Four Lessons From Sandy
What worked, what didn't and what needs doing, not just talking, now
April 30, 2013
The Case For Big Alt-Energy
Is big-and-centralized better when it comes to developing renewable energy projects?
Giving While Living
A peek into the Bloomberg Family Foundation and some climate and urban directions it might take
Australia: Koalas Endangered
World's cutest marsupials threatened by climate-induced weird weather & habitat loss (even if they don't live in cities)
Green Marketing 101
Effective marketing terms for energy saving products are as polarized as our politics
Oslo: Wants Trash
Olso's waste-to-heat & energy plants face a garbage shortfall
Latin America: Clean Energy Magnet
Bucking a global down-trend, 2012 was a good year for clean energy investment in Latin America
EVs In The Big Apple
Scaling up numbers of electric vehicles on New York City streets is not just about the resident drivers, commuters & visitors will play a big part
Inhaling Underground
What gets inhaled down in a NYC subway is similar to what's breathed in anywhere in the city, except for one thing...
April 29, 2013
Rebuilding In Rockaway
An 80 acre site in Far Rockaway offers opportunities for sustainable, resilient community building
EV Feeds The Grid
In partnership with utility giant NRG, an EV at the University of Delaware sells its electric to the grid
Fracking Leaks Less
The EPA lowers its estimates of methane leaks from fracking operations
UK: Your Foot's Too Big
Concern grows that official claims about the UK's shrinking carbon footprint are an accounting mirage
Australia: Spending Like There's No Tomorrow
Money pours into the Australian coal mining industry, ignoring all climate concerns
UK: Travel By Plane Train
What explains the trend among UK domestic travelers to go by rail instead of fly?
The Energy Biz Today
Trends in today's fossil energy and alt-energy business by Bllomberg New Energy's Michael Leibreich
April 28, 2013
Carbon Market Optimist
The reported demise of the EU carbon emissions trading market might be premature
April 27, 2013
Germany: Red-Green Embrace
Facing tough election prospects, the German SPD flirts with the Green Party
Art Review: Maya Lin
Conceived in the wake of Sandy, Maya Lin's new sculptures fix on Mahattan's environment & history
Rx For Climate Fears
Fearing devastating climate chaos obliterates our ability to take affirmative action, (but it doesn't mean kumbayah on cures).
April 26, 2013
Beat The Bad Guys With PV
Distributed power, liker rooftop solar panels, is one way to protect against electric outages caused by terrorist attacks on the grid
British Columbia: Election Energy Implications
The outcome of elections in British Columbia could have global energy & carbon implications
Sustainable Cities
An infographic for an urban world
Code Compliance Counts
What's lost if a state passes an energy code but flunks on compliance?
Canada: Energy Official Attacks Climate Scientist
Canadian Natural Resources Minister Joe Oliver lashes out at US climatologist & activist Jim Hansen
Australia: Coal At Rock Bottom
Long-term low prices for Australian coal could be ending if they trigger production cuts and Japanese purchases
Book It
Scientific American reviews The Power Surge: Energy, Opportunity & the Battle for America's Future
Meet Methane Hydrate
What does methane hydrate, frozen natural gas found at the bottom on the ocean, have to to with our global climate and energy future?
Dump Dirty Fossil Fuel Stocks
The campaign to disinvest from fossil fuel companies gains traction in city pension funds
Science At Work: Super Solar
Scientists invent a solar cell that makes two electrons from one photon of sunlight
April 25, 2013
Carbon Tax: The Graduate Seminar
Questions and answers on the Carbon Tax Center proposal
Paint It White
At current rates of painting NYC rooftops white, it could take a 1000 years to paint them all
Scotland: Millions For Deep Water Wind
Deep water wind turbine foundation structures get a lift with a $23 million Scottish fund
Keep On Biking
A new political-action committee is dedicated to supporting bike and pedestrian-friendly streets in NYC
Corporate Climate Risk-Management
Which firms and business sectors practice climate risk management and why?
California: Getting To Zero
Honda to showcase new ideas to meet California's goal of net zero energy new homes by 2020
Obama: Not Much Green
Obama's second term has hardly any environmental bragging rights
April 24, 2013
Adaptive Reuse Lights Up
An 80 year old telescope is redeployed to bring sunlight inside the old observatory, now used as a Caltech climate change lab
Boosting Infrastructure Investment
What is discouraging more public private investment partnerships to upgrade US infrastructure and what's the solution?
There'll Be Some Change Made
NYC real estate owners & government regulators trend toward weird weather-resilient building codes
Crowd Sourcing Green
Trip Advisor adds a rating for sustainable hotels and B&Bs in the US
April 23, 2013
China: Solar Panel Price Shift
The price of Chinese made solar panels stabilizes due to rising domestic demand
Milan: Hanging Gardens On Skyscrapers
Should we plant trees on tall buildings and call that sustainable?
Follow The Money
Energy investment patterns indicate there's a change going on
China: Let's Frack
Non-Chinese energy experts make a case for developing a natural gas industry in China that deploys hydrofracking
Building A Lower Carbon Future In Australia
Consider the prospects for developing capacity and demand for zero carbon and low carbon homes down under
Mayoral Candidates On Green Panel
All nine of the current NYC Mayoral hopefuls appear at a forum on sustainability
Less Wiggle Room
Emission of GHGs besides carbon dioxide narrows the planet's climate action agenda
Sunrise For Rooftop Solar
Rooftop solar installations are popping up on New York City buildings, with 14 MW of power now on-line
Tomorrow's Cities: Fragile Or Anti-Fragile
Today, cities are starting to grapple with growing resilient on many fronts & at multiple scales
Putting A Price On Energy Efficiency
As New York contemplates the loss of major power suppliers, it seeks the right price for energy efficiency to fill any supply gap
April 22, 2013
Thrilla In Manila
A building made from plastic bottle and solar panels highlights environmental problems & opportunities
Save The Planet At Home
Six easy ways to cut your energy use at home
$1 Billion Solar Buy
Swiss industrial group ABB buys US solar panel maker for $1 billion
Glorious Green Buildings
Which cities get bragging rights for this year's AIA high performance building awards?
Two Horses of The Apocalypse
Resource scarcity and climate change are the twin drivers of 21st century conflict
50 x 30: Renewables Surge
Plunging prices are predicted to attract a wave of clean energy dollars, as new energy investment models arise that could mean 50% of the world's power coming from renewables by 2030
Celebrate Earth Day
What doesn't the environmental movement move people?
Green Consumerism - Meh
A close look at eco-attitudes in polls of US consumers is neither inspiring nor credible
April 20, 2013
Linked By Water
Build A Better Energy Mousetrap
What to expect in the next generation of big energy technology breakthroughs
April 19, 2013
The Tennis Wars
Tempers flare over plans to expand the Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows Park and what the quid pro quo might be
Smart Grid Growth As Industrial Policy
In Korea, smart grid research & development is part of the nation's industrial policy
50 States With Solar Jobs
Too Big To Change
Are the world's fossil fuel companies so huge that tougher government climate action would shake global finances?
Gas Tax Blues
Federal gas taxes are inadequate for maintaining the highway system, but will this lead to new tax policies that foster fuel economy??
NYC: 100 x 2019
By 2019, NYC will shift all its street lights to LEDs, cutting energy use by 35%
Corporate Carbon-Cutting Pledges
10 companies commit to cutting their NYC carbon footprint 40%, mostly in 17 million square feet of leased office space, over the next decade
Haiti: Off The Grid
What are the prospects for renewables and microgrids to provide light and power in Haiti?
April 18, 2013
Quebec To Queens Power Line OKed
A 1,000 megawatt power transmission line running from Quebec to Queens is approved by the NY Public Service Commission and a look at the state's current energy profile
Expect Energy Gridlock
A sketch of the House Energy & Commerce Committee shows why Washington isn't going anywhere
Sun Power Leaders
Which US utilities are leaders in solar power and are they in your state?
Solar Power From Muni Roofs
NYC kicks off a public-private partnership to install solar panels on government building rooftops to create 1.85 megawatts of electricity
Wind Turbines Built To Last
Wind turbines proposed for offshore North Carolina are designed to withstand Category 3 hurricanes
Brazil: The Power Of Cheap Wind
Plummeting Brazilian wind power prices disrupt plans and pricing for natural gas-fueled power
Science At Work - Modeling The Heat
What lies behind the headlines that the world is unlikely to get as hot as some climate science models projected?
China: Climate Law In The Works
China is drafting a climate change law that could rely on regional cap and trade schemes
Why the Fisker EV Flopped
Technical and design failures, not its DOE loan, doomed the Fisker electric car
Australlia: Carbon Revenue Could Sink
In the wake of the EU's distressed carbon market, Australia projects a drop in its 2014 carbon tax receipts
April 17, 2013
Green Power Champs
EPA announces 50 organizations that are the nation's top green power users
Up On Green Roofs
The Social Science of Pipeline Politics
Can psychology and sociology explain the dynamics between the opponents and supporters of the Keystone XL pipeline project
Still Dirty After All These Years
Global carbon emissions from energy production have not dropped in twenty years
Test Bed For Coastal Resilience
An 80-acre parcel of city-owned land in Far Rockaway will be developed for affordable housing that's both green and climate resilient
Carbon Market Failure
With EU carbon emissions markets on life support, can they be made to work elsewhere?
UK: Kids Concerned About Climate Change
A survey of British 11-16 year olds finds they are worried about the impact of climate changes on kids around the world
Full Disclosure
For anyone who thinks there are benefits to be gained from building energy benchmarking laws, read this
April 16, 2013
Climate Politics 101
Climate action in Washington will advance only when the political price of opposition kicks in
China: Eco Standards for PV Makers
China may set electric use and pollution limits for solar panel parts makers
B.C.'s Bigger, Better Carbon Tax
The incremental success of British Columbia's carbon tax offers reasons to expand it
Bi-Partisan Energy Efficiency
A bill with bi-partisan support that targets industrial and building energy efficiency gets another chance in the Senate
EU: No Rx For Carbon Market
The European Parliament votes down a proposal for propping up its troubled carbon emissions trading scheme
NY Ferry Futures
Can ferry service navigate past obstacles to become a major mass transit option in NY Harbor?
Not Easy Being CHP
Combined heat & power systems face strong headwinds, despite their many advantages
Visualiing Noise
Psst - maps of Manhattan's noise complaints
Climate Policy: Work In Progress
What's working and what's not in climate action policy around the world? In US, ferment at the state and local levels
April 15, 2013
The Price Of Deferred Spending
Lack of spending now on controlling climate change means huge bills later
Sign Up For Citi Bike
No time like the present to join NYCs new bike-sharing program
The End Is Near, Or Not
Will US power utilities adapt to the changes coming from distributed generation and how will consumers be affected?
Montreal: Walk About
Mapping Montreal's walkshed shows how people access mass transit
Parsing Obama's Budget
What are the ups and downs in the President's proposed environment and energy budget and is climate change off his agenda?
Soot And Sea Level
Make the connection between airborne soot and a rising global sea level
New Ways To Pay The Piper
Chicago's Infrastructure Trust raises private capital for city infrastructure, while keeping ownership in public hands - first project $101 million for upgrading muni building energy efficiency
Beijing: After The Airpocalypse
Residents of Beijing and other big Chinese cities need clean air, energy efficiency and better transport systems
April 13, 2013
Making Sense Of Microgrids
What are microgrids and who wants them?
Anthropocene 101
Get acquainted with concepts of the Anthropocene Era
Biophilia On The Block
A new Soho building will deploy both biophilia & sustainable structural design
Speed VIsit
Spend a day in NYC in just four minutes
April 12, 2013
No Time For Power Plant Rule
EPA misses its deadline for limiting power plant GHG emissions and has no new deadline in mind
Help Wanted
Columbia University has an opening for a senior research scholar on global energy policy
The Bitcoin-Climate Nexus
Bitcoin computations are so complex that computer energy use skyrockets
You Gotta Have Park
NYC park and open space advocates work on a to-do list for the next Mayor
Charge It
New York will be getting 360 electric vehicle charging stations
UK: Fix Carbon Market Our Way
England has its own ideas about how to fix the troubled EU carbon emissions market
Gore: The Man They Love To Hate
Media research finds climate deniers' favorite way to make their case is by mentioning Al Gore
Hot Enough Or Not
What lies behind an apparent slow down in the pace of global warming and what lies ahead?
Smart Power Generation
April 11, 2013
Copehagen: 0 x 25
Copenhagen works toward becoming carbon neutral by 2025, with heating/cooling systems playing a key role
Locating Urban Tranquillity
If you value a little urban peace and quiet, map it
School Kids Learn Eco ABC's
EcoHouse in Queens teaches school kids how to become energy efficient and go green
Same Data, Different Conclusions
Attention climate activists: behavioral economics wonders why people can draw opposing conclusions when presented with the same 'balanced news'
Leaves Do It, Trees Do It
What is artificial photosynthesis and could it be the ultimate renewable energy revolution?
ETA For A Global Carbon Price
Don't count on a global price for carbon anytime soon, even as the UK sets a floor price
Big Data Dominance
NYC vies with Seattle to become the capital of Big Data, which, BTW, can be deployed to make buildings smart and energy efficient
Another Solar Revolution
How could solar power bring down the fossil-fueled utility business?
Shadow Falls On Solar Project
Solar power prospects darken as developer of a 500 megawatt Mojave Desert project retreats
April 10, 2013
Asia: Costs Of Soaring Energy Demand
The Asian Development Bank flags risks to regional development of uncontrolled energy demand and offers some solutions
Up On Your Roof
Tips for choosing the best rooftop solar panel system for your needs
Build A Better Carbon Tax Model
Japan: PV Made In USA
A start-up US solar panel maker gets access to the growing Japanese market
Shoring Up Park Finances
Will revenues from commercial development on Pier 15 keep the Hudson River Park afloat?
A More Stormproof Mayor
Mayoral candidates offer ideas for making NYC more resilient in the face of more weird weather
London: Greasing Distributed Power
Kitchen grease will fuel East London sewage treatment plant operations
Weird Weather And You
Since 2007, weird weather disasters have put 80% of Americans in harm's way
Monopolies Are So 20th Century
Why the electric power industry could soon resemble the telecom sector, very different and more resilient
April 09, 2013
Asia: Capital Of Megacites
Seven of the world's ten biggest are in Asia and some are growing at warp speed
Quebec-California Carbon Link
California okays a link with Quebec's carbon emissions trading market
Japan: Life Without Nuke Power
What are Japan's energy options since shutting down its nuclear plants?
Socratic Art In LIC
Socrates Sculpture Park on the Long Island City waterfront embraces its great outdoors
Running On Sunlight
Lancaster, CA aspires to satisfy all its power needs with the sun
A Bicycle Built For You And You
NYC's bike sharing program is set to kick off in May
Earth Day At 43
What went wrong with the environmental movement & can it be fixed?
Benchmarking: It's Happening
Building performance benchmarking laws are becoming the new normal
Pivot Points For Energy Efficiency Choices
Seek the pivot points where an informed consumer will opt for energy efficiency
April 08, 2013
High-Flying Turbulence
Climate-induced changes in the jet stream will lead to bumpier airline flights
So-Long Suburbia
With signs that US suburbanization is in decline, what's the new frontier?
Yes We Can, No We Can't
A fight erupts over prospects for New York's conversion to an all-renewables power supply by 2030
Margaret Thatcher's Climate
Was Margaret Thatcher a climate skeptic?
PACE Bonds For Solar Power
Commercial properties can finance PV installations and other energy efficient equipment with PACE bonds
Post-Sandy Storm-Proofing
Can construction storm-proof homes being rebuilt after Sandy?
Fading Suport For Carbon Limits
Backtracking on GHG controls for the airline industry and a German freeze on renewable power tariffs signal that European commitment to a low carbon economy is waning
OiI Boom Drives Trains
The domestic shale oil extraction boom does wonders for rail freight
Fauna And Flora- NYC Style
Street murals may be the best way to see NYC's local wildlife
April 06, 2013
Speed Visit
April 05, 2013
Natural Gas Takes A Bow
With US energy-related carbon emissions at their lowest since 1994, the EIA credits natural gas replacing coal
NYC Biz Mulls Sandy
New York City business parlays on changes needed in the wake of Sandy's devastation
Peak Oil, Again
The latest round in the long-running peak oil debate
UK: Petrol-Pinching
Data suggest that UK motorists are driven by fuel efficiency
Germany: Political Cost Of Renewables
Facing re-election, German leader Angela Merkel loses energy utility support due to her pro-renewables policies
Paris: Race For The Power
The Paris marathon will be equipped with tiles that generate electric from racers' footsteps
Inside The White House
White House Chief-of-Staff Denis McDonough might be climate action's best friend in Washington
Be Prepard
The National Weather Service promises to upgrade its vigilance and storm alert capability this year
Brooklyn Archaeology
Could it be true that a 19th Century steam engine has been discovered under Atlantic Avenue?
April 04, 2013
Decarbonize The Cloud
Spiraling demand for data centers and the energy they use create the need for energy efficiency innovations to make the cloud more climate friendly
Stop The Leaks
Can methane leaks, among the worst climate impacts of natural gas production, be fixed?
Urban Gardening 101
Tips on growing an urban garden from a NYC can-do guy
Glasgow: Climate Change Costs More
Facing more climate-related floods, upgrading Glasgow's waste water system will cost more
Budget Cuts In Your Lungs
Federal budget cuts undermine EPA's power to write clean air rules
Turkey: Bullish On Nukes
Turkey to strike a $20 billion financial deal with either Chinese or Japanese sources for its second nuclear power plant
The Climate Among Friends
President Obama gives a shout out to climate action at a California fund-raising event, but signals it's tough to be green
US Biz Does Not Shine On Sustainability
A German sustainable investment rating agency give no stars to big US firms
April 03, 2013
Off-Grid Demand For World Bank Funds
Off-grid clean-power developers seek $500 million in World Bank funding to fill the gaps left by the private sector
Build A Better Battery
The race is on to build a battery up to the job of storing on-grid renewable power for use when it's needed
The New Home Economics
Ten tips for saving money and saving energy at home
China: Light On PV Maker Bankruptcy
Back in 2009, payment troubles with the founder's investor pals hit the now-bankrupt giant solar panel maker Suntech
Resilience From The People
The Sandy Regional Assembly drafts a post-Sandy plan for a more resilient New York metro area
Manhattan Gas Leaks
Leaking methane detected in Manhattan adds to concern over natural gas as a clean fuel, but is this reason to oppose fracking?
Seattle: Supergreen But Not Smelly
A tour in Seattle of one of the world's greenest office buildings confirms that the composting toilets are odorless
Climate Fatigue
Public alarm about climate change down 6% since October, maybe it's due to winter weather
April 02, 2013
Australia: Solar-Powered Solar Power
Plummeting installation costs help make Australia a global solar power
How Hot Causes Cold
Why does melting arctic ice, caused by a hotter temperatures, lead to cold spring weather?
Norwalk: PACE Bonds Live
Connecticut announces its first PACE energy efficiency deal for a Norwalk shopping plaza
EU: Rain Dampens CO2 Emissions
A rainy 2012 in Scandanavia boosted hydropower output, resulting in lower EU carbon emissions
UK: Energy Efficiency Pays
The UK will give steep tax discounts to industries that improve their energy efficiency
The Whys Of High Gas Prices
Why is it cheaper for gulf coast oil refiners to send gas to Brazil than to NY?
Japan: Power Sector Overhaul
Japan will restructure its monopolistic electric utility sector by separating generation from transmission
Needed: Nerd Boats
A call for added ferry service to link emerging NYC tech hubs gets Senator Schumer's support
April 01, 2013
US Coal Exports Soar
Even as domestic carbon emissions drop, US coal exports set records
Dumb Question
If sustainability is important to business, why is it so rare for financial executives to tout sustainability goals and sustainability executives to tout financial goals?
Germany: Solar Tipping Point
Germans have installed so much rooftop PV that the utility industry may never be the same
Fossil Fuel Firms For Carbon Capture
With financial backing from oil companies and the DOE, a carbon capture facility could be installed at a Texas cement plant
Missing Opportunities
US offshore wind power potential remains largely untapped
Pro Life Tailpipe Rules
By cutting a slew of emissions EPA's new tailpipe regulations will save lives and be cost-effective too
Trail v Rail
A proposal to convert an abandoned rail line into a high line park is challenged by a proposal to restore it to commuter rail service in Queens
Walk New York
Co-op City, another site to satisfy the irresistible urge to explore more of NYC