Rail v Rapid Bus
Should urban mass transit systems invest in bus rapid transit or rail?
September 30, 2013
EU: Carbon Market Doing 'Brilliantly'
Market efficiency not market price is the measure of the EU-ETS success says godfather Richard Sandor
Funding Mass Transit: The Hong Kong Way
Hong Kong mass transit is financed through property acquisition & development deals
IPCC Expiration Date
A glimpse into the fraught nature of IPCC framing and decision-making raises questions about what scientists should do now
Another Government Shutdown
Federal renewable energy production tax credits will end this year without Congressional action
Corporate Calls On Climate Report
Corporate reactions to the IPCC climate report are sector-specific
Bad Vibrations For East Side Access
The slo-mo East Side Access LIRR rail-iink project riles its Sunnyside neighbors
Korea: Go With E. Coli
Korean scientists tweak E. coli bacteria to produce gasoline
Too Much Noise
What's that you said Washington Irving?
September 29, 2013
Welcome To The Makeover Club
Two more NYC office towers complete LEED-EB renovations
September 28, 2013
Surprising Energy Scores
New York City's yearly building benchmarking grades show some surprising residential energy sippers and slurpers
ICYMI: Prospects For Federal Enery Funds
What are the chances of renewed federal funding for leading-edge clean energy technologies?
EBay: Waste Not Want Not
EBay will buy waste heat to power its Salt Lake City UT data center
September 27, 2013
Cast Your Ballot
Vote for your choice of the city with the most innovative climate leadership program
Leave It In The Ground
To combat climate change, the world must stop extracting its remaining fossil fuel (Good luck!)
NYC: Sunny Side Up
With 5.3 MW of solar power added so far this year New York City is becoming friend of solar power
Tweet Of The Day
Climate sensitivity = equilibrium change in policy in response to a doubling of scientific certainty
— Leo Hickman (@LeoHickman) September 27, 2013
The Heat Is On
Take a deeper dive into the IPCC Climate report and renewed calls to face up to reality
Climate Panel Sounds An Alarm
The world is heading toward exceeding a key carbon limit according to the new UN 2,000-page IPCC report authored by 257 scientists & a 36-page summary for policymakers
Blowin' In The Wind
Forecasting the future of US off-shore wind power is still is hard to do
September 26, 2013
Inhale
NYC's air is the cleanest in half a century, with less polluting heating fuel getting a lot of credit
And The Renewable Energy Winner Is...
Bloomberg NEF predicts that in 2013 new solar PV installations will top the renewable energy charts for the first time
Clean Vehicles Clean Up
US sale of electric & hybrid vehicles accelerated in August to nearly 12,000
More Threat, Less Glamour
While the threats of global climate chaos increase, climate action stars fade away
Be Prepared For New Climate Report
Before the Fifth IPCC Climate report is released, take a quick refresher on four key climate facts
Don't Inhale Here
Mapping the places around the world where breathing poses the greatest health threats & why
Benchmarking Data - Come And Get It
NYC releases its 2nd annual report on building energy and water use; for the first time, apartment dwellers have direct access to data on their own building’s energy consumption
Toolkit For Power System Resilience
What are the tools NYC needs to climate-proof its critical electric power supply system?
Jet Stream Woes
An anomalous summertime split jet stream over the US is linked to weird weather this year
Glass: The Good, The Bad And The Climate
The controversies over the popularity of glass-walled urban buildings are crystal clear
September 25, 2013
Renewable Power: Do The Math
Fuel cost savings outweigh added costs of using more renewable energy in the west, according to the National Renewable Energy Laboratory
Australia: Carbon Price RIP
Australia's new conservative government may lack business backing to kill its carbon price law
Catch The Clean Heat Wave
Rooftop solar thermal installations hold a key to clean heat for the Big Apple
Inclusive Urban Sustainability
Expand your urban sustainability horizons, it means a lot
Storm-Proofing: New Must-Have
Making luxury real estate storm-proof is no longer an afterthought in NYC
UN: Fitful Climate Funding
Slow global economic conditions are cited as a problem for the UN Global Climate Fund
Science At Work - Warming Oceans
What do rising ocean temperatures reveal about how climate chance happens?
New Zealand: Marketing Smart Meters
Will offering smart electric meters as a customer service make people want them?
Boston: Green Messaging In Mayor's Race
Boston Mayoral candidates John Connolly and Martin Walsh feature environmental issues in their campaign literature
Norfolk, VA: Sea-Level Rise
September 24, 2013
Not Just Big
Former Wold Bank chief economist Lord Stern calls the risks posed by a changing climate "immense"
What Certainty Means To Scientists
Smoking causes cancer is as scientifically certain as human action causes climate change
Greenpeace At The Heritage Foundation
Canada: Green Bond Update
Canada's green bond market to finance climate-friendly energy & infrastructure projects trends up
London: Carbon Boiler Room Bust
Unscrupulous brokers who tried to sell carbon emissions credits have been arrested by London police
NYC Solar Map
See where sunshine is put to work creating power on NYC rooftops
Love Those Bronx River Oysters
Bronx River oysters make a comeback with a little help from their friends
Solar Power Casts Shadows
Four ways the rise of solar power gives traditional utilities agita
Science At Work: Worse Thunderstorms
New research suggests a role for global warming in more severe thunderstorms
September 23, 2013
Germany: Red Light For Green Energy
After Angela Merkel's re-election, business urges the government to leave the current path to renewable energy
Talk Shouldn't Be Cheap
Al Gore wants climate deniers to pay the political price for ignoring science
Salty Sandy
Sandy flooded the region's infrastructure with salt water and its corrosive legacy lingers
Where Green Jobs Grow
Massachusetts reports a third consecutive year of clean energy sector job growth
China v US: Making PV Peace
Easing trade tensions between China and the US over solar panels could be on tap
Carbon Cuts Not Guaranteed
Continuing the trend in lower carbon emissions & gains in clean fuels will take sustained energy
Global Green Cities: From A To V
Get a sustainability snapshot of cities from Amsterdam to Vancouver — and more
Urban Alchemy
The former Fresh Kills landfill is on its way to becoming a 2,200 acre urban park
Solar-Powered iGizmos
Will thin-film solar technology soon be powering your iGizomos?
September 22, 2013
Repurposed Gas Station
See what happened to a former Getty gas station!
September 21, 2013
Texas-Style Science Education
Texas science textbooks soon could be teaching creationism, climate denialism & advancing an anti-abortion agenda
Lessons From Virtual Energy Audits
Five take aways from virtual energy audits of 60 million square feet of building space
The ABC's Of EPA's Carbon Proposal
September 20, 2013
UN: Convene A Climate Summit
Trying to restart international climate action momentum, th UN invites world leaders to a summit meeting
Germany: Less Power For Renewables
A political ally of Chancellor Merkel calls for ending power grid priorities for renewables
Wind Map
Check out this dynamic map of US wind patterns and think about the renewable energy potential
Science At Work: Sea Level Rise
Why is is hard for climate science to predict how much and how fast sea level will rise?
California Low-Carbon Rule Saved
A federal appeals court upholds the California low carbon fuel standard; here's why
See How Benchmarking Saves Money
One energy benchmarking infographic is worth a thousand words
Saving A Solar Program
A popular solar panel rebate program on Long Island gets a reprieve with $5 million from the Governor
Hamburg: The Flood-Proofed City
Tour a newly built flood-proofed neighborhood in Hamburg Germany; see lessons for other vulnerable cities?
Building Out And Renting Up
According to the NYC Independent Budget Office, there's enough demand for office space to fill the new buildings that would be permitted under controversial mid-town zoning changes; let's hope they're all very energy efficient
September 19, 2013
NYC Gets Strategic
Sustainability, disaster & strategic planning get a new director in NYC
Australia: Climate Watchdog RIP
Australia's new conservative government shuts down the independent climate change commission
September 18, 2013
Biking In The Apocalypse
Slightly tongue-in-cheek praise for urban bike programs
Suck It Up
September 17, 2013
Do Well By Doing Good
Investor alert! opportunities ahead in energy efficiency
MTA Capital Budget
Mass transit runs on money, what's in store for NY?
Watch Out Boston
With coming climate change impacts called "weather on steroids" , what's ahead for Boston?
Science At Work: The End Of An Era
11,000 years of global temperatures show 100 years of hotter weather reverse 5,000 years of cooler temperatures
Thre Ought To Be A Rule
Microgrid growth in New York is hobbled by the state's current regulatory framework
September 16, 2013
Think Ahead: Urban Impact Biz
Why urban impact entrepreneurs should look ahead to working out a relationship with municipalities
Millenials: The Eco-Poll
What are the beliefs and behaviors of today's Millenials?
Data Center Slurps Energy
The lease for a new data center in lower Manhattan is a window into the challenge of cutting energy demand
Scotland: Europe's Biggest Tidal Power Project
The first stage of a 398 MW tidal power project in the Firth of Pentland gets a government green light
Solar Power Stacks Up
Researchers develop a super-efficient stacked solar cell system
Climate, Energy And Syria
Weigh on on whether climate change impacts and energy markets are adding to the Syrian tragedy
Recycling Grows Organically
NYC's venerable but under-performing recycling program expands to capture food scraps
September 15, 2013
Pollution Profits
How banks make a bundle on trading in ethanol permits
September 13, 2013
Budget Cuts Cut Nuke Site Cleanup
Budget cuts force 465 layoffs, delaying clean up at the highly contaminated Savannah River facility, once used to make weapons grade plutonium
Summer's Not Over
Stressful demands on the power grid are not limited to July and August anymore
Talk Their Talk
How to talk to folks about climate change? Hint:in other words
LIPA Likes Rooftop PV
Why some utilities, like LIPA, pay developers to install rooftop solar panels
Yes We Have
America's greatest domestic energy resource and security is energy efficiency, 'nuff said!
Finding Sandy's Latent Damage
Why does it take so long to discover the all the infrastructure damage wreaked by Superstorm Sandy and will the City lose millions in federal aid?
Japan: Paying The Nuclear Power Price
With the shutdown of Japan's nuclear power plants, utilities scramble for funds and fuel
Microgridding
What's generating the buzz about microgrids as an alternative to the old-time electric power grid?
September 12, 2013
Germany: Tesla Arrives
Tesla to open 6 showrooms in Germany to get its autos on the autobahn
Grist Looks At de Blasio
Seattle-based Grist magazine weighs in on Bill de Blasio's environmental record & policy positions
China: Pollution Protests Matter
Popular protests over filthy air impact Chinese policy in a commitment to cutting coal consumption
Arctic Ocean Acidification
Doing Well and Doing Good
Top corporate financial performers are also climate action leaders
De Blasio's Green Plank
The printed word on Bill de Blasio's sustainability & environmental agenda
Eco-Bond Vote 2014
Next year, New Yorkers will vote on a $5 billion state bond act to pay for clean water, a less polluted urban environment & sewage system upgrades, but is there a spending plan?
A Tale of Two Cities
After Sandy and despite no clear regulatory path, Hartford CT is developing microgrids, but what is Sandy-slammed NYC doing?
1 WTC Goes For Green Gold
The new World Trade Center's green features could win a LEED Gold rating
No, No Naomi
What Naomi Klein gets wrong in her attack on mainstream environmentalists, according to a mainstreamer
If Turbines Could Talk
With growing data gathering & communications capacity, discovering productivity gains in wind power will be key to the industry's future
September 11, 2013
Vienna: Tall And Passive
Vienna gets its first 20-story certified Passive House office tower
France: Carbon Tax Coming
France will add a revenue neutral carbon levy to fuel taxes in 2014, details to follow
A HEMS
HEMS, the Home Energy Management Systems market, is evolving fast
Australia: King Coal Re-elected
As long as China continues to buy up Australian coal, there will be no durable cap on carbon down under
Caffeinate Your Car
Processed coffee grounds could become a clean car fuel
Germany: Getting Past Market Limits
To create an energy system that gets more than 25% of its power from renewables, Germany must rethink supply and price models rooted in fossil & nuclear fuels
NY Green Bank Start Up
With $165.6 million from electric utility surcharges, New York State readies its Green Bank
Hurricane Mystery
Experts & commentators weigh on on why there have been no hurricanes -- yet -- this year and what this means to climate science
Legislative Snooze Fest
Why is it so hard for Congress to pass an energy efficiency bill?
September 10, 2013
Australia: The Carbon Promise
The election victory of Australia's conservative coalition comes with promises to kill the carbon tax & cut renewable energy support
Gas/Oil Drilling Leases Abandoned
Chesapeake Energy walks away from hydrofracking leases on 13,00 acres in New York State
Big Green Denialists
Naomi Klein calls big environmental organizations the obstacle to potent grass-roots activism
Labors Of A Climate Sisyphus
Science At Work: Ocean Acidification
The quest for data-driven climate science will advance with a $1 million prize for improved monitoring of ocean acidification
Record-Setting Green Energy Loans
Development banks made $108.9 billion in energy efficiency and renewable energy loans in 2012, an all-time high
Rise-Averse Climate Science
The leaked draft IPCC climate report makes very conservative projections on sea level & temperature, why?
CA: Low-End Carbon Prices
Allowance prices in California's cap-and-trade system should be near the minimum floor established by the state, $13 per ton averaged through 2020, 66% lower than previous estimates, thanks to other carbon-cutting policies that are working as expected [ClimateWire $ub]
September 09, 2013
Unsustainable Behavior
We underestimate climate change impacts while underfunding the innovations needed to face its challenges
Los Angeles: 4.7 x 50
Using supercomputer power, a UCLA scientists predicts Los Angeles temperature averages could soar 4.7 degrees by 2050
NY Post Lkes Bikes
The New York Post praises the City's traffic calming & bike programs as a plus for public safety and urges GOP Mayoral candidates' support
Pipeline Politics
The campaign to make Obama's decision on the Keystone XL pipeline a litmus test of his climate cred
India: Decaffeinated
A changing climate threatens tea production in India
Energy Efficiency: Federal Update
Guesstimates about prospects for action on energy efficiency in Washington
The Many Flavors of Microgrids
Since Sandy gave a big boost to the idea of microgrids, it's time to consider their variety
Rio: Get Smart
Using cell-phone cameras. kids map problems in five Rio favelas, a first step to fixing them
China: Stay With Sustainability
China's premier Li Keqiang, publicly vows to stay on the sustainable development path
Omaha: Greening The Code
Omaha could become the latest city to adopt a cost-saving energy efficiency code
Tallying Tesla's Green
Measuring the climate friendliness of Tesla autos depends on the electric power supply they use
Sandy Doesn't Storm Election
Sandy recovery & rebuilding are not stirring a Staten Island City Council race
September 06, 2013
Citizens Choice Award
10 Winning Cities announced for the City Climate Leadership Awards but the awards process for 2013 isn't over until the public from around the world weighs in — vote for the project you believe should have won. Voting just started.
Green-and-Blue Roof
Bronx nonprofit, Osborne Association, helps ex-cons forge new lives. They will use their new $668K state-of-the-art green-and-blue rooftop to help prevent sewer overflows, save energy and for on-site green jobs training.
September 05, 2013
About That Weird Weather
Like the impact of highway speeding on accidents, a hotter world makes weird weather worse, but is a wavy jet stream to blame?
Locked Into Massive Rates
In southern Illinois, Prairie State Energy Campus's $5B coal plant construction costs passed onto homeowners and municipal rate payers locked into paying $75.04 a megawatt for the next 28 years triggers SEC investigation
Climate Skeptic Funded PAC
Koch family cash infusion received by New Yorkers for Proven Leadership, a new pro-Lhota PAC shifts focus
Navy Links Micro Grids
First-of-a-kind US Navy project in San Diego creates secure, centrally managed microgrid
September 04, 2013
Millions For Green Tech Centers
Columbia University partners with Polytech in a $15 million green tech proof of concept program