royal Dutch Shell agree to explore for shale gas in a deal that could be worth billions
Science At Work - Melting Glaciers
New work on ancient Greenland glaciers and current observations add to climate worries
Gov's Plea To Sandy Victims
Governor Cuomo urges homeowners swept away by Sandy to move to safer places
2012 - Who's Got The Green
The latest ranking of LEED certified buildings state by state
$9.5 Billion x 25
Tapping into on-bill financing, utility energy efficiency spending could soar to $9.5 billion a year by 2025
Trust But Verify
Environmentalists respond to the President's Inaugural climate remarks
Gowanus Superfund Update
State officials offer a plan to rid the Gowanus Canal of its legendary pollution load
January 23, 2013
Australia: State Carbon Tax
In keeping with federal climate policy, New South Wales will retain its carbon tax until 2020
Apply For The Gig
Announcing New York City's Request-For-Proposal to develop and operate the NYC Clean Technology Entrepreneur Center
UK: Mass Solar Legal Action
Solar power companies sue the UK Department of Energy for business losses resulting from retroactive subsidy cuts
Citizens' Climate Data Brigade
A shout out to the unsung citizen scientists and who gather much of the data official climate science needs
Federal Prospect For Energy Efficiency
Senator Boxer (D-CA) proposes legislation advancing building energy efficiency as a key climate action
New DOE Chief
Ashton Carter is a front runner to replace Stepen Chu at the Department of Energy
Andes: Massive Glacier Melt
Andean glaciers, the source of drinking water for millions in South American cities, have melted 30-50% since the 1970's
Decabonize The Cloud
Energy wonks -- weigh in on how to shrink the carbon footprint of building data centers
Sigma Six: Energy Efficiency Tool
How can Sigma Six, used to improve manufacturing businesses, help upgrade building energy efficiency?
January 22, 2013
The Ocean Is Not Like A Bathtub
While sea levels will rise due to global warming, some places will get more flooded than others
China: The Airpocalypse
Government inaction is being blamed for China's sickening air pollution
Nuclear Reactor Risks Languish
Evidence emerges that US authorities were warned on risks of common-cause nuclear reactor meltdowns years before Fukushima
Mainstreaming Microgrids
The lessons to be learned about building robust microgrids are a silver lining in Superstorm Sandy
Charletson W. VA: Ready, Set...
Charleston West Virginia neighborhoods gear to to compete for top dibs in saving energy
UK: New Way To Catch The Wind
A suction bucket could be the newest way to anchor off-shore wind turbines
Loving LEDs
Long-lasting, energy efficient, but pricey, LED light bulbs are starting to find their market and a gravity-powered generator
EU: Carbon Market Woes
Plunging price signals from the EU carbon trading scheme broadcast a market in crisis
Light And Shade
Here's why 114 million square feet of prime NYC office space should be retrofitted with daylight controls
January 21, 2013
Obama's Inauguration Vow
"We will respond to the threat of climate change...America cannot resist this transition; we must lead it"
Ride The California Rail Map
How can California cities & metro areas be linked by rail?
Mayors Rule
The world's mayors are a mixed bag but many public policies rest on their shoulders
We Can Capture Carbon
Pulling excess CO2 out of the atmosphere is in our reach
Wrong On Rebounding
More evidence that energy efficiency does not rebound toward higher consumption
January 19, 2013
Dear Mr. President: Climate Action Ideas
With four years to go, there is so much you can do to combat climate chaos
Microgrids For Lovers
Learn a lot by getting into the microgrid energy storage weeds
South Ferry: Still In Ruins
No telling when 30,000 straphangers a day will next use the devastated South Ferry subway station
Psst - Want To Buy LIPA
Burdened by billions in debt, Governor Cuomo's plan to sell Long Island's electric utility could be a heavy lift
High Performance Building Tips
Three energy efficient upgrades to put on home building or improvements to do lists
January 18, 2013
Putting Spine Into Wind Power
Prospects improve for 7,000 MW of Atlantic offshore wind to power the east coast
Learning From Cedar Rapids
A landscape architect reflects on what New York can learn from Cedar Rapids, Iowa about flood recovery
Rebuilding Hoboken
Just one-square mile big, Hoboken floats new flood-proofing ideas
Green Is Sexy
Environmentalists are hot over prospects of Ed Markey as the new Senator from Massachusetts
The Climate In Albany
What climate actions should top Albany's to-do list this year?
EU: Wasted Energy Efficiency Funds
A grim tale of how the EU wasted funds meant for upgrading energy efficiency in older buildings
Aberdeen: Saving By Distributing
Aberdeen residents save 50% on their energy bills with a distributed power system, will other UK cities follow?
Drama For Obama
Climate & energy action advice for the President
Japan: Wind Ahead
Japan plans to build the world's largest wind farm off the coast of Fukushima
January 17, 2013
Asia: Urban Air Pollution
Beijing has no monopoly on alarming air pollution in Asian cities
Germany: Offshore Wind Woes
New offshore wind power capacity, key to Germany's post-nuclear energy strategy, hits turbulence
Bullish On Renewables
Goldman Sachs, a leading investor in renewable energy, sees better times ahead
Beijing: Blame For Monster Smog
A Chinese scientist cites government inaction and state-owned utilities as blameworthy for the smog that smothered Beijing
The Shrinking Green Beat
With the end of the environmental desk at the New York Times, the nation's top 5 newspapers will have fewer than 10 reporters dedicated to covering the field
Make Something New: Electric From Water Vapor
Scientists invent a thin film, which curls up when absorbing water vapor and generates an electric current
Why, Oh Why
Dave Roberts blogs on what Theda Skocpol misses in her post-mortem of cap and trade legislation & looks ahead
Portland: Infrastructure At Your Feet
Portland, Oregon re-purposes underused street spaces for managing stormwater runoff
January 16, 2013
Why Cap And Trade Failed And Health Care Passed
A must read interview with Theda Skocpol on the broken politics of the US environmental movement (and a link to her study)
UK: Energy Policy Delays Cost Jobs
Government foot-dragging on energy efficiency hurts UK workers
Warming To Climate Action
A recent survey finds public support for climate action that crosses political lines
Beijing: Pollution Pix
NASA satellite photos reveal Beijing's sky high air pollution
Australia: 100x23
Here is how Australia could satisfy all its power needs with renewable energy in a decade
Political Scientists
Reviewing The Geek Manifesto, climatologist Roger Pielke, Jr. doubts that scientists are specially equipped to succeed in politics
Swept Away
Superstorm Sandy swept away many of the remaining natural barriers that protected northeast cities from wind and water
Science At Work -The Land/Sea Link
Australia's extreme heat wave is linked to a warming Indian Ocean
The Jersey Shore
The first leg of a multi-state Atlantic wind transmission project will start off the Jersey shore
January 15, 2013
Not Great Expectations
Climate change is taking a global economic toll, but don't expect global action anytime soon
UK: Home-Sweet-Amphibious-Home
Make a splash with this video about the design for floating, flood-proof homes
Amazonia: Smart Metering
3,400 smart meters help prevent theft of electricity in Brazil's Amazonian city of Parintins
January 14, 2013
A Lot Hotter
A map of coming summertime heat trends around the nation
Science At Work - Sea Level Rise
Spend some time working through this discussion and its implications
Hotter Is Happening
Watch the video & see what humans are doing to the planet
The Climate Blame Game
Are big environmental organizations' working assumptions to blame for failure to pass a federal climate law? To quote the President, "You can’t change Washington from the inside”
Executive Action Now
Getting Obama action on climate change is the focus of a Sierra Club campaign
Never Get Lost
Get ready for NYC way-finding maps that make it easier to get to your destination, on-foot
Resilience: A Rising Sense Of Urgency
Reactions to NY's proposed climate adaptation report trend toward the need to act
Less Seattle By 2050
A map projecting the impact of climate change on Seattle in 2050 shows areas and infrastructure lost to rising sea levels
We Need A Carbon Tax
The Washington Post editorializes in favor of a federal carbon tax as the tool to fight climate change, while solving budget woes and Joe Romm comments
China: Renewable Energy Leader
Investing $67.7 billion in renewable energy last year, put China on top in this financing sector
Spain: Oldest Nuke Plant RIP
Owners of a 1971 vintage Spanish nuclear power plant will shut it down in July
Beijing: Probing The Air Pollution Alert
Without fuel-switiching, Beijing's sky high air pollution levels could become the new normal
L.A. Pilots Congestion Pricing
With federal money rejected by NY, Los Angeles launches a congestion pricing program
The Law: Harmonize Green Patents
Why is harmonizing international patents for green tech inventions a good idea?
January 12, 2013
Relocate Out Of Harm's Way
New York developers locate critical building systems to help them survive the next Sandy
January 11, 2013
Smart Tech For Energy Efficiency
The technology is here now to make strides on everyday energy efficiency
Beijing: Don't Inhale
Beijing resdients are warned to stay indoors to avoid inhaling hazardous levels of polluted air outdoors
Have A Heart
The Times Square Valentine's Day installation will be made from Sandy salvage materials this year
Take Me To Your Energy Leader
A brief bio of New York's first-ever Energy Czar
Benchmarking: Just Do It
It can't be said too often, benchmarking residential building energy performance will be a game changer
Science At Work - Climate Sensitivity
Look into ongoing research about a key climate science prediction tool
New York Times Climate Desk
The New York Times pulls the plug on its 9 person climate reporting team
January 10, 2013
World Bank: New Climate Focus
The new president of the World Bank seeks a strategy driven by climate change concerns & risk experts see climate impacts as a major global economic threat [ClimateWire $ub]
Sustainability: Our Challenges
Jeffrey Sachs explores twelve none-too-easy challenges the world must tackle on its path to sustainability
A Little Less Hotter
Dig into reactions over the UK Met Office revision to projected global temperature increases through 2017
Where Carbon Storage Would Count
Does storing carbon emissions from natural gas-burning power plants promise real climate-saving potential?
Gov's Green A-List
Upping climate resilience & cutting greenhouse gas emissions caps are top Cuomo environmental priorities
Old Green, New Tenants
Two LEED-EB rated office towers score big new commercial leases
Think Differently
Apple seeks to patent a device that can tap into wind power stored as heat on demand
Cutting Edge Wind Power
A public private partnership advances state-of the art wind turbine technology
Raising The Bar On The Wedges
Does the seven wedge blueprint for stabilizing the global climate still stand up?
January 09, 2013
India: 22 x 22
What's the current status of India's goal to install 22 gigawatts of solar power by 2022?
EU-ETS: Rock Bottom Prices
The price of carbon emissions permits in the EU-ETS is on track to keep falling due to inaction on oversupply
Obama's Climate Summit
The rumor is the president plans to host a national climate summit
Crowd Sourcing Funds Solar
A California deal to crowd-source funding for a PV project is done in one day
A Climate Tax Convert
Tom Friedman's red alert as the US hurtles toward an avoidable climate and a financial precipice
Obama 2: Who's In The Wings
Get the buzz on environmental and energy leadership prospects for Obama's second term
China: Rising Solar Capacity
China plans to install 10 gigawatts of solar power this year as the industry upgrades by acquiring thin film PV technology
Science At Work - Sea Level Rise
New research clarifies some sea level rise controversies
New Sandy Aid Supporter
A Mississippi Congressman who opposed federal aid to NY metro areas for Sandy recovery visits Staten Island and changes his mind
January 08, 2013
France: Sun Salutation
France moves to save its solar power sector by upping targets and financial support
The Word Of The Year
Why "resilience" should be the environmental buzz word of 2013
Regional Climate Progress
There's good climate action news at the subnational and regional scale, but globally it's not enough to ward off climate chaos
Friendly Persuasion 101
Tips and insights about how to succeed in making people adopt climate-friendly behaviors
China: EV Stock Shines
With China's announcement in support of electric cars, stock prices for an EV auto-maker go up in Hong Kong
Microsoft Goes For The Gold
Microsoft leases 220.00 square feet of space in a LEED Gold office tower
Canada: Carcinogenic Oil Drilling
Chemical testing of lakes near Canadian oil sands fields finds rising levels of cancer-causing pollutants
First EPA, Next DOE
Following Lisa Jackson's departure from the EPA, Secretary Steven Chu is expected to leave the Department of Energy
Cuomo v Utilities v PSC
Slamming power companies & his own oversight agency for post-Sandy performance failures, Governor Cuomo will be proposing new legislation
January 07, 2013
2012 Highs
In 2012, 362 US hot weather records were broken but not one cold weather record & ditto for cities
Germany: Storing The Wind
A German electric utility pilots electrolysis to store wind power for peak use periods
Finland: Stay Warm Via Computer
Waste heat from a data center is used in a district system to keep Finnish homes warm
Sandy's Lessons For B Schools
The Financial Times writes that MBA programs must update curricula cover climate risks and business continuity
Doc Diagnoses Climate Health Threats
There's more than one way that the chaotic impacts of climate change put people at risk
Pigou And The Carbon Tax
Who is Pigou and what's he got to do with Grover Norquist?
Australia: PM On Summer Scorcher
Australian Prime Minister Gillard links the searing summer and bush fires to global warming
The Cuomo Climate Menu
New York State has a menu of hard and soft suggestions to enhance resilience in the face of climate change, but no price list
January 04, 2013
Fact Checking: Birds, Bats And Wind Farms
Wind turbines are engaged in mass slaughter of the world's birds and bats, not!
Sandy Trumps Trump
A Donald Trump beachfront development proposal is history due to Sandy
Green Energy Tax Breaks
There is something for everyone for green energy & efficiency programs in the federal budget deal
Global Trend: Urban, Dense And...
A the world gets more urban and more crowded what are the prospects for sustainability?
Wind Power - Politically Intermittent
While greens cheer the one-year extension of tax breaks for wind power, it's no model for a long-term policy
Renewable Power Doesn't Hurt Consumers
Research finds no correlation between consumers' electric costs and whether a state has mandatory renewable energy requirements
Global Carbon Markets Tank
The value of world carbon emissions permit trades and offset credits plunged 36% last year
Energy Data Sprouts
An industry emerges to analyze building energy performance data and improve their efficiency
January 03, 2013
Poland: 6,000x20
Opening its first wind farm, Poland starts on a path to get 6,000 MW of wind power by 2020
Fossil Fuels Far From Cliff
Oil and gas industry subsidies remain untouched in the fiscal cliff deal
Barcelona: Building With Algorithms
Math tools maximize the sunlight in this Barcelona pavillion
Delay Will Be Dear
The longer the world delays in taking effective climate action, the more it will cost later
The Media Climate
Trends are mixed in media coverage of climate & weird weather
Grease Caper In L.A.
Were thieves who stole cooking grease from a Los Angeles MacDonald's planning to sell it to biodiesel refiners?
Beware The Fossil Curse
The shale gas boom and its payoffs are real & they could create all kinds of problems
Dear Mr. President
The MIT Tech Review implores Obama to tackle climate change as a top priority
Cities By Starlight
Picture a Gotham that's eliminated light pollution
January 02, 2013
Germany: Solar Soars
German installation of solar panels far outstrips government goals
Smart Tech For Smart Cities
From wi-fi in subways, to energy efficient building to real-time displays for traffic and weather data, 25 ideas for smarter cities
UK: Wettest Year Ever
Rainfall in Britain in 2012 set a record and flooding was commonplace. Seal seen 50 miles inland
Bi-Polar Power Prices
As the cost of making electric power drops, the price of transmitting it soars and this has system-wide implications
EU: Carbon Permits Pay Off
$1.6 billion in revenue from the EU carbon trading scheme will fund 23 renewable energy projects
Diversity Amps Up The Power
Growing racial and ethnic diversity in the US environmental movement means political and policy wins
Global Cities Get Together
C40, a climate-committed coalition of global cities, gets new members including Singapore, Oslo, Vancouver, Venice & Washington
Not Blown Over The Cliff
The wind power production tax credit got a one year extension in the fiscal cliff deal
Green Biz Trend-Spotting
Seven predictions for the 2013 urban green energy tech trends to watch
NY's New Solar Tax Exemption
Now, New York businesses are exempt from taxes for buying & installing solar energy systems