Energy Efficiency: What Works
The eight public policies that seem to be saving the most energy now
July 29, 2015
Variable Enegy: Price And Policy Matter
Interesting to see how much solar power varies from state to state. Policy/prices matter: http://t.co/N92aXkRMco pic.twitter.com/ZaPGC2J1sy
— brad plumer (@bradplumer) July 29, 2015Top 10 LEEDers
A Little REV Reading
A government White Paper describes how NY intends to convert electric utilities into "distributed platform providers" in an attempt to encourage development of markets for energy services. Public comment period open until November 1
Move Over Tesla
Rumor has it that BMW and Apple are teaming up to build an electric car
Washington DC; Sinking Fast
New research finds sea level around the Chesapeake Bay is rising at twice the average global rate, increasing future flood damages facing the capital
The Mass Transit Money Dance
To say that properly funding the MTA will take some complicated choreography is an understatement
Atlantic City: Beyond Gambling
Comprehensive resiliency planning for Atlantic City could reposition & redefine a fading coastal economy
Carbon Price With Benefits
The now venerable nine-state RGGI program proves pricing carbon emissions goes with cutting energy costs & economic growth
July 28, 2015
PACE For Solar Panels
Small & medium businesses in California can tap PACE, which will allow them to pay for solar panels as part of their property taxes
Curitiba: BRT Going Global
Millions Ride BRT, Saving Billions http://t.co/L8SJVEX50l pic.twitter.com/z0OTOQhu0E
— Meeting of the Minds (@MeetoftheMinds) July 28, 2015Doing The Hillary
Yes, the US can meet the solar power goal advocated by Hillary Clinton, but here's what's needed to do it
China: Coastal Cities At Risk
Heat waves & sea level rise are big threats to China's coastal cities with their growing and aging populations
Legal Eagles: Making Eco-Marks Stick
Similar to trademarks eco-marks must meet certain characteristics to be validated
A Better Way To Get To Better Airport
The plan to rebuild LaGuardia airport includes new transit access by AirTrain, a new subway station & ferry service
Chicago: Blessing Benchmarking
The Chicago Catholic archdioceseis the nation’s first to benchmark its 2,700 buildings’ energy and water use
The Uber Effect
True or false? Reining in Uber will cut Manhattan congestion
July 27, 2015
Mind The Climate Information Gap
40% of the world has never heard of #climatechange & in some developing nations it’s over 65% http://t.co/4MFi67c9CN pic.twitter.com/ZQiy30vE0d
— Yale Climate Project (@YaleClimateComm) July 27, 2015London: Mayor Boosts Clean Cars
The electric & ultra low emission vehicle campaign gets practical support from London Mayor Boris Johnson
Campaign 2016: Clinton's Energy Vision
Hillary Clinton's energy policy speech offers clean energy & energy efficiency ideas
Feds Lag On Energy Efficiency
Federal agencies miss current energy efficiency goals, but get breathing room in tweaked goals
Foundation For Offshore Wind
MT @DanielPAldrich
1st commercial scale US #windfarm under construction http://t.co/ph1ggyVPM5 #renewables pic.twitter.com/JgtIhMnITE
— CECHR (@CECHR_UoD) July 27, 2015Four Continent Drought
Linked to climate change, droughts are changing lives of millions on four continents
For What It's Worth
Will a valet service cut the search time & price of parking a car in NYC?
Won't Fade Away
NY beachfront communities grapple with Post-Sandy rebuilding & the human dimension of staying in place
Elon Musk: The Book
Who is the man propelling Tesla, Powerwall & SpaceX?
July 25, 2015
Sandy's Price Tag
In NY alone, the cost of Superstorm Sandy was $23 billion
July 24, 2015
UK: This Is The End...
...for 9 environmental programs, axed by the UK government
Carless For A Day
246 European cities plan a one-day auto ban as part of a campaign to promote more sustainable transportation
Campaign 2016: None The Above
The Jeb Bush approach to tax tools for energy policy
Acting Too Locally
Dumping garbage on East 72nd Street during a Sanitation strike (ick!), 1911 #NYC #history pic.twitter.com/ej75KVGGJz
— Discovering NYC (@discovering_NYC) July 24, 2015New In July
The Green Municipal Bond Playbook is coming out next week
Not About Carbon
Watch this video animation about the ozone layer, life depends on it
The Sustainable Supermarket
More than energy efficiency is needed to make a supermarket sustainable
Calculating The Solar Value Proposition
Is there a bright line separating the cost and the value of rooftop and utility-scale solar power?
July 23, 2015
Power Grid Needs New Rules
The future of renewable energy hinges on writing new rules for the power grid
The Cold Economy
In a warming world are we finding new ways to keep things cool?
Speak Out And Listen Up
Are you all ears abt #globalwarming? Listen & speak up. Fam & friends are trusted sources of info abt #climatechange pic.twitter.com/mH4jN9xH6t
— Yale Climate Project (@YaleClimateComm) July 23, 2015European Renewables Output Up
Platts podcast: What impact are #renewables having on conventional #powergeneration in Europe? http://t.co/wgCEDi2wxG pic.twitter.com/1z3jQakbuf
— Platts Power (@PlattsPower) July 23, 2015Predicting The Energy Future
McKinsey acknowledges its 2007 energy predictions missed the speed of change & tries again
France: Carbon Price Up, Nuke Goals Down
France passes legislation that will quadruple the price of carbon while cutting nuclear power reliance goals
PACE Bond Roundup
$150 million in PACE bond funding raised for energy/water efficiency & renewables projects in CA and FL residential & commercial properties
July 22, 2015
The Most Climate Change Skeptical Country Is...
33 More Resilient Cities
The final round of applications opens to the Rockefeller Foundation Resilient Cities project
NYC Climate Museum News
Progress toward opening a climate museum in NYC passes another milestone
Not So Smart ALEC
8 Scheming Plans for @ALEC_States in 2015 and Beyond: http://t.co/Vvu9BRDWsw via @ecowatch #climate pic.twitter.com/nVjrILQDI8
— DeSmogBlog (@DeSmogBlog) July 22, 2015Washinton's Gas Tax Impasse
Congress' inability to raise the gas tax says a lot about Washington today and might give some hope to carbon tax advocates because it's not regressive
HP Commits To Texas Wind Power
HP inks a 12-year deal to purchase wind power to operate its Texas data centers
The World Is Your Oyster
Climate-related ocean acidification literally means the world is now in your oyster
July 21, 2015
Arctic: More Sea Ice
Scientists find an increase in Arctic sea ice, mull over the causes, but don't see a recovery happening
BYOD
The bring-your-own-device trend could determine the future of the smart grid
It's the Economy Stupid, Or Not
Was it the recession or shale gas that drove down US carbon emissions?
Science At Work: The Psychology of Climate Denialism
A link between conspiracy theorizing and denial of climate science is reported in psychology study
Mayor Vows 40x30
At the Vatican climate meetings, Mayor de Blasio commits NYC to cutting its GHG emissions 40% by 2030
London: Onboard With The 'Boris Bus'
A Chinese built, fully electric-powered bus will hit the London streets this fall
Renewable Energy Pace-Setters
Surprising Countries Where Solar & Wind Are Booming
http://t.co/AbRzYfzhaj #renewables pic.twitter.com/l107e7XTPM
— CECHR (@CECHR_UoD) July 16, 2015Maryland Sets Energy Savings Goals
Starting in 2017, Maryland utilities will be required to have programs that improve customers' energy efficiency by 2% annually
Renwable Buffalo
Buffalo's long-ailing economy is being turned around by a booming renewable energy sector
July 20, 2015
Time For Toulouse
The 9th International Conference on Urban Climate is under way in Toulouse, France, learn more here
Something To Cheer About
Construction has begun on the first offshore wind farm in the U.S. http://t.co/sfKZSBBtB7 pic.twitter.com/GHWSB47StH
— EnergyFactCheck (@EnergyFactCheck) July 20, 2015Learning From Fourth Avenue
Must taller buildings mean darker city streets? Rethinking zoning & building shapes
Hansen's Newest Research
Climate scientist James Hansen to publish a paper with alarming conclusions about where the planet is headed
Vatican: Climate Meetings With 50 Mayors
Vatican science committees to host meetings with 50 mayors & governors from around the world this week
Beat The Heat
A friendly reminder there's more to staying cool in the summer heat than AC
China: The Emerging Mega-City
On the outskirts of Beijing a massive urban agglomeration with a population six-times larges than the NYC-metro region is is taking shape
Get X-Town Faster
A reporter rides the new 86th Street Express bus & here's his take away
July 17, 2015
Buy Into Hawaiian Community Solar
Hawaii plans a pilot community solar program that allows residential customers to buy a share of the facility and cut monthly electric bills by 45%
The Best Climate Derisking Strategy
Start taking action now to avoid climate catastrophe later
Science At Work: El Nino Events
Why El Nino events are so interesting to climate scientists
Decoding NY's New Energy Plan
New York's ambitious State Energy Plan made (relatively) simple
The Point Of No Return Is Closer Than You Think
Two degrees of warming closer than you may think @ClimateCodeRed finds
http://t.co/Z1cQqxfsyF pic.twitter.com/So5yCXuOLh
— Anders Hedberg (@anheepc) July 17, 2015China: Air Pollution-Flood Link
Computer models support the hypothesis that soot-laden air caused torrential rains and flooding in China's Sichuan Province
Learning To Be Walkable
Vienna steps toward taking pedestrians seriously
July 16, 2015
2014: Hottest On Record
By every measure, 2014 was the warmest year yet reports NOAA
Melbourne: Ode To An Elm
States Show GHG Cuts Doable
States cut power plant emissions ahead of new EPA rule: http://t.co/dFs4G800Mu pic.twitter.com/hIzWFpilKX
— ClimateCentral (@ClimateCentral) July 16, 2015A Renewable Energy Gap
What explains the gap between large and small-scale utilities in generating renewable energy?
Exxon: Promises, Promises
Years after pledging to stop funding climate deniers, Exxon is still at it
The Impact Of Energy Benchmarking
As building energy benchmarking laws multiply & mature, what is being learned?
Cash Flow To Clean Up Bronx River
NYC plans to spend $111 million to clean up the Bronx River by piping rain-contaminated sewage into the East River where it is more likely to be diluted. Next up: storm water controls
Another Climate Change No
Senate Republicans reject for grants for school districts to “develop or improve climate science curriculum and supplementary education materials”.
July 15, 2015
Brazil: Solar Lining In Energy Cloud
Brazil's long-running energy crisis could give a big lift to the spread of solar power
L.A. To Ban Big Wind Turbines
Utility-scale wind turbines will be banned from certain parts of Los Angeles due to residents' opposition
Pants On Fire
Peabody Energy, a giant coal producer, claims GHGs pose a “non-existent harm” in documents submitted to the White House
Keys To Sustainable Transport Planning
San Francisco is learning that successful transportation planning means integrating all options and getting the political and community support to make changes
The Pope Gets Climate Company
A group of Islamic religious scholars calls climate change a dire global threat
The Anthropocene: Bad, Good Or Other
What is the Anthropocene Era and its implications for life on Earth?
EV Eye Candy
San Francisco, Kansas City Aim to Get Smarter About Electric Vehicles https://t.co/XB4zCo7MCX pic.twitter.com/siPdGOeqta
— Next City (@NextCityOrg) July 15, 2015Sea Walls, Sponge Zones And More
Exuberant ideas from seven cities for confronting the chaos of climate change
July 14, 2015
On Being A Climate Scientist
Why doom & gloom are occupational hazards
Campaign 2016: Scott Walker
Anything but green, based on his record in Wisconsin, called "One of the worst" by a national environmental group
Climate-Health Links
Climate disruption is just one of many risks to global public health & US heat -related deaths have decreased by half since 1987
Help Wanted: NYC Mayor's Office of Sustainability
From Austria To Malta
From leaders to laggards among European renewable energy users
DiCaprio's Millions For Mother Earth
Leonardo DiCaprio's foundation gives out $15 million in grants to environmental activists
Investor Confidence In Energy Performance
New @EDFEnergyEX infographic: steps to building investor confidence in #energyefficiency http://t.co/ptCUYu8i3v #cre pic.twitter.com/igMPqxNlaK
— IMT (@IMT_speaks) July 14, 2015Climate Headline Of The Day
Global Coal In 2040, Far From Zero
Coal’s share of global power mix falls to 2040, from 41% to 31% – New Policies Scenario http://t.co/zl2uuRskUq #Coal pic.twitter.com/hWTNiN80Ad
— IEA (@IEA) July 13, 2015July 13, 2015
Mark Twain "Get A Bicycle"...
Engineers At Work: Wind Pioneer
Meet Palmer Carlin and get a first-hand history of wind power in the US
Canada: IKEA Recharges EV's
All 12 Canadian IKEAs will install EV recharging stations for customers & the general public
NYC's Most Toxic Waste
Since tossing your old electronic stuff creates a city's biggest toxic waste recycling headache, what's NYC's solution?
Delhi: The Price Of Fresh Air
With the world's most polluted air, making Delhi more breathable cold be its most pressing environmental & public health challenge for market innovators
One Million x 15 -- Not Yet
While the US will miss the Administration goal a million advanced tech vehicles on the road by the end of the year, what can be done to pick up the pace?
Dixie Gets Wind Power
The first big wind farm in the south will be built in North Carolina by a Spanish developer and designed to generate over 200 megawatts of electricity
Australia: Off Switch For Solar
The Abbott government shuts off support for solar-powered homes in Australia after ending its support for wind power projects
July 10, 2015
Time To Worry About Snow No-Show
Be concerned, very concerned about the impacts of record low snowfall in the northern hemisphere
No Sweat
Umbra's advice for having at made in the shade at home this summer
UK: Cancels Zero-Carbon Policy
The Cameron government revokes policies on zero-carbon building & enhanced energy efficiency standards
Climate Action Plan C
Nobel prize-winning economist says a single global price for carbon is the only effective climate action plan
Hey NYC - Grow Your Own
A modest proposal for New Yorkers to grow the food they eat
Weather Forecast
It's getting more likely that a strong - if not record strong - El Nino is coming http://t.co/ETGpWVaHy5 pic.twitter.com/0r05zqL9HS
— Andrew Freedman (@afreedma) July 10, 2015Staying Above Water
In light of our geological history, scientists are sounding the alarm about potential climate-linked sea-level rise
GOP On Climate Treaty, The Winehouse Mantra
Senator James Imhoff does an Amy Winehouse vowing not to allow the US to comply with a international climate treaty, "They tried to make me go to rehab I said, "no, no, no"
July 09, 2015
Bean Town Is The New Green Town
Boston is a hotbed of green tech start-ups, check them out
Statue Of Liberty Goes Green
The Statue of Liberty got new LED lights that clearly define the folds of her robe and reduce energy consumption. pic.twitter.com/qW34zW2thH
— NYT Metro Desk (@NYTMetro) July 8, 2015Science At Work: Top Climate Research Questions
The four leading research areas climate scientists want to tackle include improved understanding of climate sensitivity
Politicians Who Just Say No
If offered fossil-fuel industry funding, which three Presidential hopefuls would turn it down?
Shanghai: Fire Fly Furor
Why did Chinese conservationists demand the shut-down of a Shanghai firefly park?
Hope For New Cross-Hudson Rail Tunnels
The Chairman of Amtrak says his organization could begin its environmental review this fall and has already spent about $300 million for preparatory work & land acquisition
Germany: Home Of The Energy Paradox
Take a deep look into the struggle for making green energy the new normal in a nation that's burning more brown coal
July 08, 2015
The Lucky 83
Do you live in one of the 83 NY communities that got a NY Prize award for innovative microgrid proposals?
Seeing CO2
Scientists find a better way to see carbon dioxide from a satellite & upgrade climate change forecasting
Green Bond Boom
$600 billion is the estimated valued of today's global green bond market
Hawaii: Wave Hello
Hawaii gets some wave power, a US first
Solve One Problem, Add To Another, Solve Again
When ozone layer-eating CFC gas was banned, the EPA didn't foresee the substitute gases would be potent climate change agents, now they'll be banned in the US
Meet "Metered"
Browse public benchmarking data to find out how much energy NYC buildings use, how much greenhouse gas they produce & how they can improve
A Deep Proposition
True or false? northeast transit requires new Hudson River rail tunnels
False Promises Fine: $1.25 Million
HIKO Energy is fined $1.25 million for ripping off customers who were lured with promises of lower utility bills
July 07, 2015
Australia: Carbon Tax Impact
Rising emissions prove the value of a carbon tax in a country that repealed it
More Organics Recycling Needs More
Mayor de Blasio's plan to expand organic waste recycling is good, but doesn't go far enough says green group NYCLV
NY Gets More Solar
New York's solar power capacity jumps 300% between 20111-2014, making it the nation's seventh most solar state
Obama Solar Announcement
A program to help moderate income households to go solar gets a White House release
What The SCOTUS Mercury Decision Won't Do
Here's whythe recent mercury emissions decision by the Supreme Court won't be any game changer
July 06, 2015
Energy Agency Gets Some Love
The public profile of the federal Energy Department loan office gets a big upgrade, check out the numbers
Nice: Not Nice For Energy Storage
A pilot energy storage project in Nice, France finds the technology remains too costly
Climate Gets A Budget Line
OMB wants agencies to factor in climate change in budget requests for construction & maintenance of federal facilities
UN: Facing Mass Displacement Risks
A call to UN action for coping with climate-linked risks of mass population displacements
China: Climate Actions/River Risks
Hidden Cetnral Park Reservoir
Once a primary reservoir for 19th Century NYC, its remains can be spotted near the Central Park Great Lawn
Nevada: Slow Sun Rise
An update on solar power developments in a very sunny state
July 05, 2015
Baby, It's Cold Inside
July 02, 2015
Pittsburgh: There's A Robot In The Sewer
Pittsburgh deploys a robot in its sewer system to inspect for leaks & save water
Cool Website For For House Hunters
Now London home-hunters & owners are just a click away from data on air pollution exposure
Help Wanted: Artist-in-Residence
The Lower East Side Ecology Center is looking for an Artist-in-Residence
Germany: A Tesla Alternative
A German wind-to-hydrogen system could soon be powering a new kind of clean fuel car
New US Business Trend
Nearly 55% of large US businesses now generate some of their (green or not) power on site to cut costs & boost competitive advantages
Science At Work: Energy Efficiency Metric
The power of consumers to control their energy consumption could get a boost with new metrics
Germany: Brown Coal Phase Out
By 2020, Germany will stop burning brown coal, which now creates 2.7 GW of electricity
China: Carbon Market Weak Start
Will problems with China's 7 pilot carbon emissions markets be solved once the national market is launched?
Foam: RIP
July 01, 2015
Liking LEDs More
US consumers start to take a shine to LED bulbs, but misinformation lingers
Heat Wave Alert
Much of Europe is blanketed in a heat wave, UN urges better early warning alerts to help people protect themselves
Benchmarking Goes To Kansas City
Building energy & water benchmarking is now the law in Kansas City, MO
Fracking Slurps
USGS study: Fracking is thirsty, and it's getting thirstier. http://t.co/UVssiQsTpM pic.twitter.com/T9SIvQ5jHy
— ClimateCentral (@ClimateCentral) July 1, 2015Citi-Bike: Let's Go Mets
One lucky rider on a 50-strong fleet of Citi-Bikes bearing a NY Mets logo, will get to throw out the first pitch at an August 2 home game
Australia: Could Be A Battery Storage Contender
New South Wales & Victoria could lead the way on new solar homes equipped with energy storage tech
Compare And Contrast
The evolving energy policies of France and Germany reveal different but possibly converging climate action paths
Isn't It Ironic
New national climate action plans are good but they won't keep global temperatures from rising above a critical threshold
Cities On The Front Line
Ann Hidalgo, the Mayor of Paris, explains why cities are both on the front lines of climate impact & will be vital to the success of the upcoming international climate talks