When Less Is More
NYC greenhouse gas emissions down 19% since 2005, let's make more of less in 2014. Mayor Bloomberg's final climate press release
December 31, 2013
Mid-Term Elections To Watch
Climate and sustainable energy supporters should keep an eye on these eight races
Become An Effective Climate Advocate
As Archy (admirer of Mehitabel) knows, story telling is a top way to change minds
"it wont be long now it won't be long/
till earth is barren as the moon/
and sapless as a mumbled bone/
dear boss I relay this information/
without any fear that humanity/
will take warning and reform"
Archy
Climate And Energy - 2013 Highlights
Reasons to take heart on the US climate and energy front
Australia: Green Expectations
All new Australian power projects through 2020 are predicted to use renewable energy
How To Become An Earth Angel
Edinburgh: How To Become a Panda Keeper
Australia: The Insanity Clause
An economic advisor to Australia's Prime Minister says nation's taken hostage by climate madness
Highest Performance Building
Seattle's Bulllitt Center rates as the most sustainable building of the year
December 30, 2013
US Military: Go Greener
Military construction now can aim for LEED Gold and Platinum in the budget authorization bill signed by Obama
Solar Securitization: Making It Work
Study up on securitization, the hot new way to finance solar power installations
Milan's Sky-High Greenery
Can trees be an integral part of new skyscrapers?
Berlin: Re Cycling
With a column titled 'Suicide Cycling in Berlin", you're in for quite a ride
The Good, The Dumb, The Hilarious
Energy saving tips that run the gamut from love 'em to laughable
Pedal Power For New Year's
The Times Square New Year's Eve ball will be powered by Citibikes
Mystery Attack On CA Power Plant
A 'military style' attack on a California power plant shocks officials -- FBI is investigating
December 28, 2013
Follow The Dark Money
A scholarly study sheds light on 'dark money' funding of climate denial projects that conceal donors' identities
Resolutions 2014
A short list of eco-friendly New Year resolutions make & keep
December 27, 2013
2014 Predictions
One insider's list of the climate and energy stories to watch next year
What FEMA Knew
FEMA knew NYC was using inaccurate flood maps before Sandy blew into town
Local Activist Makes Good
Majora Carter tells her story of becoming a star urban environmental justice activist
Raise The Gas Tax
Raise the federal gas tax and stop raiding other revenues to pay for road, bridge & rail programs
Hawaii: Too Much Solar Success
The soaring success of solar power in Hawaii creates a utility backlash and how Hawaiian Electric treats the heat
2014 Month by Month
Columbia University climate scientists get their very own 2014 pin-up calendar
December 26, 2013
Better Than Net Metering
Making the case for feed-in tariffs, not net-metering, as the policy tool for ramping up distributed renewable power supplies
Don't Blame The Sun
New research finds solar flares cannot be blamed for most temperature changes on Earth over the last 1,000 years
Solar-Power Payback
How long does it take to recoup the costs of installing rooftop solar panels?
Fed-Ex Ads Won't Cool The Planet
Despite adorable Fed-Ex animated ads about its hybrid-fuel truck fleet, real world fleet numbers are not so cute
December 25, 2013
Carbon Math
All math is political when calculating how to cut global carbon emissions
December 24, 2013
What's Ahead For Climate Change
Spoiler Alert: The future's not looking rosy, but there are signs of positive action
GHG Reductions - Go Short, Go Long
Scientists call for parallel strategies to cut both short and long-lived GHG emissions
California Dreamin' Battery Storage
It's no dream, California utilities to install big banks of batteries to store surplus PV power for use at night
UK: Spain Out, Japan In
Spanish utility Iberdrola sells its 50% stake in a British venture to build a 3.6 gigawatt nuclear power plant to Japanese firm Toshiba
Clinton v Warren
Harlem: On The Cutting Energy Edge
A Harlem-based start up is developing cutting-edge energy storage gear from off-the-shelf chemicals & little fans
December 23, 2013
The Gaping Performance Gap
Based on data from 17,000 apartment buildings, the best energy performers have utility bills 8 times lower than the slurpers
Dim Forecast For Utilities
Why is the outlook negative for the financial health of the global utility sector in 2014?
Polar Bear Plight
See photos of the latest woes for the poster child of climate change, the polar bear
How To Make A Buck On Energy Efficiency
ICYMI, regulators must decouple power production from profits to ramp up utility engagement with energy efficiency
France: Taxing Carbon
France's Parliament OKs a broad fossil fuel tax starting in 2014
Manchester: Taken With Trams
21 years in the making, Manchester's tram system is a hit with commuters
Science At Work: Communicating And Advocating
One of today's most controversial climate science arenas is how to communicate and the place of advocacy
December 20, 2013
Climate: Year End Review
So many lists, so little time, still, read this one
Scotland: Scores High On Renewables
40% of electricity in Scotland now comes fro renewable sources, with a 50x15 goal
From Brownfields To Clean Soil
A clean soil bank for greening former brownfield sites to open in NYC
Banking On Green
New York officially launches the Green Bank with $165 million to attract greater investment, accelerate clean energy deployment, grid modernization & raise community resilience
Shanghai: Bad Air's Back
Heavy air pollution smothers Shanghai again
Last Minute Enviro Action
A modified ban on styrofoam containers & changes to commercial food waste recycling are among the final bills passed by the current NYC Council
Green Pilgrimage Map
With pilgrimage being a top reason to travel the world, a green map helps transform the pilgrim experience & ameliorate the eco-footprint on historic and holy sites
Mann v Silver
Scientist Michael Mann isn't happy with uber-numbers guy Nate Silver when it comes to climate change
Strategy For Scaling Up Energy Efficiency
The best way to scale up energy efficiency retrofitting is to have the right plan
Energy Crystal Ball - Clear Or Cloudy
Bloomberg NEF's global energy analyst reviews the accuracy of his 2013 predictions
December 19, 2013
NJ: Do The Right Thing
Do Gov. Christie's national political ambitions interfere with making New Jersey more climate-resilient
Japan: Fossil Fuels At Record Highs
Following its nuclear power shutdown, Japan is burning more coal & LNG then ever for its power supply
Smart Power Leadership Forum
Los Angeles: So Cool
Los Angeles to require all new and replacement home roofs to be light reflecting to stay cooler
Bold Green Bonds
Prize-winning financing for green projects is in a New York State of mind
Blogging Buildings
Five worth-reading building innovation blogs from 2013
We're Not There Yet
Most global corporations still have a long way to go to meet science-based GHG reduction goals
EU: Carbon Market Doldrums
How do carbon emissions permits traders survive in a swooning market?
Securitizing Tomorrow
How securitization can be the tool to standardize & streamline project funding for energy efficient building
December 18, 2013
Germany: No Energy Probe
German P.M. Merkel rejects an EU call to disclose discounts to companies who pay renewable energy program fees
100 Resilient Cities: Quito
What challenges face Quito, Ecuador? one of the Rockefeller Foundation's 100 resilient cities
Enveloping Energy Efficiency
What the right building envelope can do to advance energy efficiency
Pop-Up Playgrounds
Pop-up playgrounds, low cost & made of flexible parts, are being beta-tested in Brooklyn
Singapore: Green Star Rising
With 1,534 green certified new buildings and 215 pre-existing ones, Singapore has become Asia's high performance leader
Philippines: Typhoon's Warning
While offering recovery aid to parts of the Philippines devastated by Typhoon Haiyan, John Kerry sees a warning of what climate change can look like
Actions Speak Louder Than Words
Bill McKibben's take-down of the President's climate-friendly words
Apple-Solar-Reno: It's Complicated
Apple's 85% property tax break shades the story of its new solar-powered data center in Reno, NV
Styrofoam: RIP
December 17, 2013
EU: $4.96 Billion Richer In 2013
Income from EU carbon emissions permit sales totaled $4.96 billion for participating nations
In The Nick Of Time
Construction starts at the offshore Cape Wind project in Massachusetts in time to obtain a $780 million federal tax credit
Earth: November 2013
NOAA's record-breaking global temperature data for November 2013
Wait No More
.@BloombergView editorial: Energy Efficiency Is Long Overdue http://t.co/LPImiwFglV
— Kate Galbraith (@KateGalbraith) December 17, 2013Mass Transit For One
After five years of construction costing $2 billion, the #7 subway extension gets its first rider, Mayor Bloomberg
New York In More Motion
Is a bus rapid transit network the way to increase accessible & equitable mass transit in NYC?
100 Resilient Cities: Durban
What challenges face Durban, South Africa? one of the Rockefeller Foundation's 100 resilient cities
Better Energy: Year End News
Check out this Energy Gang podcast for late-breaking renewables & energy storage developments and more
Mind The Action Gap
Four ideas for Americans who are aware of energy efficiency but not doing much to achieve it
December 16, 2013
Coal: Believe It Or Not
Falling Chinese demand for coal could strand investments in Australian mines & export facilities
Miracle Drug Discovery
Medical science finds walking is good for almost whatever ails you, another reason to value pedestrian-friendly city streets
Getting Warmer
USGS predictions of how hot the US will get in 50 years
Minneapolis: Benchmarking Leader
Minneapolis leads on developing good ways to measure multi-tenant building energy scores with DOE
Why We Love NY
UK Wind Power Risks
What makes investors anxious about developing UK wind power projects?
Vietnam: Climate Adaptation Aid
The US pledges $17 million in climate adaptation aid to at-risk river areas in Vietnam
2014: Glad Tidings
2014 could be the year the federal government starts to actually do something about climate change
Science At Work: Hurricanes
Is climate change stirring up stronger hurricanes in the North Atlantic & other regions?
Tis A Gift
Now consumers can rate the recyclability of their electronic gadgets and retailers can be rated for taking back outdated electronic gizmos, just EPEAT and WRAP
December 15, 2013
One Man's Carbon Footprint
Calculating your annual carbon footprint is hard but doable, cutting it is doable but harder
December 14, 2013
US Cities: Climate Bi-Polarity
Der Spiegel, a German news magazine, looks at US cities climate impact preparedness and sees polar opposites
December 13, 2013
Germany: Burn Dirty Coal
In forming a coalition government, Germany to permit burning of lignite, the dirtiest coal, in power plants
France: Power Shift
France contemplates shifting funds from nuclear power to renewables & efficiency
New Yorkers Support Sustainability
A diverse set of New York organizations urges the de Blasio administration to advance a climate action agenda and keep the sustainability office under the Mayor's direct jurisdiction
Feedback For Sustainability
To be effective sustainability technologies must give feedback to building occupants & system users
Science At Work: The Cloud Gap
Scientists seek clarity the role clouds play in climate change
EV's Charge Ahead
The NYC Council passes a bill opening the way for installing 10,000 electric vehicle recharging stations in open parking lots & garages
AG's Million Dollar Home Improvement Fund
Low-income Syracuse & Rochester residents can upgrade the safety and energy efficiency of their homes with help from a $1 million fund established by NYS Attorney General Schneiderman
100 Resilient Cities: Ashkelon
What lies ahead for Ashkelon, Isreae, one of the Rockefeller Foundation's 100 resilient cities
East Coast Sea Levels Rise
Up, up, up for over a century
December 12, 2013
Yes They Can
Electric utilities can make money when regulations decouple energy sales from profits and energy efficiency can become a robust revenue source
US: Death By Breathing
A petition to cut ozone emissions filed with the EPA by 8 northeast states calculates cleaner air will reduce the number of premature deaths by 34,000 a year
China: Death By Breathing
In 2011, 250,00 Chinese died prematurely due to inhaling coal-polluted air, according to a study commissioned by Greenpeace
Waging War On Energy Waste
The US military deploys virtual audits to locate and eliminate energy waste at 640 facilities
How To Fill The Energy Gap
While 'megatons to megawatts' was the mantra of an era now ending, energy efficiency should be the mantra of our times
Houston: We've Got A Problem Here
Houston, TX Mayor Annise Parker says federal, state and local governments must make hard decisions, based on good science, on climate action
Berlin: Modeling Sacramento MUD
Berliners seeking to ditch coal power turn to Sacramento, California's power utility, MUD, publicly owned since 1923
Other High Lines
Tour 10 urban elevated, at-grade or below-grade parks that once were rail lines
Park It Here
A survey of how many New Yorkers visit small city parks and playgrounds finds high warm-weather use
December 11, 2013
London: Barclays Ditches Boris Bikes
Citing anemic program revenues, Barclays Bank to stop bankrolling London's bike share program
Science At Work: Ice And Fire
How change in the jet stream resulting from melting Arctic ice cover leads to more heat extremes at mid-latitudes
Sun Leasing
Is the chance to lease rooftop PV panels driving the US boom in solar power?
No Pause On Earth
The climate change pause - Fuggedaboutit!
Reading Green White House Tea Leaves
With the return of John Podesta as a White House advisor, observers see renewed climate and environmental focus
Sandy Recovery - A Tale of Two Cities
Restoring the housing devastated by Sandy is far from complete and Mayor de Blasio should commit to completing the job
100 Resilient Cities: Byblos
What lies ahead for Byblos, Lebanon? one of the Rockefeller Foundation's 100 resilient cities
Dear Mr. Incoming-Mayor
A plea to the de Blasio Administration to advance the Bloomberg green legacy and maintain momentum on climate action & resiliency
Better City Lights
Is your city a leader or a laggard in the market for LED & CFL bulbs?
December 10, 2013
Cut Cash For Coal
The European Bank for Reconstruction & Development to cut funds for coal-burning power plants and ramp up support for energy efficiency & renewables, 2014-2018
Mexico City: Eating Pollution For Lunch
The facade of a Mexico City hospital cuts air pollution by 'eating' smog
Ronald Regan: Climate Champ
Scientists detect a climate benefit stemming from the Montreal Protocol negotiated by the Regan Administration -- and more is possible
Renewables: US Lead Or Lose
Will the US abandon its forward position on the renewable energy to nations with greener development politics?
Cuomo Doesn't Sign On
Of the eight northeast states seeking relief from midwest/southern state air pollution, only Governor Cuomo did not sign a letter calling for stronger pollution controls
Reflections Upon Visiting Battery Park
Visiting Battery Park & the South Ferry subway station make it clear why the pre-Sandy days are over forever
Picking Up The Solar Pace
How to bring down the soft costs of installing rooftop solar power
NJ: From Recovery To Renewal
Environmentalists start to transition from Sandy recovery to renewed climate activism in New Jersey
China: Not Ready For Climate Prime-Time
The Chinese government rates the nation as unprepared for the myriad impacts of climate change
December 09, 2013
PFTBA: Not A Good Gas
Scientists find perfluorotributylamine, a super-potent and long-lived GHG, in the Earth's atmosphere
California: Solar Leases Boom
In California, leasing residential rooftop solar equipment beats buying it
$30 Million For NY Solar
New York adds $30 million for solar power projects up to 200 kW in NYC & the Hudson Valley
Wanted: Institutional Renewables Investors
What are the barriers to attracting large scale institutional investors in EU renewable energy operations?
Spain: Speedier Review of Energy Projects
Who will be the winners in Spain's new fast-track environmental review of energy projects?
UK: Funding New Energy Storage Tech
Hopes for developing new energy storage technologies to make the grid greener and more reliable get a funding infusion
Annual Energy Efficiency Wrap-Up
Highlights of 2013 state, regional & national energy efficiency policy developments
Collateral Benefits Of Bike-Sharing
NYC's Citibike program found to have unexpected benefits, sociability & place-making and Janette Sadik-Khans' TED Talk
Don't Hold Your Breath
While the Supreme Court hears argument over interstate air pollution, a call for Congress to clarify 'good neighbor' language in the Clean Air Act seems quixotic
When Good Intentions Are Not Enough
The real estate sector needs robust, reliable metrics to measure the sustainability of properties and portfolios & here's a place to start
December 07, 2013
Science At Work - The Pacific-Warming Link
The depths of the Pacific Ocean are heating up, global warming isn't pausing
Ruled In
Advocates urge the EPA to include energy efficiency in its GHG emissions-limit rules for existing power plants
Seduced By The View
It's time for big cities' big buildings to get over their addiction to glass, tenants have
Renewables And Carbon Emissions On The Rise
Renewable energy is on the rise, but so are carbon emissions, what does this imply for US energy policy?
The Road Less Driven
December 06, 2013
Metropolitan Life Lessons
Why have cities become the new centers of innovation?
Australia: Warming To Solar Power
With just 180 MW of solar power in 2009, Australia now has 3 gigawatts, most of it on rooftops
Japan: Energy Storage Leader
Japan ramps up installation of energy storage technologies produced by domestic firms
Shanghai: Smog Stops Traffic
Shanghai bans driving and cuts factory output as the city endures sky-high air pollution
What Gotham's GHGs Look Like
Check out this award-winning animated infographic of NYC's greenhouse gas emissions
News From December RGGI Sale
The December 2013 auction of 38,329,378 RGGI carbon allowances raises $114.9 million
NYers Pay The Price For Outdated FEMA Flood Maps
When Sandy hit, FEMA knew its flood maps were outdated & needed revision, leaving New Yorkers in harm's way
Leading NY's Green Bank
Alfred Griffin is named the first president of the New York Green Bank
Some Cheers For LEED
Energy performance data on LEED buildings has some good news but raises hard questions too
Benchmarking Minneapolis
What's to be learned from the Minneapolis first annual building benchmarking report?
December 05, 2013
Psst! Pipeline's Piping
Without fanfare and just some vigorous protest, the Spectra pipeline is NYC's newest natural gas supplier
True Or False
The Northeast doesn’t have much renewable energy: it's too expensive and the weather is unsuitable -- do some fact checking
The Report Behind The Headlines
Read the CDP report on corporate carbon pricing that's making front-page news
2nd Avenue Subway Saga
Decades in the making, a brief history of the Second Avenue subway
Passive Housing In Harlem
Construction plans advance for a 40-unit, market-rate Harlem apartment building built to Passive House standards advance
Madrid: Cars Come Last
In Madrid's new traffic hierarchy, foot traffic will come first, cars last, but where's the money to make this a reality?
Let's Decarbonize
Environmentalists & economists roll out an global-scale economic plan to end our carbon addiction
December 04, 2013
LEED Gold in 140 Characters
Twitter might lease space in a new LEED-Gold-hopeful tower on NYC's Astor Place
Opening For Smart Windows
Shanghai University researchers develop glass that 'knows' when to let the sunshine in
China: Doubling Renewable Power
China adds 36 gigawatts of non-fossil fuel power production so far this year & is the world's biggest renewable energy marke
Ohio Energy Showdown
Will Ohio please utilities by repealing its renewable power and energy efficiency laws today? Lacking a majority, vote canceled
UN: Green Climate Fund Update
A work-in-progress, the UN Green Climate Fund could attract pension funds seeking secure investments with higher yields than government bonds
Valuing Corporate Sustainabiity
If "62% of CEOs said they couldn't accurately quantify the business value of their sustainability initiatives", what strategies can make the case to investors?
Energy Efficiency: KISS
Simple, standardized energy efficiency plans for NYC single family homes can be the key to scaling up
Better Building Accelerator
The Obama Administration kicks off a program to improve industrial, government & apartment building energy efficiency and what it can achieve
Yield Co: The Next Big Thing
What is a "yield co" and why are renewable energy investors exited?
December 03, 2013
Unprepared For Abrupt Climate Changes
While there are some abrupt climate change impacts today, your grandchildren and their kids will face the life-changing jolts. Access the source report
Okinawa: Solar Stoarge
Okinawa's utility will develop storage batteries for the island's solar power, with the grid nearing its carrying capacity
EPA: We're Flexible
EPA chief McCarthy says the agency will grant states great flexibility to meet carbon emissions standards for power plants
Bloomberg: Carbon Tracker
Bloomberg LP announces a carbon valuation risk tool for investors quantify how climate policies and risks might depress earnings & stocks of individual fossil fuel firms
Wanted: Carbon Tax Swapping
What's a state-level carbon tax swap and why is it good for the planet, good for New Yorkers & good for business?
Making Urban Resilience Stronger
The Ford Foundation announces grants to New York and 32 other cities for resiliency plans to decrease their vulnerabilities
LEED 4 Energy Advances
The new version of LEED standards takes innovate energy managemnt to heart
Science At Work: Energy Tech
To pull the world back from climate catastrophe, cutting edge innovation from energy scientists will play a leading role
December 02, 2013
Solar Obits - 2009 -2013
A list of bankrupt or "fire sale" US & EU solar power companies over the last half-decade
Maryland Rethinks LEED
Maryland is set to accept non-LEED standards for construction of public building
Answers To The Energy Enigma
50 top experts tackle the toughest energy system challenges of the era
The Guide To Greening Cities
Read the review of the Sustainability Directors Network new book written from the municipal policy maker's POV
The Well-Insulated House
Putting numbers on what home insulation can mean to you in kWh/m2a
EU: Carbon Prices Tank
A lack of political agreement for cutting permit supplies leads to EU carbon prices plunging 9.4%
Australia: Record Heat
Australia has it's hottest spring ever, with temperatures 1.57C above the 1961-1990 average
Chicago: Deco, Affordable And Green
A faded gem of Chicago art-deco is renewed as low-income community, energy-efficient housing
UK: New Nuke Plant Not Done Deal
The deal for a new nuclear power plant in the UK might come undone over Chinese participation