Japan: Solar Market Booms
At 3,809 megawatts in the 12 months, domestic Japanese shipments of solar power components reach a 30-year high
May 31, 2013
Farewell FERC
Here's how the departing chair of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission envisions new ways to price electric and grow a smart transmission grid
DOE Chief Looks To Energy Future
Department of Energy chief Ernest Moniz, downplays natural gas and talks up forgotten renewables to power the nation
Sandy Blows Money To NY-NJ Tunnel
$185 million to start work on a cross-Hudson rail tunnel from NJ to mid-town Manhattan is part of Sandy-recovery federal aid
Australia: Cold Breeze For Wind Farms
A 2011 law passed in the state of Victoria, has a chilling effect on wind power development
Candidates Clash Over Trash
Quinn trashes Thompson for his opposition to the East 91 Street waste transfer station
Indian Point's BFFs
Common Cause documents how Indian Point pays to generate support for its nuclear power plants
CHP For NYC
The benefits and the myriad hurdles to developing energy efficient combined heat & power systems in NYC
May 30, 2013
EU: Low Carbon Prices Fire Up Coal
The deep slump in EU carbon trading prices encourages construction of coal-fired power plants
Connecting Brooklyn And Queens
What should replace trolleys?, once the mass transit of choice linking NYC's two most populous boroughs
29 Cities: Bike Sharing
Planning a trip? Here are 29 city maps with bike-sharing programs
Valet Bike-Wrangling At Barclays
Pedal to events at Barclays Center in Brooklyn and get free valet bike-parking
Infrastructure Fit To Print
Could 3-D printers make replacements for NYC's rotting columns that support piers which edge the city?
The Action's At The Edge Of The Grid
It's not going to be your grandma's infrastructure for much longer
EU: Record Low GHG Emissions
Emissions from the EU's 27 nations are at their lowest levels since 1990, with UK levels falling fastest
Hey NYC - Convert To Clean Heat
Greener, Greater Roadmap For Next Mayor
Advice to the next NYC Mayor for an agenda focusing on energy efficient buildings, public health, a vibrant economy and a resilient energy infrastructure
May 29, 2013
Rating Energy Performance
Making energy efficient buildings the new normal needs to blend asset and operational rating systems
One-Stop Solar Shopping
Now homeowners can access the PV service provider information they need to get what they want
From EPA To Apple
Former EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson will become VP for environmental initiatives at Apple
Con Ed's Stormproofing Strategy
Con Ed will spend $1 billion over the next four years to make NYC more weather resilient and other metro-area utilities gear up too
M2M For Greener Buildings
Machine-to-machine, a/k/a the internet of things, could be crucial for smarter, more energy efficient buildings
Europe: Promises, Promises
European cars fail to meet their own fuel efficiency claims, with German luxury vehicles the worst of all
Urban Trend Glossary
100 trending terms for talking about cities
Brazil: Solar Gooaaal
Preparing for the 2014 World Cup, Brazil installs PV at its soccer stadiums
South Korea: Falsified Nuclear Papers
Falsified certficates related to cable replacements at South Korean nuclear reactors leads to shutdowns and power shortages
May 28, 2013
Top Emerging Global Challenges
According to energy expert Michael Levi, "T rise of China brings forth a whole complex of global challenges, whether they are environmental, economic, or more traditional security challenges"
UK: Industry Wants Gas
Big fossil fuel firms press the UK government to support more natural gas-fired power plants
UK: Greenlighting More Offshore Wind
A 504 MW offshore wind project gets UK government permits
Israel: Electric Auto Crash
What explains the collapse of A Better Place, an electric auto company with the signature swappable batteries?
Code Greener For Energy
Find out which states have energy codes that create a baseline for residential building standards
Knocking Workers Down With Bikes
The company running NYC's bike share program faces allegations of wage theft and other worker abuses
The Hgh Cost Of Shrunken Park Budgets
With growing reliance on events like GoogaMooga to pay for operating costs, NYC parks face physical despoilation from their funding sources
The Price Of Double Parking
Delivery vehicles are big violators of NYC's ban on double parking, adding to congestion woes
Bike Share Q and A
Thinking about riding a Mike Bike in NYC, but got some questions?
May 24, 2013
HIMBY
One Word - Plastics
What 400 PPM Means For US Labor
Germany: Risks For Eco-Minister
Is Angela Merkel distancing herself from her environmental minister and the high cost nuclear power shutdown?
Canada: Landlocked Tar Sands
If Canadian tar sands oil can't be piped out to sea ports, it will be stuck in place
How To Stay High And Dry
The NYC Planning Department proposes zoning changes in flood-prone areas
China: Don't Inhale
Earlier this week, state-run China Daily called most of China's major cities 'barely suitable living', what next?
Brooklyn Bridge At 130
Celebrate this icon of durable urban transportation infrastructure, walk it or bike it
Death By Sandy
Drowning, often at home, was the major cause of death due to Sandy
May 23, 2013
DOE's All About Energy Efficiency
Energy efficiency is a top priority for Ernest Moniz, the new Energy Department Secretary
UK: A Low-Regrets Energy Policy
A UK climate advisor outlines a less-costly, carbon-cutting, low-regrets energy policy
Obama Re-Election Group Leans In On Climate
The OFA, created for the Obama re-election campaign, is now leans in on the need for climate action
GOP To Obama: Keep Climate Out
IIn a letter to the President, GOP Senators warn him to keep climate concerns out of any decision on the Keystone pipeline
Memorial Day Money
What will US drivers pay to fuel-up this Memorial Day weekend and what will they pay with more fuel-efficient cars in 2025?
Princeton Grows And Greens With Co-Gen
Princeton University has added more buildings, while cutting its carbon emissions with co-gen plant upgrades taking a leading role
Australia: Home-Grown Coral Reef Killer
Export and burning of coal mined in Australia adds climate-threats to its own Great Barrier Reef
The DC Circuit
Keep track of what's happening in the Senate with judicial appointments to the DC Circuit court and its impact on the fate of EPA carbon rules
May 22, 2013
China: Carbon Trading In June
Details emerge about China's first carbon emissions exchange opening next month
Keep Your Money At Home
Four ways to start saving on your home-energy bill
Poland: Green Energy Funding Iffy
Investing in Polish renewable energy will wait for passage of new renewable energy laws
Science At Work - Tornadoes
The ability to predict tornadoes improves, but the question of climate change-tornado links resulting from atmospheric instability remains unresolved. Ready for more info?
Racking Up Opposition
Street vendors are the latest group to protest NYC's new bike-sharing program
Getting To Yes On Energy Efficiency
What's to be done about the barriers to engaging building owners & occupants to improve on energy efficiency?
China: Carbon Capping
The country with the biggest carbon footprint announces it will impose caps on carbon emissions, not just intensity limits, by 2016
Interview With A Green Architect
In the words of Bruce Fowle, a leading green architect, "We know that we can make buildings at least 50 to 60 percent more efficient than they are now"
All Of The Above
What should be US energy policy in the 21st Century?
May 21, 2013
Death On Two Wheels
Is urban bike-riding too dangerous to encourage?
NJ Gov Plays Climate Coy
When asked about New Jersey's failure to secure its assets from Sandy, Chris Christie denied there was proof linking the superstorm and climate change
Making It With Microgrids
The real-world performance of microgrids should keep power utilities up at night
Replacing Sustainability
What would it mean if resilience displaces sustainability on the climate action agenda?
Korea: Cap And Trade On Launch Pad
Korea is finalizing a carbon cap & trade program with ambitious goals and a chance to learn from the EU's problems
Sustainability And Resilience Go Hand-In-Hand
Tokyo's carbon cap & trade program and dedicated green building insurance policies are just some of the great ideas for making cities sustainable and resilient
Carving Up The PV Market
The US and the EU draft proposals to establish regions for global PV markets now dominated by China
Steel Yourself
Mayor Bloomberg proposes deployment of movable steel panels to protect flood-prone neighborhoods
May 20, 2013
Why Words Matter
Still struggling to find valid and persuasive ways to explain climate change and the importance of taking action? Read this
Japan: Money For Renewables
Japan is becoming a new magnet for solar and wind power investments
Obama Catches Climate Heat
The President raises hackles of climate activists over the inertia of Organizing for Action, the non-profit group that conducts issue advocacy on behalf of Obama's agenda
Fellows Wanted
Design Trust for Public Space offers fellowships to work on Under the Elevated: Reclaiming Space, Connecting Communities Applications due May 23
Germany To EU: No Tariffs On Chinese PVs
Germany pushes back on the EU proposal to slap stiff import tariffs on Chinese solar panels
Zimbabwe: Call For Climate Action
Drought and heat will take a terrible toll on Southern Africa if carbon-cutting climate action is delayed
Help Wanted
Senior policy advisor in the NYC Mayor's Office of Long term Planning & Sustainability to oversee implementation and continuation of the Greener Greater Buildings Plan
May 18, 2013
Kochs Dump On Detroit
Canadian tar sands waste from a refinery owned by the Koch Brothers piles up in Detroit
Another Climate Gap
Hearing about climate science consensus and listening to the message can be miles apart
Green Roofs: Getting It Right
Like with most things, there's a right way and a wrong way to plant an urban green roof
Unburnable Carbon: What It's All About
Bill McKibben lit a fire by calling for climate action that would make current fossil fuel assets virtually worthless, but is anyone feeling the heat?
May 17, 2013
UK: Climate Staff Austerity
The UK government's 38 person climate adaptation staff is cut to six
Greenland: Ice Melt Impact
James Hansen predicts water from melting Greenland glaciers will chill the Atlantic and lead to fiercer storms
Global Climate Impact As Metaphor
"Our lives are like islands in the sea, or like trees in the forest. The maple and the pine may whisper to each other with their leaves ... But the trees also commingle their roots in the darkness underground, and the islands also hang together through the ocean's bottom." William James, psychologist and philosopher
Update On Nuke Waste Cleanup
Pristine Nature, Not
While there are laws of nature, but there may no longer be nature untouched by human impact
Climate Could Return To Supreme Court Docket
A wave of appeals against federal control of carbon emissions could make it to the Supreme Court
$1.3 Billion For Green Tech
Elon Musk raises $1.3 billion for his green tech ventures, Tesla Motors and SolarCity, a rooftop solar panel installation firm
Park Gets Its Lights Back
After losing power in Sandy's storm surge, the Hudson River Park and businesses on its piers get the lights back on
Smart Cities Are Agile
How 50 global cities facing complexity, climate chaos and the need to decarbonize are tacking these challenges
May 16, 2013
Like-A-Bike Share
At least one rider really likes her first spin in the NYC bike share program
Korea: Carbon Offset Star
A Korean chemical plant owned by a venerable Belgian-based multinational, earned top dollar for selling EU carbon offset credits
$500 Million For Solar Venture
In a $500 million deal, Goldman Sachs will finance a lease-back rooftop solar panel business based in California
EU: Slap For China & India Airlines
The EU considers penalties for Indian and Chinese airlines that refuse to cut carbon emissions when using member nation airports
Climate Science v Public Inertia
Scientists agree about the reality of human-caused climate climate but the US public isn't making it political
SOS 2
If hand-wringing & grim future scenarios won't change our climate chaos trajectory, what will?
SOS 1
The climate is changing and more is on the way. Perhaps we’ll muddle through, but only if we slow the greenhousing of the planet
Indian Point Without A Permit
Federal authorities will allow Indian Point to stay open after its operating permit expires in September
May 15, 2013
Sanders To Senate: Go Nuclear
Senator Bernie Sanders urges Democrats to exercise the 'nuclear option' to obtain confirmation of the new EPA Administrator being blocked by the GOP
China: Keep Carbon Market Domestic
It appears that Chinese carbon permit trading markets will ban import of emissions offsets
Three Feet By 2100
Sea levels around European nations could rise three feet (almost one meter) by 2100
Fingerpointing Over PATH Pricetag
Construction costs of the new mass transit Hub at the World Trade Center creates sticker shock
Five Feet by 2100
Sea levels around NYC and along the east cast could soar five feet by 2100
Insurance Industry Disengaged On Climate
Unlike its European counterparts, the US insurance industry has been MIA on climate change and the risks and losses it creates
Japan: Becoming Blackout Resilient
Now, Japanese homeowners can lease batteries that store solar power from rooftop PVs for future use
RGGI's Limits
The architecture & assumptions baked into RGGI shape CO2 market prices and that's the problem
Science At Work: In The Media
What is attribution research and how does it get handled in the news media?
May 14, 2013
South Korea: Top Carbon Price
South Korea considers imposition of a $90/ton price for certain carbon emitters
Australia: Carbon Price To Tumble
Australia cuts its projected cost of carbon emissions permits in 2015 by half
Bonn: Update On Climate Talks
Did record-high levels of atmospheric CO2, create a sense of urgency among international climate treaty negotiators?
Climate Resilience: Compare And Contrast
How the NY Stock Exchange survived Sandy and why NJ Transit didn't
Millenials Drive Trends
Americans are driving less and getting fewer drivers' licenses, trends led by Millenials
Facts To Act On
Take your pick from this menu of US energy facts and then do something to change them
Cement: The Climate Rx
Cement-making could be a key to cutting carbon emissions
Sunny Energy Odd Couple
Ted Turner and utility giant, Southern Co. team up for a big push into solar energy and customer retention
Pipeline Furor In The Apple
Is the NYC battle over the Spectra natural gas pipeline over?
May 13, 2013
NJ: $600 A Square Foot
What costs $600 a square foot to rent in New Jersey and has a huge energy appetite?
Philadelphia Loves Benchmarking
Good reasons for property owners to cheer on the Philadelphia building energy benchmarking law
Germany: PM Talks The Climate Talk
German Prime Minister Merkel expresses confidence that the EU will set more ambitious carbon-cutting goals
Bipartisan Clean Energy Bill
A bill to extend master limited partnerships -- a tax beneficial way to structure deals -- to the clean energy sector, advances with Democratic & Republic support
NASA Gets Greener Than Platinum
The new NASA sustainability base is designed to outperform LEED Platinum standards
City Of Angels Carbon Footprint
How scientists cut through the smog to measure the size of Los Angeles' carbon footprint
Make Haste, Very Slowly
Status report on Administration rule-making that would cut carbon emissions from coal-burning power plants
Hurdles To Grid Resilience
Federal rules for the electric grid impose unintended hurdles to storage technologies adding resilience to the power supply system
May 11, 2013
Carbon-Footprinting Websites
Does your website's carbon footprint have dirty digits?
May 10, 2013
The Greening Of The GOP
Observers see a defining struggle over the GOP's climate change politics on the horizon
Reclaiming 700 Miles Of NYC
Plans are afoot to bring new life to 700 miles of NYC streets beneath its elevated subway lines
This Is Water
David Foster Wallace's 2005 graduation speech says a lot about life by way of something elemental
Food Imports: 50x50
Climate change impacts are predicted to add to forces driving global food import up to 50% by 2050
UK: Texas Gas Deal
An Exxon deal is in the works to ship 15.6 million tons of liquefied natural gas from Texas to the UK annually
Sustainable, Resilient, Livable
Examine three trendy urban planning terms and find what's of use to your city
Climate Sensitivity 101
What is climate sensitivity and what's its place in climate science
Legal Eagles Ready To Pounce
Any new carbon emissions rules relying on the venerable Clean Air Act are sure to be litigated
Mangement Is Key To Green
A deep green Toronto building stays on top of its game with ongoing high-performance monitors & management
May 09, 2013
Mussel Into NY Harbor
Is mussel farming in New York Harbor the natural and resilient way to clean up pollution?
Climate Change: Pace Varies, Outcome Constant
While scientists debate the speed and pace of a changing climate, they agree on the inevitable outcome
Regulation Spurs Bright Ideas
Federal regulation never banned incandescent bulbs and now, an array of more energy-efficient bulbs is available
Smart-Grid Slump
After the big boost to smart grid development from federal stimulus funding, weakening domestic demand is worrisome
Australia: Energy Efficiency In Industry
A study of five major industry sectors in Australia documents opportunities for energy efficiency and how to create more
Mobility Is More Than Cars
Caltrans, the California Transportation Department, embraces GHG reduction & climate change adaptation as core to its mobility mission
Montevideo: New Climate Center
A climate change think tank to inform South American decision-makers opens in Montevideo, Uruguay
Capitol Climate Horse-Trading
Some speculation about what Obama may promise environmentalists in exchange for his approval of the Keystone pipeline
May 08, 2013
Carbon Tax Has A New Friend
The Washington Post editorializes for a federal carbon tax, calling it an elegant off-the-shelf part of overall tax code reform
Tour Paris Trees
A history of why the City of Light could just as well be known as the City of Trees
Brazil: Fossil Fuel Revival
Citing drought-caused hydro-power losses & upcoming World Cup energy reliability demands, Brazil turns to more fossil fuels
Australia: Fast-Charging EVs
A new Australian technology can recharge an electric vehicle in 30 minutes
US To World: Do-It-Yourself Climate
US climate envoy suggests countries should set their own carbon limits and sidestep international targets
Europe: Not Number 1 Now
Europe no longer leads the world in PV panel installations
Distribute The Power
Five reasons why combined heat and power systems could become a new normal
Some Like It Bike
Some folks like the NYC bike-sharing program, but not everyone
Counting On Customers
Power purchasers hope that if called on, southern California utility customers will conserve energy to prevent summer blackouts
May 07, 2013
Science At Work - GHGs
Totaling up carbon and other greenhouse gases provides a better understanding of our climate risks
China: Pricing Cabon
China's first regional market for carbon emissions permits launches in June
Cutting Carbon: Plan A, Plan B
Should the federal government make states responsible for cut carbon emissions or go with cap & trade -- and what drives the choice?
The State Of Clean Tech
Things are not-so-hot in 2013, but installers are doing better than manufacturers
From Parking Lot To Paradise
A complex deal will create a 3-acre park where an MTA parking now stands on the Greenpoint waterfront
Seattle: Neutral x 50
Seattle has an action plan for becoming carbon neutral by 2050
Solar Plant Lives Up To Expectations
A solar power plant near Los Angeles designed to produced 66 MW of electricity does just that, at a price close to power plants fueled by natural gas
Arctic Ocean On Acid
The rapid & pervasive acidification of the Arctic Ocean spells trouble for the food-chain
May 06, 2013
Be Prepared
C40 & Clinton Foundation launch a global cities network to face weird weather and take climate action
LEEDing Neighborhood Development
The impact of LEED-ND, neighborhood development, is seen in cities around the midwest
Australia: Clean Tech Stock Slump
At $9.1 billion, the Australian Clean Tech Stock Index falls far below its $16.3 billion peak
EU: Climate Disarray
EU climate action programs lose direction and momentum
Gotham's Micro-Greens
Energy efficiency experts join forces with micro-dwelling designers in New York City
$254 B x 2020
The global market fore green building materials could reach $254 billion by 20w0
MIT's City Lab
Could pre-auto European cities be the template for 21st century cellular urban design asks the MIT City Lab?
UK: Alarmed By Energy Efficiency
Leading UK energy companies challenge efficiency programs with fears of rising costs to consumers
NY's Environmental To-Dos
What tops the to-do lists of four New York leading environmental officials?
IrRational Exuberance
Jonathan Chait makes the case for how Obama could be a great environmental President but what does Dave Roberts say?
Signs Of Carbon Tax Life
Reports of zero-possibility for a federal carbon tax may be premature
May 05, 2013
Grid Parity Within Reach
The cost of rooftop solar power is closing in on utility-made electric around the world
May 03, 2013
Underground Reservoirs
Underground drinking water reservoirs for cities could minimize evaporation or store water from melting glaciers
UK: Energy Eficiency Woes
The UK government should not let its energy efficiency program fail, warns industry group
Germany: Windfarms Wow
Germany's first fleet of offshore wind turbines beat output expectations thanks to steady breezes
Follow The Dotted Lines
See a pattern in the chart of US and EU-27 economic and carbon emissions data?
World: It's Heating Up
Based on World Meteorological Organization 2012 data, climate skeptics shouldn't get their hopes up
A Keystone Quid Pro Quo
If Obama oks the Keystone XL pipeline project, what might he give greens in compensation?
California: Planning Impasse
No resolution in sight between urban climate impact planners and no-growth advocates in California
Somewhere in NYC
Con Edison to install a pilot, grid-scale energy storage battery somewhere under the streets of NYC
Data Centers: Energy Problem Or Solution
Energy centers use 2% of the nation's energy but major leaps in energy efficiency are on tap
May 02, 2013
Hey Big Fossil Fuel Spenders
Does big spending by fossil fuel firms signal an irrational exuberance for carbon?
Bank Passes On Energy Efficiency
JP Morgan Chase steers clear of energy efficiency project financing
EU: Another Low In Carbon Trading
EU factories used 20% fewer carbon offsets than expected, another sign of a market in critical condition
Rockaway Resilience
UK: Climate Curriculm Combat
inclusion of climate change in the UK teaching curriculum becomes political flash point
Singapore: Many Ways To Go Green
The new botanic gardens in Singapore show off its green tech prowess
Sustainable Grocery Shopping
Some say ordering groceries on line cuts air pollution, but others say it ain't necessarily so
Grow Smarter
Smart growth concepts for urban planning keep evolving
Intelligent Efficiency
Energy efficiency markets are on the cusp of embracing IT
May 01, 2013
Weird Weather Prods Public Opinion
Weird weather impacts American views about climate risks and realities
Resilience From The Grasssroots
A new grass roots report embraces the Sandy Regional Assembly, advocating sustainable soft-environmental solutions and meeting needs of low-income areas
Tracking Fracking
California regulators consider rules for keeping tabs on storing, handling & underground monitoring of chemical-laced fracking fluids
Asleep At The Climate Wheel
Despite devastating heat, drought & floods, research finds Australian business is drowsy on climate action
Weird Weather USA
Take a tour of 'new normal' storms in cities & towns in the northeast
UK: This Could Be The End
The owner of two of the last deep-pit coal mines in the UK faces bankruptcy, trailing impaired investors & stranded assets
From White Brick To Green Skin
NYC real estate mogul to reskin old brick buildings for energy efficiency & maintenance upgrades