Just A a Thought
Dinosaurs are driving us to extinction
February 28, 2015
February 27, 2015
NYPA News
NYPA chief Gil Quinones talks about his agency's job boosting program and the Governor's utility rules redo, the REV
February 26, 2015
When Zero Is Good
Zero-net-energy building projects around the country
If Solar Power's So Cheap...
...Why doesn't every rooftop sport PV panels
Less Cold Air Here - For Real
Even as the eastern US freezes, there’s less cold air in winter than ever before: http://t.co/RJTobXuWdH pic.twitter.com/JJHlpda7i8
— Capital Weather Gang (@capitalweather) February 25, 2015February 25, 2015
Canada: Tar-Sands Future Dims
Shell shelves plans for a new Canadian tar-sands extraction project
Energy Policies: Compare and Contrast
Do German and French energy transitions share common features?
UK: Wave/Tide Power Faces Rip-Tides
Financing is not a sure thing for advancing UK wave & tidal power project plans
There's Got To Be An App For That
Visualize your carbon emissions on your mobile device
Climate Threatens Supply Chains
Corporations speak out about climate-linked threats to their supply chains & the need for climate action as a risk management strategy
A Modest Carbon Proposal
The President should negotiate with Canada not Congress to cut carbon emissions, proposes Mike Bloomberg but Bill McKibben says
Worst idea ever (well, almost): Michael Bloomberg negotiating a deal w/Canada to save #kxl. A little tired of the 1% http://t.co/aCcps4EPJc
— Bill McKibben (@billmckibben) February 25, 2015The Climate Funnies
Great Climate Denial Cartoon via today's @BostonGlobe #climatechange #denial pic.twitter.com/OnH0WVphJX
— Climate Nexus (@ClimateHotNews) February 25, 2015Fair Share For All New Yorkers
Bronx & Brooklyn community groups want each NYC neighborhood to site its fair share of waste processing
State-Level Carbon Tax
A proposed Massachusetts carbon tax gets some love
February 24, 2015
Cant' Beat 'Em, Join 'Em
What is a yieldCo and why have solar industry competitors joined up to create one?
Solar Biz Shines On Worker Training
Two solar industry leaders, GRID Alternatives & SunEdison, team up on training in low-income neighborhoods
Shanghai: One Capital of the 21st Century
Shanghai Future: Modernity Remade envisions a city that will be like & unlike western metropolises in 2030
Customer Care - What A Concept
What happens when utility customers don't get treated like utility customers?
UK: The Great Energy Shift
Renewable energy is about to overtake nuclear in the UK http://t.co/rj4Fyv25dS pic.twitter.com/zcbxRiprYY
— New Scientist (@newscientist) February 24, 2015Know Your Flood Risk
Things have changed for NYC since 2007
UN Climate Chief Resigns
In the wake of sexual harassment allegations Rajendra Pachauri, chief of the UN International Panel Climate Change, steps down
Work On Energy Savings For UC Berkeley Workers
Using their campus as a living lab, US Berkeley workers experiment with how to get more energy efficient
British Columbia: Carbon Tax Champ
Lessons learned from a carbon tax that works
CEO's: More Federal Energy Research Funding
The heads of Microsoft, GE & other corporate titans call on the government to boost spending on research to advance energy innovation as a strategic national priority. Here's the report
February 23, 2015
East Harlem Waterfront Esplanade
Energy Equity
How low income communities can save money with energy efficient upgrades for their homes -- while improving health, safety and job opportunities & reducing carbon emissions
Solar Bets For 2015
Seven things to expect in the solar power market this year
EU: 60x50
Controversy swirls around EU call for 60% GHG reductions by 2050 goal by the Paris climate summit
CEO's Fuzzy On Energy Costs
Just like us, corporate CEO's don't know how much they're spend on energy bills every year
Australia: Money Wasted On Cheap PVs
Sometimes, you get what you pay for with cheap solar panels
A Greener Euro-Apple
Apple spends big to build 100% renewable energy-powered data centers at its Danish & Irish locations
Obama's Climate Leader-In-Chief
EPA Chief Gina McCarthy has one of the toughest jobs in Washington, climate protection
Appraising Home Solar Panels
Are roof-top solar panels adding to the value of a home?
February 21, 2015
East Coast Freeze: Global Outlier
Extreme cold in eastern US, extreme heat almost everywhere else. #climatechanged cc @EricHolthaus pic.twitter.com/OwHWCUtTan
— Brad Johnson (@climatebrad) February 20, 2015City Living: It's Good, It's Green
February 20, 2015
No Laughing Matter
Nothing funny about this animated graph of 135 years of global temperatures
Black Swan Of Climate Change
Like all good risk managers, when it comes to climate change, focus on what we don't know
Deutsche Bank Does Green Bonds Too
Deutsche Bank joins Citibank & Barclays in growing its green bond holdings
Fossil Lobby Loses Mouthpiece
The American Petroleum Institute ends contract with its long-time P.R. firm
Paris Climate Talks Preview
One Heart One Tree art project to light up Paris for #COP21 http://t.co/bbFRzltqXw @COP21 pic.twitter.com/VFqZPs02at
— UNFCCC (@UNFCCC) February 20, 2015Utilities Want To Recharge Your Car
Will a utility move into EV recharging energize car sales?
Heastie Takes Climate Steps
The new NYS Assembly Speaker creates a legislative climate change working group
Future Past
Help build the future of NYC's past, contribute to the Space/Time Directory
February 19, 2015
Green Bonds 101
Learn what green bonds do that others don't
Solar Power Biz Has Money To Grow
With robust revenue growth in 2014, Solar City sets out a 1GW power installation goal
Muni Green Bonds Today
Missed the City Green Bonds presentation hosted at the NYC Comptroller's Office? Hit the deck
Listening to investors/experts w/ my staff re: how #GreenBonds can create a green NYC @climatebonds @NRDC @ceresnews pic.twitter.com/hkkUmQEDx2
— Scott M. Stringer (@scottmstringer) February 12, 2015Staten Island: Stepping Back From The Sea
In the wake of Superstorm Sandy's devastation Staten Island has become a living lab for a managed retreat from the sheashore
Watch Out Utility Rate Payers
Georgia utility customers bills will rise to cover cost overruns at still-in-construction twin nuclear power plants
Indonesia: Won't Leave It In The Ground
Indonesia will miss its climate action goals if the world's larges coal exporter carries out a plan to triple its use of the fossil fuel at home by 2025
Citibank: $100 B x 25
Targeting sustainable growth, Citibank announces an investment finance goal of $100 billion by 2025
Science At Work: Volancos, Tree Rings, Ice Cores
How to put a date on climate changes of past times & why accuracy matters
Bill Gates Is Wrong
Heavy climate polemics about the core funding direction of the Gates Foundation
Good Times For NYC Solar Installers
Rising numbers of rooftop solar panels is powered by government incentives & lower costs in NYC
February 18, 2015
Tomorrow's Power Grids
Compare & contrast how NY & California are setting the rules for the power grid of the future and the role of distributed energy
The E.U.'s Renewables Laggards
Unlike most E.U. members Holland, Luxembourg & the U.K. aren't meeting their renewable energy targets
Big Data: Urban Mobility Potential
Can big data relieve urban gridlock and help planners design more mobile cities?
IBM: Energy Savings Innovatior
IBM deploys chilled water optimization to save energy, increase employee comfort at its 16 building NY campus & win a award for it
NYC Climate Change Report
"Building the Knowledge Base for Climate Resiliency: New York City Panel on Climate Change 2015 Report", download it here
NYC 2100
Expect NYC sea levels to rise 1-6 feet, by 2100, predicts the NYC Panel on Climate Change & by the '80's average temperatures will soar 5-8 degrees F.
Help Wanted In Brooklyn
Market Expectations
Review the record of the role markets play to advance building energy efficiency
February 17, 2015
This Space For Rent Rented
Solar industry vitality shown by SolarCity rental of former Solyndra factory to start up manufacturing operations
Welcome Albany
Governor Cuomo adds Albany to the list of cities able to compete for up to $20 M for advanced energy projects
Sunshine State Cool On Rooftop PV
What holds Florida back from becoming a leader in rooftop solar power?
Voluntarism Is Not Enough
When it comes to curbing our carbon appetite, voluntary business actions are estimable but not enough
Investment For the Public/Private Good
Governments must find ways to engage private investment to advance urban resilience that will benefit both the public good & private property
Weaponizing The Weather
Sao Paulo: Running Dry
Brazil's mega-city, Sao Paulo could run out of drinking water due to severe drought, pollution & deforestation
February 16, 2015
Don't Call Them Skeptics
Scientists oppose calling those who reject the human-causes of a changing climate "skeptics"
February 14, 2015
Handicapping States' Clean Power Paths
The EPA plan to cut power plant GHG emissions rests on state action, so what to expect?
De Blasio Launches Green Advisory Group
Who's who on Mayor de Blasio's newly formed Green Buildings Technical Working Group?
Unexpected Solar States
Solar energy is playing surprisingly well in conservative parts of the U.S. http://t.co/ixeIyGYJsB pic.twitter.com/yqVkwhU6bi
— Chris Mooney (@chriscmooney) February 13, 2015February 13, 2015
Family Feud
Why is red-hot climate activist Naomi Klein cool on carbon taxes?
Setting Sustainabiilty Standards
Creating robust urban sustainability standards is still a work in progress
VT: Gov's Clean Energy Slate
The Green Mountain State has a green energy champion, Governor Shumlin
2 Cheers For Volunteers
How a voluntary climate agreement could work. http://t.co/oxH8vlQkZm pic.twitter.com/8QbqLBqhVq
— The Upshot (@UpshotNYT) February 13, 2015Googleplex Catches The Wind
Google inks a 20 year wind power purchase deal for its California HQs
ICYMI: Apple's Big Solar Deal
$850 million is not the only big thing about Apple's new solar power investment
Midwest Megadrought
In the coming decades, NASA predicts the worst drought in 1,000 years will hit the midwest
Inconvenient Facts
How are climate denialists coping with record-setting annual temperatures?
Question: What Ended The Last Ice Age
February 12, 2015
Japan: Reactors Restarting
Japan starts to OK the reopening of its nuclear power plants
London: Insulate Those Walls
In a city with many old buildings adding wall insulations cuts operating costs
Science At Work: Weather Prediction
With extreme weather on the rise scientists & meteorologists embrace advanced computing power to devise more accurate forecasts & avert disasters
Curb Your Enthusiasm
So what? is the correct response to a GOP vote on the reality of climate change
Storing GHG's Forever
Watch this Iceland video about turning gas to stone
A Teachable Moment
City leaders should closely study extreme weather events and get better prepared for climate change impacts - or else!
Not Enough Teslas
Tesla misses financial projections in the wake of delivery shortfalls of new cars, but promises 70% more this year
MTA In $15 Billion Hole
Diagnosing the $15 billion gap in the MTA capital plan, it's said "We have an Albany problem"
February 11, 2015
Sydney: Green And Gehry
Frank Gehry's brown paper bag for @UTS_Business gets 5 green stars http://t.co/ywJEbTo4vT @ecobusinesscom @gbcaus pic.twitter.com/dDUpd0e5Ip
— NewCitiesFoundation (@newcitiesfound) February 11, 2015Where Frankfurt Is First
50 of World's Largest Cities Ranked by People, Planet, Profit http://t.co/RTMXvGyheN @ARCADISglobal @peoplplanetprft pic.twitter.com/IbFBWElS8f
— EcoWatch (@EcoWatch) February 11, 2015City Buses Should Get Some Love
With better marketing, low cost metro-area buses could win out over high cost rail projects
Rx For Utility Biz Blues
An independent solar power company offers business advice to utilities
3 Cheers For The X Line
The Bronx, Brooklyn & Queens need an inter-borough subway line, call it the X
Geo-Engineering: The Last Resort
If scientists are studying geo-engineering it's because we've failed at combatting climate change
Tomorrow's Power Utility
Handicapping Obama's Clean Power Plan
What powers the EPA's proposed rule to cut carbon emissions also makes it a litigation magnet
February 10, 2015
Green Finance: The Next Big Thing
Venture capital is so last decade, now lab-as-tech-incubators are happening
UK: Hey Big Fossil Spender
Despite its pledge, the UK government spends 300 times more on overseas fossil fuel than green energy projects
The Next Great Climate Debate
Third possibility - people willing to pay higher bills for services but not taxes to government @CassSunstein http://t.co/YDmyAxtRbv via @BV
— Michael Oppenheimer (@ClimateOpp) February 10, 2015Green Career Advice
Want to launch or advance your green career? Useful advice here
ICYMI: Congestion Pricing
There's renewed hope in Albany for a congestion pricing-type law to raise mass transit funds by imposing fees for cars coming into Manhattan's CBD
The Educated Solar Consumer
How to make the buy or lease choice for rooftop solar panels
Rating The Holder Years
How does the environmental track record stack up for Attorney General Eric Holder?
EU: Down Down, Up
European energy use hits a 20 year low, but how much is due to a down economy & how much is due to more energy efficiency is hard to say
Iceland: Turning Gas To Stone
Iceland injects CO2 into a basalt mountain to see if the gas will bind with the stone
February 09, 2015
CA Adds 550 MW Of Solar Power
California gets another mega-scale solar power plant
Chicago v Exelon
Since Illinois gets 50% of its power from coal will nuclear power plant-owning Exelon call the shots in defining renewable energy rules?
UK: Home Rental Efficiency
Starting in 2016, UK buildings rented for resdiental use must meet minimum energy performance standards
Act Global, Build Local
How design adapted to local weather conditions could cut the need for AC
India: Industrial-Scale Solar Power
Rajastan will be home to a solar park able to generate up to 10,000 MW of electricity & include a PV module-making facility
Build A Better Brownfields Law
Eleven ideas for fixing up the New York State Brownfields cleanup law
Hispanic American Climate Worries
Growing personal concern about climate change is greater for Hispanic Americans than whites
South Africa: Lights Could Go Out
Decrepit & financially strapped, the South African power grid is at the edge of collapse
February 07, 2015
Sustainability - A New Core Curriculum
Calling climate change a 'wicked design problem', the New School will put sustainability at the core of its curriculum
February 06, 2015
See The Dirt
See the difference in emissions between tar sands gasoline and average oil http://t.co/WoI00UotKk #KeystoneXL pic.twitter.com/uiUQ3YChx5
— Carbon Visuals (@CarbonVisuals) February 6, 2015Working As A Climate Scientist
Leave It In The Ground
China and India start to show what happens when habit stops dominating energy policy
Tea Party Parties For Solar
What powers Tea Party members' support for solar power?
Transformative Tools
Search this website for useful tools to build greener cities
Make Money Faster
Energy efficiency pays off and at warp-payback speed, so what's stopping you!
NJ: Public Private Water Supplies
Governor Christie signs a law to allow fast tracking the sale of public water supply systems
Energy Storage Gets Sexy
Utility executives pick energy storage as today's most important emerging technology
February 05, 2015
To Ferry Or Not And More
Who would benefit from the proposed ferry expansion in NYC? We asked @gridlocksam and @rolandinthed33p of @MWAlliance http://t.co/yO9S1aEj6S
— Brian Lehrer Show (@BrianLehrer) February 5, 2015Washington DC: Benchmarking Champ
Building energy benchmarking reporting reveals privately-owned, commercial buildings in Washington DC are superior energy performers
Waiting For El Nino
Despite predictions, a climate-change impacting El Nino hasn't occurred over the last 12 months
He's A Believer
Climate scientist Prof. David Victor makes the optimist's case for the outcome of upcoming Paris climate talks
Australia: Payback Time In Dirty Air
More brown coal is being burned after repeal of Australia's carbon tax
Coal State GOP Offs Clean Energy Law
Although it never had much oomph, the Republican-led legislature overturns West Virginia's renewable energy law
Be A Hero With Zero
How the GSA, the biggest landlord in the US, can go net zero carbon emissions
How To Depolarize Carbon Politics
Create a federal carbon tax and make it revenue neutral
February 04, 2015
Germany: Down Year For Solar
Germans installed 1.89 GW in PV power last year, below the 2 GW target
Boston: Watefront Transit
Now that new transportation options have helped transform Boston's waterfront, what's next for transportation planning?
UK: Green Party Rising
Could May elections create a Green Party breakthrough in UK politics?
Cut Carbon - Recycle
with actualities MT @GreatForestInc: A look at the cost benefit of recycling, in under 2 mins http://t.co/CURAKWar3Z
— David Biello (@dbiello) February 4, 2015Slicing Renewable Energy Goals In CO
Colorado's renewable portfolio goal would be cut 50% if a State Senate vote prevails
Climate Change And Infrastructure
More climate-linked rainfall means Minnesota cities must tackle their waste water systems to stay on top of things
Cli-Fi: Read All About It
Climate change is inspiring today's novelists
Renewable Energy Cost Trends
6 charts show renewable energy, especially onshore wind, is getting cost-competitive with fossil fuels
February 03, 2015
Legal Eagles: Court Stops Enviro Effort To Cut Coal Exports
Environmental groups lack standing to sue over a US Import-Export Bank loan guarantee for coal exports finds a federal court
California: 50x30
To meet a 50% clean energy goal by 2030, California will consider replacing its renewables benchmark with a broader clean energy standard, but what about comparative costs?
Getting A Lift From Solar Power
Plane to Fly Around World on #Solar Power Alone in March! http://t.co/EN9Ck66Nrn #aviation #news pic.twitter.com/KsN8acffYI
— Jim Harris (@JimHarris) February 3, 2015De Blasio: Affordable Housing Vision
Ferry service at Metrocard prices is part of the de Blasio affordable housing agenda, but what about energy efficiency in his SOTC speech?
Obama: Let's Guarantee Renewables Incentives
The proposed 2016 Obama budget seeks to make the Production & Investment Tax Credits for renewable energy permanent
Burlington VT: All Renewable
What's the secret to Burlington, VT's success in providing 100% renewably-sourced electricity to its residents, while cutting costs too?
Mass Transit: NJ-Style
Governor Christie's biggest mass transit failure wasn't about a bridge, it was about a tunnel
February 02, 2015
What We've Put In The Water
The evidence for non-stop global heating is found in our oceans
London: Superhighway For Bikes
London cyclists will be the first in Europe to have 2 dedicated cycleways, the longer would run 18 miles, past some of the city's iconic sites
World Bank: Green Bond Trends
In 2015, expect new types of issuers, green bond indices & changing investor expectations
Climate Change: The Elevator Pitch
21st Century Infrastructure:Think Different
Cities start to build infrastructure projects for a more chaotic climate
Chicago Investors Don't Prefer Fossils
Compared to other US investors Chicago investors say they prefer energy efficiency & renewables over fossil fuels
Billions For Climate In Obama Budget Proposal
$11.4 billion in climate-related funding is included in the Obama 2016 fiscal budget proposal
1930's Subway Scenes
Depression Era painter Daniel Celentano's images of how things have changed, or not, with NYC mass transit
1965: LBJ Carbon Alert
President Johnson warned of the dangers of carbon emissions in a special message to Congress 50 years ago this month