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January 07, 2021

Europe: David v Goliath Updated

What are the prospects for communitys-cale renewable energy as big firms move into this economic sector?

Energy Storage Grows Up

Success has many parents, who can take credit for the energy storage boom?

January 06, 2021

Boston: Out With The Old...

...In with net zero carbon pollution standards for new buildings by way of innovative city zoning rules

December 29, 2020

A Time For Climate Science Heros

Hats off to the scientists who took up the cudgels of research findings to resist the Trump Administration's assault on American health, safety + climate security

December 28, 2020

Relaunching Superfund

Are there any challenges to a Biden Administration climate upgrade + relaunch of the EPA's venerable Superfund toxics clean up program?

December 25, 2020

Cli-Fi Review

Bill McKibben has a lot to say about The Ministry for the Future, the new climate-crisis novel by Kim Stanley Robinson

December 24, 2020

Climate-Friendlier Congress

Assuming it becomes law, the COVID relief bill Congress passed by wide margins advances a broad array of clean energy/climate friendly provisions. Here's your primer

December 23, 2020

Deep Geothermal

Drill deep down into the potential for geothermal energy to play a key role in a renewable energy world

December 18, 2020

Forget Gold, Pave NYC Streets With Innovation

The pandemic showed that New Yorkers welcomed Open Streets + Open Restaurants, an emerging healthy city should both learn from + accelerate them

December 17, 2020

The Energy Storage Battery Revolution Is Just Beginning

NY Utilities Should Disclose Climate Financial Risks

The Public Service Commission, which regulates NY's utilities, seeks disclosure of financial risks facing utilities due to the climate crisis. This would help the financial sector interpret what utilities are or are not doing + adjust accordingly

December 16, 2020

Capitalizing On The Climate Crisis

Russia is one of the only countries that could come out ahead in the global climate crisis. Why's that?

December 15, 2020

Seeing Through The Exxon Spin

What's the substance behind Exxon's headline-grabbing announcement about cutting its GHG emissions?

December 14, 2020

You Can't Make This Stuff Up

This Women For Natural Gas campaign is real, but the ladies who profess their love aren't

December 10, 2020

Good Actuary News For Renewables

End time for fossil fuel power plants by 2035 + the era of clean energy as the new normal are realistic if you calculate like an actuary

December 09, 2020

Starting On January 20, 2021

December 08, 2020

Congestion Query

Is Trump holding congestion pricing in NYC hostage? Does bear poop in the woods?

December 07, 2020

Expanding Decarbonizaion Options

What's the point of a geothermal microgrid? Two Massachusetts pilot projects will answer that question

December 04, 2020

Electrify Everything

To act on the mantra "electrify everything", its costs must be made affordable for all homes, but how?

December 03, 2020

Rx For NIMBY

Are there pathways toward changing hearts + minds in communities opposed to hosting renewable energy facilities?

Our Climate Future

The Obama way is not the way for Biden to undo Trump's climate chaos

November 30, 2020

Fannie, Freddie Face Fierce Climate Risks

The trillion dollar federal mortgage-backing giants FANNIE MAE + FREDDIE MAC could take an enormous hit, big enough to knock the economy into a tailspin, if the climate crisis ravages their housing portfolios

November 28, 2020

GOP: Government For Pollution

"For more than a decade, the GOP has stood alone among major right-of-center parties in industrialized democracies worldwide in its refusal to endorse climate science. But during the Trump era, the party’s rhetorical emphasis shifted. The major Republican point of agreement is now to insist on fossil-fuel use as an inherent good." Jonathan Chait

Arizona: Where Green Is Blue And Red

Believe it or not, Arizona's net-zero carbon pollution plan is something Democrats + Republicans have agreed on

PV's And Pollinators

Is there a greenwashing risk in the buzz about solar-power friendly pollinator installations?

November 26, 2020

Applying Appliance Standards

November 24, 2020

The Persistence Of Big Coal

Basin Electric persists in burning coal to create the electricity it sells to community co-ops in the midwest, even those that want power alternatives

November 20, 2020

Rising On Madison Avenue

Designed with COVID safety + climate consciousness a new office building will emerge from the cocoon of the 20th Century MetLife Building at One Madison Avenue (scroll way down in article)

Self-Guided, Green Infrastructure Walking Tour

Put on your mask, use this map, take an Open House NY walking tour

America Now - Poles Apart

November 19, 2020

Zoning Resilience

Think zoning is a bore? Then take a look at proposed zoning standards, a big first step to keep coastal NYC safe in an era of rising flood risks

Congestion Pricing Prognosis

Despite the promise of cleaner air, better traffic conditions + lots of revenue for NYC, the federal chokehold on congestion pricing isn't likely to be released any time soon

November 18, 2020

Red, Blue And Green

The boom in solar + wind power make a mush of the usual blue state/red state divides

November 14, 2020

Trending: Beyond 'Sustainable' Fashion 1.0

Loose talk about sustainable fashion is SO over

November 13, 2020

Climate Crisis: All Hands On The Biden Deck

"Decisions made in the first 100 days will directly impact progress on climate action in the first two years of the first term. Moreover, they will be critical early signals of climate’s importance to domestic + international constituencies". Climate 21 Project

Once Upon A Time...

...There was children's playground in a Euro-style courtyard in Brooklyn

Geothermal Heating 101

Using geothermal heat to warm + cool buildings is much more straightforward than using geothermal heat to create electricity. Dig down

November 12, 2020

On The Electric Bus/Off The Electric Bus

With expressions of support for electric bus fleets from the Biden team, what's NYC been up to with its pilot electric bus program?

November 10, 2020

Now You Can Track NYC's Climate Progress

If what gets measured gets managed, the the Sabin Center NYC Environmental Law Tracker is a necessary tool for concerned citizens

Lessons Learned From Citizen Pollution Monitoring

Citizen monitoring can be a powerful tool for advancing environmental compliance at the local scale, but a deeper understanding of differences in water quality + air quality monitoring is needed

November 09, 2020

Congressional Winners

Contrary to the interpretations of some Democrats, in the 2020 Congressional race Green New Deal + Medicare for All supporters got re-elected not ousted from office

Yes We Could, Now We're Doing It

Energy efficient + Passive House construction, from 24 unit apartment buildings to the giant NYCHA, NYC + other urban leaders are making climate friendly affordable housing a reality

November 06, 2020

Climate Voters MIA

While record numbers of voters express concerns about the climate crisis, it's not a deciding issue for them, according to one recent exit poll

Climate Attribution Data Base Launched

Climate attribution science, which makes connections between weird weather episodes + climate change causes, gets a new searchable data based at Columbia Law School's Sabin Center

November 03, 2020

Talking About All The Days After Election Day

Nope, We STILL Don’t Get to Give Up. Reposted from Hot Take

By Mary Annaïse Heglar

Back in January, when we got to go places and do things, I moderated a climate justice panel with impressive women of color to a very fancy crowd in downtown Manhattan. It was one of those events with wine and snacks and even lots of art. I could tell that lots of the ladies, and it was mostly ladies, in the crowd were those that “lunched” and “summered.” I even got a very fancy vintage dress out of the whole ordeal.

Anyway, it all fell apart when an old white man took advantage of the question and answer period to lecture us all on how everything we were doing about climate change was wrong (after admitting that he himself had done it all wrong for 30 years). That, somehow, led to a white woman responding to him to announce that unless Trump is removed from office, it was all hopeless and we might as well give up. While I agreed with her that removing Trump was of paramount importance, I reject the idea that “giving up” is ever an option. She stormed out and I moved the panel on.

I regret nothing.

I bring this story up now because it’s truer now that it’s ever been: we do not get to give up. No matter who wins which election. Not today, not tomorrow, not ever. It might get harder, costlier, scarier. It doesn’t matter.

Regardless of who the next president is, the work is just getting started. Rest if you need to, but then roll up your sleeves. Do what you can and then go do something else. In between, take care of yourself and take care of each other. We’re in this and we’re in it together.

November 02, 2020

Getting To Yes On Recycling Li-ion Batteries

What are the lessons from recycling lead acid batteries that can be applied to crediting a robust market for recycling energy storage (Li-ion) batteries?

October 30, 2020

Transit Tech — Help On The Way

These 8 transit tech innovation ideas could make life better for NYC commuters

One Legacy of Extreme Weather

NYC's epic Blizzard of 1888 led to the relocation of electric power lines underground.

October 29, 2020

Needed: Trains To Planes

Looking ahead to the day when airline travel becomes normal again, NY-NJ Port Authority, with federal assistance, should create the LaGuardia AirTrain

October 27, 2020

Sandbag Those Inconvenient Truths

Trump's Department of Energy buries dozens of its own clean energy studies

Test, Learn, Repeat

NY's building energy retrofit program has lessons learned by doing for getting affordable, multi-family buildings into tip-top, climate-friendly shape

October 23, 2020

Progress Report On Urban Climate Action

The Brookings Institute finds lots of lag between the climate promises of 100 largest US cities + progress to date

October 22, 2020

Enough Already With The 2020 Election

Climate advocacy is starting to heat up NYC's 2021 election

Bloomberg's Energy Predicitons

Need some (relatively) good news? Watch this preview of the annual Bloomberg New Energy Finance analysis

October 21, 2020

Geothermal Energy 101

Ever ask yourself "what is geothermal energy?" Here's the answer

Small Nuke Plants Could Replace Coal - Maybe

October 19, 2020

Hear The Climate Roar

October 18, 2020

True Or False: Our Climate Crisis Can Accelerate Political Crisis

What's the evidence that wildfires + other weird weather are heating up US political instability?

October 09, 2020

Look Under The Hood: Exxon's Carbon Tax Support

Here's why Exxon supports a per ton of CO2 pollution tax of $40, here's why you should not

The Jets v The Sharks - The Eco Rumble

Waste Side Story follows plastics from cradle to grave through trashion photography

October 08, 2020

Connecting Air Quality To Social Equity

Four strategies for securing the connection between urban air quality + social equity

Google Vows To Be 24/7 Carbon-Free

Wrap your head around Google's pledge to end its operational carbon emissions around the clock by 2030

September 30, 2020

Caculating The Right Price Of Carbon

Putting a price on carbon isn't the holy grail of climate policy, but it's important, so is figuring out the right price for climate chaos avoidance

September 29, 2020

Miami: Building Up Its Social Divide As Sea Level Rises

Miami is Ground Zero for a city threatened by sea level rise, but keeps on building + creating gaping social schisms

Rooftop Solar v Utility Scale Solar

Follow this thought experiment Is rooftop or utility-scale solar power the better choice?

From Zoonosis To Your House

What's the connection between the spread of diseases like COVID-19 that pass from wild animals to humans (zoonosis) + the climate crisis?

September 28, 2020

Where The WIld Things Are

Oysters + bees + beavers oh my! are returning to NYC. How great is that!

September 25, 2020

Tick, Tick, Tick

As temperatures head up + up, dangerous disease-bearing ticks march north

Climate And The Courts: Post-RBG

Key legal decisions + key legal principles that will be in play as federal courts hear the next generation of climate cases

September 24, 2020

McKinsey On The Climate Crisis

"Most of the increase in direct impact from climate hazards to date has come from greater exposure to hazards rather than from increases in the mean and tail intensity of hazards. In the future, hazard intensification will likely assume a greater role."

September 23, 2020

The Sustainability Manager We Need Now

What is sustainability management + what can it accomplish?

September 22, 2020

The Marvelous Kate Marvel

" I know that if we continue on our current trajectory, things are going to be real, real bad. But I also know that we can stop that trajectory, we can make things a lot better, not just for the climate, but in all these other ways that are related." Kate Marvel, climate scientist

September 21, 2020

For Your Consideration

Planning to Stay

Start with the affirmation, we’re planning to stay. Then, Dr. Mindy Fullilove asks, “What do we need to make that possible?”

September 18, 2020

Arizona: Climate's Hot, But Not Climate Campaigning

The Arizona Senate race is running hot, but while the climate crisis is not a big campaign issue, prospects for a Democratic Senate majority are getting national attention

September 17, 2020

Alabama: Clear Climate Choice In Senate Race

In the race between Doug Jones + Tommy Tuberville for Alabama's US Senate seat, candidates' differences on the climate crisis couldn't be starker

Look Who's Looking Into Climate's Financial Risks

The US Commodity Futures Trading Commission reports on the major risks to the stability of the US financial system posed by the climate crisis

September 14, 2020

Running Late: De Blasio's Better Buses Roll-Out

You'd think, given the essential role mass transit plays in the life of NYC, that executing the Mayor's Better Buses plan would get top priority, but no.

September 09, 2020

There Is No Business As Usual

Decarbonizing industry must start now. Begin here

Big City Mayors Want Climate Positive COVID Recovery Funds...

...But outside the EU, that's not what they're getting

September 08, 2020

Boston: Growing A Greener New Deal

Boston Green New Deal advocates embrace hands-on education + job programs for racial justice as part of COVID recovery + meeting a 2040 citywide carbon neurality goal

September 04, 2020

The Private Sector Can Be A Big Climate Innovator...

... but government policy plays an indispensable role, even though it typically moves much slower than markets

September 01, 2020

V Is For Ventilation

Upgrading indoor air ventilation, both quality + quantity, could be key to cutting COVID infections

Upgrades For NYCHA, Upgrades For Residents And The Earth

It's easy to provide NYCHA residents with up-to-date clean heating + cooling systems that enhance their comfort while protecting the environment

Transfiguring The Night

The brightest item in today's inbox, the International Nighttime Design Initiative

August 25, 2020

Meet Verdi Square Citizen Gardeners

Verdi Square, a verdant triangle of NYC green, gets love from its volunteer gardener squad + gets loved by the community

Streets Where Kids Can Play Safely

COVID-safe streets for kids to play in start sprouting in Brooklyn

August 24, 2020

Sustainable Cooking 101

Sustainable cooking. What's that got to do with climate change?

August 21, 2020

The Causes Of California's Blackouts

California to analyze the major causes of its latest rolling blackouts. Hint: renewable energy not the culprit + demand response a big plus

August 20, 2020

Help Needed: Director Of the Public Realm

What is a "public realm" + why is the Muncipal Arts Society calling for a new office in NYC government?

August 19, 2020

Now Hear This: Voices From The Future

Lessons to learn from people who have found themselves on the frontlines of the climate crisis

August 17, 2020

The Apian Question

Why would city life make bumblebees grow bigger?

Much Ado About A Green Building Law

COVID 19 is making the steep learning curve for complying with Local Law 97, NYC's groundbreaking building energy efficiency law, steeper

August 14, 2020

Urban Coastal Flooding: Ho Chi Minh City And Bristol

There's much to learn from comparing the options for coastal flood management in two very different cities, Ho Chi Minh, Viet Nam and Bristol, England

August 13, 2020

Good Mass Transit Will Remain Good Business

Yes! Well-funded urban mass transit is good for both the business climate + the planet's climate. (Comment: True, pre-COVID + will be true post-COVID)

August 11, 2020

NY'ers Get Their Own Climate Law Tracker

Now you can track progress in both New York State (CLCPA) + City (CMA) climate action laws, thanks to the Sabin Center, Columbia Law School

August 10, 2020

Connect To The Wind

Designing a transmission grid is a key component to deliver on the promise of offshore wind power. Watch this webinar + discover what's on the drawing board

Keep Cool, Your Life Depends On It

August 07, 2020

Ocasio-Cortez And Harris Together On Climate Bill

Is there a message about Democratic unity, as Congress member Ocasio-Cortez + Senator Harris team up on a bill that targets climate action + social equity?

NYC Still Needs Transit Oriented Development

It's been said before, + in this time of a pandemic-driven 'carpocalypse', it's time to act on the fact that NYC needs to drive mass transit-oriented housing. Here's how

August 06, 2020

The Green New Deal Technical Manual

MacArthur "Genius" Saul Griffith makes a thrilling technical + finance case for how to massively electrify the economy + solve to the climate crisis

August 04, 2020

Dire Climate Prediction Looks Robust

The possibility is strong that high end climate crisis temperature predictions are "the most realistic for planning purposes"

July 31, 2020

Heat Pumps Are Electrifying

Will the goal of climate-friendly buildings be best served by installing electric pumps that both heat + provide hot water

July 30, 2020

EV's On The Move

Price parity predicted for electric cars compared to gas-powered vehicles by 2025, as electric trucks + agricultural equipment start advancing

July 29, 2020

A Philadelphia Story: Fighting Back Against Killer Pollution

Killer pollution literally took the lives of black residents of a Philadelphia neighborhood until they took up the fight of their lives

Climate/Race Intersectionality

The path to successful climate action runs through the path to racial justice, Rhiana Gunn-Wright

July 28, 2020

NYC's Unmanaged Climate Retreat

Sea level rise + a variety urban policy failures are making mincemeat of NYC's plan to Build It Back post Superstorm Sandy, now 8 years in the past

If Biden Wins The Election...

...he should rejoin the Paris Climate Accord, but that's just the beginning. What else is climate critical at at the global scale?

July 27, 2020

Psst, NY Has A Green Bond Act On The Ballot

Just in case you thought there was only one important item on the ballot this November, here's a second item, a NY State $3 billion environmental bond act

July 24, 2020

Cheering For Splitsville

Why are Big Greens calling for Big Techs to end their romance with Big Fossils?

July 23, 2020

Post-COVID: Build Cities Back Better

Bold, broad ideas to advance green innovations for building back US cities post-COVID, it's not just about the money, it's how it gets invested

July 22, 2020

Executive Path To Advance EJ Goals

There's a lot a President can do to advance racial + environmental justice, even absent federal legislation. Find out more

July 21, 2020

Profile: Jamie Margolin

18-year old Jamie Margolin is a prime mover of Zero Hour, a nation-wide climate action mobilizing youth group

July 20, 2020

Focus: Environmental Justice Now

News about the fight against environmental racism, for climate action around the nation + against the Trump Administration's pushback

July 17, 2020

Cash For Coal Clunkers

Instead of long-term "capacity payments" to prop up coal burning power plants, spend that money now to buy them out + shut them down

July 16, 2020

Meet Oil and Gas Pipeline Projects' Nemesis

The Trump Administration

Book Review: Apocalypse Never

Author Michael Shellenberger claims environmental problems can be eliminated by just pursuing aggressive economic growth, simple technological advances + increased tapping of abundant natural resources. Um. No.

July 14, 2020

Making Subways Virus-Safe

What are the top ideas for making subway riders COVID-19-safe beyond daily car disinfections?

Greening A Greenwich Village History Map

Explore women's, African American's, social justice + LGBT history of Greenwich Village. Now, suggest map locations for eco-activists + their history

Energy Insecurity Accelerants

Economic devastation caused by the pandemic, combined with summer heat waves, puts people in danger of heat-illness when utilities shut off power due to unpaid bills

July 13, 2020

Mind The Gap

A gap gaping hole on climate change is illustrated in this dialog between an 18 year-old climate activist and a 68 year old GOP Governor

July 11, 2020

Forecast: Sunny And Sweet

What makes a great eco-pair? Solar panels in fields of pollinator friendly plants

July 08, 2020

Peak Money

What are 'peaker' power plants + why are New Yorkers paying so much -- in money + environmental health -- to have them run as little as 90 hours a year?

July 07, 2020

Good News Here

Good climate energy news, more than just one item!

July 06, 2020

When Climate Denial Fails, Some Try Delay

July 02, 2020

Can't Have One Without The Other

True or false? Successful climate protection + obtaining social justice are inseparable

Linear's Not Enough

To avoid the climate crisis, renewable energy growth has to be beyond linear, it has to be exponential

June 30, 2020

2010-2020: The US Climate Movement

Has everything or nothing changed in the last 10 years for US climate justice movement?

First, Green The House

House Democrat's Select Committee issues its climate action report. Is it up to the challenge facing the nation? Is the nation up to the challenge it faces?

June 27, 2020

Northeast: Hot States

Northeastern states are becoming temperature hot spots among the lower 48

June 26, 2020

Public Opinion: Persistent Patterns For Climate

3 persistent patterns in US public opinion about climate change + clean energy that point to paths for action

June 25, 2020

Urban Parks: Needed More Than Ever

Former NYC Parks Commissioner Adrian Benepe is right, "Parks have never been more used, nor appreciated at any time in the nation’s history, but at the same time, they’ve never been under greater threat.”

June 23, 2020

Bullsh* Detection

Carl Sagan died before the climate crisis hit, but he bequeathed us an evergreen Baloney Detection Kit

June 22, 2020

GreenBIz: Greener Twentysomethings

Meet 30 rising sustainable business innovators under the age of 30

June 19, 2020

Show Your Stripes NY

#ShowYourStripes FAQ's

Re-Open A Fairer And Greener NYC

Five practical proposals for cutting NYC's waste + saving good green jobs

June 18, 2020

Big Oil Hasn't Saved For Retirement...

....Guess who'll foot its clean up + closure bills

June 17, 2020

Think Concretely

Look down + you will see broken sidewalks, the urban infrastructure crisis under your feet

June 16, 2020

Aspire To Be Prepared

Superstorm Sandy inundated NYC in 2012. As of 2020, it hasn't set a comprehensive resilience plan in motion, it hasn't even built a sea wall

June 15, 2020

COVID's Impact On Clean Enegy

10 trends spotted for impacts of the pandemic on clean energy progress. Not bleak, but nowhere near good

Climate Action/Racial Justice

It must be climate action and racial justice, never either/or

Where The Sunrise Movement Is Moving

The Sunrise Movement's Washington DC hub aims at integrating racial justice into all its work on climate change + the Green New Deal

June 11, 2020

Europe Must Lead A Global Green Recovery

Leadership is great, but followership is what really matters because it is total planet-wide GHG emissions that cumulatively create the climate crisis

June 09, 2020

Cheap At Last

Climate Justice Now

Elizabeth Yeampierre, a veteran NYC climate justice leader, calls out a history of social + environmental inequalities + offers specific links for making solar + offshore wind development a reality that's good for all

June 03, 2020

Go Off-Peak

Renewable energy + battery storage provide reliable electricity, healthy for all New Yorkers. Time to pull the plug on dirty peaker power plants

A Heated Interview With Al Gore

Is Al Gore woke? What's his environmental justice track record + what's he doing now to advance climate justice for all?

June 01, 2020

End Climate Justice Silence

May 30, 2020

Climate Migration: Here At Home

Climate change is happening now + climate migrants soon will be your fellow Americans

May 27, 2020

Indian Point: Not The Time To RIP

Keeping a climate-dubious promise, NY's giant Indian Point nuclear power plant begins its end-of-life shut down

Birding While Black

Feeling cooped up? Caged? Thoughts on racism, environmentalism + birdwatching in Central Park

May 26, 2020

More Open Streets Now

Demand grows for Mayor De Blasio to speed up + expand his Open Streets promise. It's a key to NYC's pandemic recovery

Moving Forward Is The Only Option

One Columbia sustainability professor's account, take heart

May 22, 2020

Climate Hawk Elected To DNC

Climate hawk R.L. Miller elected to the Democratic National Committee, targets its low-performing leadership

Climate Must-Reads, Guides to Must-Do's

12 books on climate activism that belong on your reading list

May 21, 2020

Big Bucks For Energy Efficiency

Con Edison commits $1.5 billion in incentives to encourage NY customers to install air or ground source heat pumps to help cut carbon emissions from utility consumption of natural gas

May 19, 2020

NY's Big No To Gas Pipeline

Relying on both the federal Clean Water Act + a state climate law enacted in 2019, New York denies a permit for a natural gas pipeline project for fracked gas coming from Pennsylvania, NJ nixes project too

May 11, 2020

When 'Back To Normal' Is A Dire Prediction

What can two climate and energy journalists with different POV's agree on?

May 07, 2020

Peakers Get Outed

NY's array of small, but highly polluting "peaker" power plant emissions now will be included in the state's annual carbon report tally

May 02, 2020

Three Percent Is No Solution

A new climate tracker report by the NY League of Conservation Voters finds that since Mayor De Blasio entered office in January 2014, NYC has cut its greenhouse gas emissions by a scant 3%. At this rate, what will it take for the City to meet its 80% cuts by 2050?

April 23, 2020

To Measure Is To Manage

Enviros challenge utility report on long term capacity, regulators must include energy efficiency in the calculation to get rates right and support a climate friendly future

April 16, 2020

Message in a Bottle

The gift of Jay Inslee's bid for the Democratic Presidential nominee is a more-urgent-than-ever Climate Action Plan for Joe Biden & the nation

April 11, 2020

Building Homes Likely to Flood

Armed with data provided to The New York Times by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, which runs the flood insurance program, Christopher Flavelle and John Schwartz take local governments around the country to task for not enforcing requirements. If you want publicly subsidized flood insurance, you can’t build structures likely to flood.

March 23, 2020

Suffering Newts, Harbingers of What's to Come

As climate change messes with temperature and precipitation, California newts lose twenty percent of body mass

March 10, 2020

Bridging The Blue-Green New Deal Gap

The climate + the labor movements need to find fast-working ways to overcome disruption worries arising from ending our economy's fossil fuel addiction

March 09, 2020

Time After Time: Our Own Worst Enemy

March 05, 2020

From Milk Bottling Plant...

...To forgotten nuke test lab at Columbia University. Take a virtual tour

March 04, 2020

Inside The Shell

What is the Shell Oil plan for profiting from generational change in a carbon-constrained future?

What Money Can Buy

Upscale ski resorts pay to make it snow on their slopes. As for those who can't afford luxury climate adaptation...

The Fossil Fuel Curriculum

Think climate curriculums belong in our schools? So does the fossil fuel industry, but with its own lesson agenda

March 03, 2020

How Oil And Soda Mix

March 02, 2020

Pricing Carbon. No Silver Bullet...

...But it is a key part of the right climate policy tool box

February 27, 2020

Wind Whips Water

In 2019, wind outstripped hydro as the biggest source of renewable power in the US

BIg Oil Greenwashes In Women-Diversity Support

Big Oil tries to clean up its image by touting its support for women + social diversity

After Dark

How to get US city-dwellers into their parks after dark

February 26, 2020

Leading To Net Zero

California + New York are national leaders on transitioning buildings to net zero carbon emitters

Paying For NY's Ambitious Climate Agenda

NY's proposed $33 billion climate action budget relies largely on utility customers' fees + a bond money that hasn't been raised yet

February 25, 2020

Connected Crises

Make the connection between rising residential flood insurance costs, cascading mortgage foreclosures + our climate crisis

Powering Up An EV Bus Fleet

What will it take to transform NYC's fleet of 5,700 buses to all electric?

February 24, 2020

It's Getting Hotter, Faster, TICK, TICK...

The wide scope of the proposed Green New Deal may make it sound utopian—but it may be better to think of it as anti-dystopian. Political will + financial commitment needed, right now

Solar Finland

Yes! That's right The sun shines on solar power near the Arctic Circle

February 21, 2020

Turning Up The Heat On Methane

2 new studies add fuel to the debate about the role of natural gas extraction + permafrost methane emissions in heating the planet

February 20, 2020

Another Way To Put A Price On Carbon

NY's electric grid operator, NYISO, proposes putting a price on carbon, linked to the social cost of carbon emissions, in the electricity it buys on the wholesale market

February 19, 2020

Mapping Climate Opinions

A detailed US map of what Americans think about climate change, climate risk + climate action

NYC Capital Project Tracker

Good news for climate mitigation + resilience project trackers. Soon, New Yorkers will be able to search on-line for costs + progress updates about municipal construction projects

February 18, 2020

Carbon Budgeting - There's An App For That

Is carbon rationing a workable/fair way to cut society's carbon footprint?

February 14, 2020

Banking On Climate Change

In the Climate Crisis Era this report adds up lending + underwriting from 33 global banks to the fossil fuel industry

Climate Change And Americans' Diet

A survey of 1,043 US adults finds people say they're willing to eat less meat, but concerned about cost, taste + convenience

February 13, 2020

Faking The Facts

The (un)making of federal fuel economy rules for cars, light trucks + SUV's

February 12, 2020

Ain't It The Truth

Tools For Ending Climate Silence

Inventory the new media tool box for climate journalists

February 11, 2020

Federal OK Needed For Congestion Pricing

Chances are the Federal Highway Administration will OK NY's congestion plan, but in time to cover the MTA's capital plan?

After The Wildfires

The environmental + health impacts of wildfires don't end when the flames are doused

February 07, 2020

If You're Feeling Blue...

...Clothes shopping is not a sustainable pick-me-up. Why is it so hard to resist?

NY's Top Environmental Protector

Basil Seggos, Commissioner of NY's Department of Environmental Conservation, has a lot on his plate

February 06, 2020

Broadcasting An End To Climate Silence

An Environmental Win

Permeable pavements make snowy streets safer while cutting environmental harm + costly infrastructure corrosion caused by the use salt for de-icing

February 05, 2020

Science At Work: Clouds

With growing insight into clouds climate scientists project an even hotter future

Ceaseless Sea Level Rise

Worried about seal level rise? You're right.

February 04, 2020

Street Fight

Manhattan's Community Board 7 will discuss a resolution supporting a study to examine limits on free street parking for private vehicles. Expect a rumble.

Coal Blooded

A report issued by the NAACP finds
"Nearly six million Americans live within three miles of a coal power plant....coal power plants tend to be disproportionately located in low-income communities + communities of color" Where's the justice in that?

February 03, 2020

Sanders Urges Public Utility Ownership

Sanders calls for 100% federal ownership of the electric power supply to fast-forward national renewable energy goal

January 30, 2020

Finding Hope In Climate Tipping Points

Making the case for the power of pressing on 6 tipping points to solve the climate crisis. Persuaded?

Solving The Climate Crisis Equation

Tech Innovation (TC) + government regulation (GR)= Solution? Comment: at least better than where we are hurtling now

January 29, 2020

Berkeley Student Teaches Popular Climate Course

A solutions-facing course about climate change is taught by a Berkeley undergrad. Here's her syllabus

January 28, 2020

The Arctic: Melting There Means...

Melting Arctic sea ice may be altering Pacific Ocean El Ninos, finds new climate research. Findings call for more research

Antarctica: Melting There Means...

A Futurist's Climate Future

Based on today's trends, here's what to expect -- an Era of climate emergency

January 27, 2020

Meet The CMA

NYC's Climate Mobilization Act demands a lot + if successful will accomplish a great deal

Today's Climate Questions

Is having children bad for the planet? Is it bad for kids, as they'll have to live with climate chaos?

January 24, 2020

Gore on Climate Crisis: Overcome Or Else

What is this climate crisis? “This is Thermopylae. This is Agincourt. This is the Battle of the Bulge. This is Dunkirk. This is 9/11”, Al Gore

January 23, 2020

First Ever Benchmarking Results

With first ever energy benchmarking data on hand for medium-sized NYC buildings, what are the top findings?

The Arctic: What Happens There Won't Stay There

Melting Arctic permafrost begin to make drastic changes

The Meaning Of Rejecting Rooftop Solar Panels

Why do people resist climate action? The answer can't be reduced to climate denials or corporate greed

January 21, 2020

Barriers To Climate Resilience

From giant flood barriers to buy-outs for homes in flood prone areas, NYC seems stuck at the start line of its race for climate resilience

30 Green Innovators For 2020

Bloomberg Green launches with an introduction to pioneers, leaders + ideas aimed at solving the climate crisis

Air Source Heat Pumps 101

There may be an air source heat pump in your future, so you'll want to know how it works

January 17, 2020

Bloomberg's Climate Platform

If Mike Bloomberg was elected President here's what he'd do about clean buildings + here's his pledge on decarbonizing transport (scroll down)

January 16, 2020

Climate Protection - An Infrastructure Asset

Think climate protection costs too much? Here's what the lack of climate maintenance will cost

January 03, 2020

Enough With Climate Optimism

A-list climate writer Dave Roberts does a demolition job on climate optimism. What to do? Keep things from getting more awful, expand empathy + get adaptation done

Cities On Climate And Equity Front Lines

True in 2019, truer in 2020, cities are the global climate action innovators + wellbeing-for-all is integral to innovation

January 02, 2020

Climate Crisis In 7 Numbers

Just waking up to the climate crisis or need a refresher? Here's a nifty accounting in 7 numbers

Media Climate Coverage Now

While there were meaningful gains for mass media climate coverage in 2019, three nodes of denial or silence get called out

December 31, 2019

Now We Know, Climate Scientists Got It Right

Eloquent writing about our planet + knowledge about our climate tragedy

December 30, 2019

Local Climate News In An Era Of Shrinking Local Newspapers

8 targeted tips to aid local reporters excel at climate journalism

December 27, 2019

2010's: Top Climate Science Lessons

A decade of climate research reveals that risks are rising now. Take aways: feedback loops + tipping points

December 24, 2019

Word Of The Year - Trashion

Fast, cheap + out of eco-control, what's the fix for "trashion"? Sallan found fashion fixers in 2016

December 23, 2019

Utility Biz Transformers

3 emerging trends will mean it's no longer your grandpa's utility business

CMA - Yes We Can

NYC's track record of doing big, difficult things boosts hopes for a sustainable energy future by way of keeping its Climate Mobilization Act promises

FERC - The 2019 Finale

The federal regulator of interstate electric markets, FERC, issues a year-end rule hostile to renewable energy. Read + prepare for 2020

December 20, 2019

The Price Of Oil Painting

Can museums filled with great art survive without oil industry money?

December 19, 2019

Guess What's 75 Years Old And Growing Greener

Stuyvesant Town + Peter Cooper Village were built in the 1940's, now they're leaders of 21 century residential sustainability

Candidates' Climate Platform - Mike Bloomberg

Based on his record + his platform, what would President Bloomberg do to advance climate protection?

December 18, 2019

Before Tuning Out For The Holidays

This decade in climate trends

Net-Zero Buildings Get Real

Net zero energy buildings move from aspiration to reality

Space Heating - The Next Carbon Frontier

(READ THE LINK, READ THE THREAD)

December 17, 2019

California: Energy Efficiency Pacesetter

States can do big things when innovating their regulatory frameworks for energy efficiency, check out California

December 16, 2019

COP25 - Diplomacy's A Climate Bust

The failure of UN climate diplomacy in Madrid makes the economic self-interest of advancing decarbonizing technologies our best hope


December 13, 2019

Waking Up To the Climate Alarm

Text, charts + photos

Legal Eagles To Climate Caring Cities

5 legal issues that climate-action cities need to tackle

December 12, 2019

If You're Going To Give Gifts

79 ideas for climate-friendly gifts

December 11, 2019

A Climate Generation Gap Opens

Is the climate crisis movement suffering from a generation gap or is it facing big strategic choices?

December 09, 2019

On The Climate Front Line - Building Codes

What's a make or break in successful state + local climate action? Building codes

Introducing Community Choice Aggregation

With local government as the electric power purchaser, can renewable energy get cheaper + more in demand? BTW, the NYC Council is considering just such legislation

Community Coalition Building For Climate Activism

If denser building near mass transit is a good urban climate policy, how to push for affordable development as part of the package? And that's not all

December 06, 2019

Electrification 101

Electrification? Why you need to know about its potential + its prospects

Think Like A Green Political Economist

What kind of industrial policy will be up to the task of advancing essential climate action goals?

Be Prepared

12 essential legal tools to advance our climate impact preparedness

December 05, 2019

Faster Crisis Onset

What are the lurching changes that are keeping climate scientists up at night?

Making The Case For The GND

The American Prospect devotes an entire issue to making the feasibility case for the Green New Deal. Its migraine-level headache is the politics

December 03, 2019

Talking About Climate Activism

Whose attitudes + which actions shift in the wake of recent youth-lead climate demonstrations?

Storage Batteries: Some Q's Some A's

The storage battery industry is changing at warp speed + generating lots of questions. Answers here

An Excellent Climate And Energy Adventure

Could be the hot computer game of the year

December 02, 2019

More Renewables Won't End The Climate Crisis

Is it the economics or the politics of the energy landscape that undercuts the power of renewables to address the climate crisis?

November 29, 2019

Imagine

November 27, 2019

Los Angeles' Road Map To Fossil Fuel Free Transit

Imagine a Los Angeles that isn't car dependent, that's just what the city is planning to do by 2028

November 26, 2019

Baby, Don't Drill, Retrofit Instead

Alarming climate science numbers don't lie. Time to shut off the fossil fuel supply + spotlight bold energy demand cuts like NYC's building retrofit law

November 25, 2019

Offshore Wind Can Power A Regional Green New Deal

With big offshore wind projects coming to NY + other northeast states, growth of good paying jobs + the local economy are projected, so intersectional!

November 22, 2019

Underpricing Our Climate Future

Economists can disagree when predicting the future cost of climate change, but they agree the cost of adaptation to unmitigated climate change will be immense

November 21, 2019

Build The Barrier - Or Not

The proposal to build a storm surge barrier across NY Harbor is almost as controversial as Trump's Build the Wall chant - but for very different reasons

November 20, 2019

Now, More Endangered Than Ever

Almost every critter on the endangered species list may be unable to adapt to climate change

Why Science Failed

Once upon a time, climate scientists thought if they did their jobs, politicians would act upon the information. Wrong. What happened?

November 18, 2019

GND: First Victory

Whatever the long term outcomes for the Green New Deal, its first year victory is transforming the core parameter of climate action by "turn(ing) the question from polar bears and icebergs to political economy.”

November 15, 2019

Science At Work: Climate Risk Interactions

One leading edge of climate research examines how multiple climate risks interact + the real world consequences

A Green New Deal For Public Housing

First takes on the Sanders/AOC Green New Deal for public housing bill

November 14, 2019

Weird Weather a/k/a Climate Whiplash

Whatever the name, the rise in wild swings of extreme weather is harmful, costly + becoming a new normal

November 13, 2019

Taking Sides On The Green New Deal: Yes

Taking Sides On The Green New Deal: No

An open letter from Jerry Taylor

November 12, 2019

Next Stop - Climate Resilience

The MTA gets rolling on a climate resilience, carbon efficient future for urban mass transit

55 x35

Study this roadmap to a transportation policy that will cut NY's motor vehicle emissions 55% by 2035

Saving Lower Manhattan

While everyone agrees about the urgency of protecting lower Manhattan from rising sea levels, the current pace of rolling out real-world solutions is very, very slow

November 08, 2019

Ending Climate Silence - An Update

Advocacy for media coverage of our climate crisis is being heard

Science At Work: Why Permafrost Melt Matters

November 07, 2019

It's Not Cow Farts...

...It's oil +gas drilling that's the major source of climate-heating methane in Texas

Climate Activism: Meet The Rising Generation

Xiye Bastida Patrick is a NYC-based student climate activist. Catch up with what her generation demands because it's not going away

Putting A Price Tag On Our Climate Crisis

November 06, 2019

NY v Exxon: What They're Saying

What must NY's Attorney General prove to win its climate case, based on charges of investor fraud by Exxon?

November 04, 2019

The Inslee Effect

While the climate crisis Presidential candidacy of Governor Jay Inslee was short-lived, the impact of his policy focus endures in the ongoing campaign

November 01, 2019

Needed: Grown Ups In the Utility Room

October 31, 2019

How To Protect NY-NJ From Storm Surges (That's a Question)

Is there an expert consensus on the ability of storm surge barriers to keep the NY-NJ harbor area safe from future flooding?

Book Review: The Climate Crisis And The New Great Migration

Is managed retreat from coastal areas the best + fairest solution to the crisis of sea level rise looming over many millions of people

October 30, 2019

False Promises

Think higher seawalls will keep at-risk communities safe from storm surges + sea level rise? Think again

October 29, 2019

5 Legal Limits To Urban Climate Policy-Making

While many US cities are praised as climate policy innovators, there are serious legal constraints on what they can do on their own

October 28, 2019

Mass Transit: NY's Powerful Climate Action Asset

Reliable public transit in NY, is critical both to protect existing riders against climate disruptions as well as encourage more people out of cars + onto trains + buses

An Environmental History of Brooklyn

Brooklyn's environmental history in photos + maps, a treat (not the pollution though)

Make California Safer

Calculating Climate Crisis Costs: Property Insurance

How will property insurers confront these 3 emerging climate risks: rising insurance prices, plunging property values + loss of financial stability?

October 25, 2019

Facing the Heat

Signs point to rising heat dangers for NYers, what de-risking steps should we start taking now?

October 23, 2019

NYC: Alternative Paths To Green Retrofits Compliance

October 22, 2019

Attribution Science - It's Not Just Academic

With high-stakes climate lawsuits against fossil fuel giants like Exxon about to begin, get acquainted with 'attribution science', a method for identifying the world's biggest carbon emitters

October 21, 2019

Another Kind Of Superstorm Sandy Cost

Evidence starts to emerge about gentrification + displacement in the long wake of Superstorm Sandy's impacts

October 18, 2019

If Elected President..

...What are the top actions would today's Democratic candidates take regarding fossil fuel companies' + executives' accountability for our climate crisis?

October 17, 2019

5 Building R's For investing In Resilience

Developers, insurers + mortgage lenders should adopt these 5 future-facing resilience investment criteria: reinforce, rebuild, rebound, restrict + retreat.

Exxon On Trial

It's well-known Exxon is cooking the planet. Is it also cooking its books?

October 16, 2019

The Last Trolley

What's the transit back story on the abandoned trolley in Red Hook?

October 10, 2019

Lighting Up California's Tomorrows

California's massive, multi-day electric power shutdown could be the turning point for renewable + locally generated energy as utility vulnerabilities become clear

October 09, 2019

A Heated Exchange About Electing Biden

Are these two questions linked? Is Biden the most electable Democratic Presidential contender? Would Biden be a strong climates-leading President?

A Tale Of Two Power Grids

NYISO, manager of NY's electric power grid examines starkly different geographic 2019 conditions to ground recommended actions for ensuring transmission reliability while advancing decarbonization

October 07, 2019

Keywords For A New Climate

October 03, 2019

NYC Climate Week Video

October 01, 2019

Investigative Reporter Investigates Amazon Delivery

Environmental journalist reports on her effort to figure out if her Amazon Prime freezer delivery bag could be recycled

September 27, 2019

Ask Gina McCarthy

Is US climate activism about to rise up + save the day?

China: The Long March Gets Longer

Is China's transition to renewable energy stalling out?

September 25, 2019

McArthur Climate Geniuses

Of the MacArthur geniuses named in 2019, 4 of them are climate geniuses

September 23, 2019

Q: What Stands Between Us And A Big Climate Victory

A: 2020, 2022 + 2024 elections breaking bad but take this onboard, "Any good movement organizer acknowledges the need for both an outside + an inside game: people on the outside organizing strikes + nonviolent civil protest in the streets, + people on the inside making deals, fighting for inches, + getting incremental progress in every appropriations bill + amendment fight."

September 20, 2019

City's Nature At Climate Risk

NYC's diverse natural areas + creatures are at rising risk of harm from changing climate conditions

September 19, 2019

The Urgency Of A Green New Deal

Naomi Klein makes the case for a Green New Deal beyond analogies with FDR's New Deal, World War II or the Marshall Plan. It's something new + but just as much a fight for our lives as those historic campaigns

Home Insurance And The Climate Crisis

For NYC home owners living in “high risk flood zones,”, changes to flood maps + their flood insurance pose questions without easy answers

The Question

September 18, 2019

7 Years After Sandy: Rebuilding/Resiliency

What rebuilding efforts have worked? What resilience measures remain on NYC's drawing board?

September 17, 2019

Follow The Money, Lead It Far From Fossil Fuels

Imagine if investors stopped investing in, lenders stopped lending to + insurers stopped insuring the world's fossil fuel industry. Things would change fast

September 16, 2019

Act As If It Matters

Making the case for hope in the teeth of the global climate crisis. Starting now

September 13, 2019

To Manage Urban Heat Islands, Measure Them

Citizen scientist volunteers do front line research to measure + map heat disparities in US cities to help address extreme heat threats neighborhood-by-neighborhood

September 12, 2019

The Nation's First Bikes-Only Lane

Brooklyn's Ocean Parkway opened the first dedicated bike lane in 1894

Transit Scarring

The birth of car culture left permanent scars on the historical fabric of lower Manhattan, painful. Subway construction too

China: Climate Leadership Contender

If China delivers on its climate action promises, it will be a global 21 century leader but "if" could turn out differently

September 11, 2019

Oakland: Turning Off Natural Gas

Oakland's got a plan for transitioning off of natural gases as it welcomes maturing green technologies + social equity-oriented economic growth

September 10, 2019

In Case Your Missed The 7 Hour TV Climate Marathon

Here's a write up of what 10 democratic Presidential hopefuls said about their climate action plans

September 09, 2019

Act As If It Matters

Are you confident that NYC can ready itself to withstand the next Superstorm Sandy?

September 06, 2019

The Nuke Power Debate And The Climate Crisis

Nuclear power raises different implications when viewed through the climate crisis lens, is this altering the decades-old pro/con fight?

Redhook: Resilient, For Now

Consider Redhook, a community in post-Sandy recovery, but rising tides means more trouble ahead

September 05, 2019

"Unluckiest" Island In The US

Alabama's Dauphin Island gets slammed with repeated storms + floods, but how "unlucky" are property owners who keep getting federal aid + insurance payouts to keep rebuilding?

September 03, 2019

NY: City Of Seasons + Sustainability

If you grew up in NYC or even if you didn't, enjoy a love letter to its seasons + the vital importance of sustainability

Hurricane Science

Weird hurricane conduct is pushing the leading edge of climate science to find explanations

August 30, 2019

Testimony: East Side Resiliency Project

The Municipal Arts Society offers some tough love for NYC's latest East Side Coastal Resiliency proposal

August 27, 2019

The Hot-Pocalypse

Extreme heat is already transforming our world. More's coming + more people will die, especially the poor

Words Matter

it's catchy to say we've got just 12 years to save our climate, but is it what climate scientists are saying?

The Yang Climate Action Plan

Democratic Presidential hopeful Andrew Yang releases his climate action plan, it's not timid

August 26, 2019

Lab Seeks Food Waste Solutions

Drexel University scientists seek to convert the food waste problem into a resource opportunity for Philadelphia

August 23, 2019

Truckin' Addiction

Why is is so hard to grow NYC rail freight + marine resources, as well as other innovative ideas, for cutting reliance on trucking?

August 22, 2019

Follow @LeahStokes Thread On Sanders Climate Plan

If Elected President...

Bernie Sanders has a Green New Deal for the nation. For other first impressions click here and here

White Nationalists Talk Green, Fuel Hate

White nationalists fear everyone else is source of the climate crisis + this fans their ecofacsist zeal

August 21, 2019

Listen To Your Mothers - Of Invention

Feminist climate action podcast targets the fashion industry + aims at sustainability

The Bias In Climate Science

A new book examines why climate scientist have underestimated the velocity of climate change

August 20, 2019

How Nature Can Aid NY/NJ To Withstand Climate Change

Why nature-based infrastructure should be a key to NY + NJ plans to withstand rising sea levels+ fiercer storms

August 16, 2019

When Doing Your Best Is Not Enough

Even early climate-adapter cities can't overcome the climate crisis on their own, what should they be doing now?

August 15, 2019

Book Review: Kochland

Starting in 1991, the Koch brothers began fanning the flames of climate denialism, a discovery documented by business reporter Christopher Leonard in his new book

A Venerable Cap And Trade Post Mortem

Read it now as a roadmap for today to advance a Green New Deal (highlights + comments are mine, not author's)

August 12, 2019

EV's Will Only Get Cleaner, ICE Vehicles, Not

EV's Aren't Unicorns

What's driving rising sales of electric vehicles in the US?

August 09, 2019

Bushwick: A Tale Of Two Bike Cities

Think long-time residents + newcomers to Bushwick see see to eye on bike infrastructure? Think again

Berlin: Small Auto-Free Steps

Berlin to make first moves for auto free zones, but not as bold as other big European cities

August 08, 2019

Offshore Wind: Lessons From Europe

NY has big plans for offshore wind power, what are the takeaways from 4 European wind power leaders?

August 07, 2019

Climate Patent Slump

Worldwide patent applications for climate change mitigation technologies are down sharply since 2012, while overall patent application numbers have not dropped

Climate Tweet Of The Day

July 31, 2019

Must Move From A (Climate Plan) To B (Follow-Thru)

NY makes climate action vows. Don't stop there. Carry them out. Start now

When Paradise Becomes Hell

As our climate becomes disfigured, this is what's in store

July 30, 2019

Inslee's Climate Justice Ideas Are A Real Green New Deal

Presidential climate contender Jay Inslee has specific plans for prioritizing environmental justice in his Administration. Environmental justice activists weigh in

Scientists Shocked By Speed Of Climate Change

Remember when irreversible climate impacts were predicted to start mid-century? Wrong, they're starting now

July 29, 2019

When Climate Denial Isn't Enough...

...Electric utilities turn to delaying laws

July 26, 2019

Mind NYC's Resiliency Gaps

A new City Council Committee turns its attention to gaps in NYC's climate resiliency efforts, what's on its to-do list?

July 25, 2019

True Or False

Renewable natural gas could be the Next Big Thing in green energy

Advice To The Auto Lovelorn

If the century-long Auto Era was a case of unrequited love, how can we get over it?

July 22, 2019

Replacing Grandpa's Electric Power Grid

Creating a climate -friendly + reliable electric power grid in NY requires concerted public + private commitments, either/or won't do it

July 19, 2019

Showrunner's Advice On TV Climate Debate

Is there hope for making a political climate debate compelling TV? A hit-making showrunner has some tips

Renewable Energy Question Of The Week

Could sand or concrete be used for energy storage batteries?

July 17, 2019

Energy Efficiency Messaging

Here's what amps up energy savings when utilities get smart about customer communications

Dutch Expertise For Texas Flood Control

With a hurricane/flood vulnerable coast, Texas turns to Dutch expertise for protection

July 15, 2019

Green New Deal Meets Green City Force

Like most public policies, fulfilling the promise of social equity requires sustained focus; what is the Green City Force doing to advance NY's new Green New Deal environmental justice potential?

July 12, 2019

No Fossil Fuel Independence In NY

July 11, 2019

McKibben Nails Trump Eco-Talk

Bill McKibben sees rising public climate concern + the 2020 Presidential election as the explainer for Trump's talk about the environment

Lessons Learned From Tokyo Emissions Trading

Are there lessons for NYC in the Tokyo buildings emissions trade scheme launched in 2010?

July 08, 2019

And The Winner Is...

Will it be California or NY to lead the nation toward a zero-carbon emissions tomorrow?

July 03, 2019

Human Role In French Scorcher

No, not the Women's Soccer World Cup, the record shattering heat wave

July 02, 2019

What Americans Think About When They Think About Climate Change

Among the findings of an April 2019 survey "About six in ten Americans (63%) say they “rarely” or “never” discuss global warming with family and friends, while 37% say they do so 'occasionally' or 'often'”. How will the Presidential campaigns affect Americans' discussion? stay tuned

July 01, 2019

What The Dem. Debate Showed About The Climate Debate

The Democratic 20 candidate debates reveal why America needs a debate dedicated to the candidates' climate policy intentions

Pentagon's Outsized Climate-Combat Role

From thinking through SNAFU's to valuing shorter supply lines + a reliable tech-research budget, the Pentagon has the motive + the resources to be a climate-forward contributor

June 27, 2019

NYC Green House Gas Inventory

Using data from buildings, transport + waste water treatment plants NYC issues its latest deep dive Greenhouse Gas Inventory + sheds light on progress toward cutting its climate-changing emissions 80% by 2050

June 26, 2019

Science At Work: Climate Attribution Studies

Absence + Evidence is a serious long form piece by a climate scientist examining a climate skeptic's op-ed column," To claim or imply that something is disproved by systematically ignoring evidence to the contrary is another thing entirely. To do so is to undermine discourse. It’s simply misleading and irresponsible."

How To Decarbonize And Thrive

Here's one pathway for California to decarbonize both its building stock + vehicles cost-effectively, but no done-deal

June 24, 2019

The Da Vinci Climate Code

Learn lessons from Da Vinci drawings about today's climate catastrophe, a new book claims

Investing In 20 Century Tech Is A Loser Strategy

The states investing in greenhouse gas reduction are really investing in the modernization of their energy systems

June 20, 2019

Yes, Congress Can Protect Climate Science

Nitty gritty suggestions for how Congress can wield its budget powers beyond appropriations to protect climate science activities

The EJ Take On NY's New Climate Law

NY's Climate Leadership + Community Protection Act does a lot, but climate justice activists call out the missing pieces + the need for vigilance around necessary funding

June 17, 2019

The Stripes Tell The Story

June 14, 2019

Facing The Future: What NYC Can Learn From San Francisco

San Francisco's search for lost waterways can help this coastal city boost its defenses against climate chaos

Putting Building Energy Info To Work

Toronto's got building energy use data, here's a guide for the commercial building market to put it to work

June 12, 2019

Making Queens More Climate Secure

Here's a plan, which engaged a comprehensive community engagement process, for making the diverse Corona, Jackson Heights + East Elmhurst neighborhoods more climate resilient

June 11, 2019

Congressional Testimony: 8 Takeaways On Economic Impacts Of Climate Change

Public Policy Professor Solomon Hsiang tells the Congressional budget committee, "Because we now understand that human actions are affecting the climate of the United States, it is in the nation’s best economic interest that we consider whether our actions increase or decrease the value of this national asset."

Don't Forget - 2018 Fossil-Fueled Pollution Soared

In 2018, emissions from fossil fuel burning increased at the fastest rate in 7 years, expect confirmation of this preliminary analysis soon

June 10, 2019

Hawaii - Unlocking Access To Energy Upgrades

Hawaii's GEM$ program makes it easy for everyone to fund home energy upgrades with on-bill financing

June 06, 2019

Climate-Saving Is Life-Saving

Limiting global temperature increases to 1.5°C could avoid between 110 and 2,720 annual heat-related deaths

June 05, 2019

Atlanta: Goal. Yes. Plan...

Atlanta has a goal of using 100% 'green' electricity by 2035, but does it have a plan to get there?

June 04, 2019

Interviewing A Sunrise Movement Founder

Varshini Prakash is animating the new generation of climate activism. What does she want + when does she want it?

Modern Mobility

Congestion pricing is just one step toward improving urban mobility. For safe-street sharing + clean air, there's so much more that can be done

June 03, 2019

CEQR: It's Broken. Fix It

NYC's environmental review process isn't doing its job, according to the Municipal Arts Society, what are the fixes needed now?

May 31, 2019

Lessons From London's Congestion Pricing

Since 2003, London's traffic's been tamed with congestion pricing, what are the lessons for NYC?

Yellow Cabs Are Greener Than Uber/Lyft

Look into the legal loophole that allows rideshare vehicles to pollute the air + your lungs more than yellow cabs

May 29, 2019

Stay Tuned

May 28, 2019

Public Transit - Here (Bad) And There (Better)

Why US mass transit doesn't work, while European + Canadian mass transit does

State Of the Climate: 2019

Climate disruption-wise, this is the data for the first quarter of 2019

May 24, 2019

Congestion Pricing: London Lessons

London launched congestion pricing in 2003, what are the lessons for NYC?

May 22, 2019

FERC: Powerful Power Agency

Care about climate change? Then, read up on FERC, a little-known federal agency with a big impact on US energy policies

Renewable Electricity - Promises Kept

29 states have clean electricity standards, here's proof they're working + now are price-competitive too

May 21, 2019

A Climate Convert's Story

What changed one conservative think tanker's position on climate disruption?

The Climate Front Line In Illinois

Today, cars + trucks are the biggest sources of Illinois' GHG emissions + this demands a refocusing of climate protections plans

May 17, 2019

NY Green Bank 2019 Update

What is the NY Green Bank investing in now?

May 16, 2019

100 Ideas From Project Drawdown

Looking for educational resources that can help reverse the risk of climate chaos? Project Drawdown's got 100 solutions

Attention Must Be Paid

Noted writer Jared Diamond describes the message of his new book Upheaval as "the risk we are facing is of the collapse of the whole world." + pegs the probability of collapse by 2050 at 49%

May 15, 2019

Key Climate Standard Endangered

The Endangerment Finding, the legal foundation of EPA's authority for protecting the climate, is under assault by way of attacking the process by which it was made

May 14, 2019

Fusion Power

It's a long, long shot, but fusion power developers seek financial backing to forestall climate calamities

May 10, 2019

Energy Efficiency Star In Cleveland

This Cleveland office building is a standout energy efficiency innovator, using PACE financing + green leases

May 09, 2019

Repair Coastal Wetlands, Add To Resilience

Repairing damaged Delaware wetlands provides a living lab for boosting climate resilience

May 06, 2019

Make The Retrofit Road By Walking

There's no roadmap for how to make NYC's 50,000 biggest buildings energy efficient. Stakehoders need to figure out how to meet the new law's big goals

The Inslee Climate Rx, Part 1

Presidential candidate Jay Inslee issues a detailed climate policy for getting to reach net zero carbon emissions for electricity, new cars + new buildings. How will it inform the Presidential race?

May 03, 2019

From Journalist To Climate Activist

From Academia To Climate Activist

One man's journey from scholar to climate activist film maker

May 02, 2019

Sunrise Movement's Bright Lights

Meet the folks who launched the Sunrise Movement + made AOC a political star. What's next?

May 01, 2019

Your Diet And The Climate

Take the quiz. Discover the climate impact of your food choices

Follow The Retrofit Leaders

Yes you can energy retrofit your building without getting lost, learn from these early adopters

April 29, 2019

Decarbonize + De-Risk NY's Pension Funds

Experts advise on a decarbonization path for NY State's $209 billion Common Retirement Fund

Women Saving Mother Earth

Put these 12 women on your global climate activist map

What's Been Learned Over 50 Years

3 climate activist lessons learned from experience + useful for going forward

April 25, 2019

The Power Of One - Or Not

What do climate scientists say about the meaning of individual carbon cutting choices?

15 Year Old Nails Our Climate Project

Greta Thunberg's climate action insight "“Avoiding climate breakdown will require cathedral thinking...We must lay the foundation while we may not know exactly how to build the ceiling.”

Let Them Drown: Climate Conflict In The Mideast

Naomi Klein looks at the Israel-Palenstine conflict through the lens of climate catastrophe + sees global patterns of colonialism + xenophobia

April 22, 2019

Don't Go Near The Water

With inexorably rising sea levels, should NYC take the path of resiliency or retreat?

April 18, 2019

Securing Our Energy Future

Can US nuke power plants be climate-proofed?

April 17, 2019

Q/A With NYC's Sustainability Point Man

Mark Chambers, Director of NYC's Office of Sustainability, weighs in on what congestion pricing, a plastic bag ban + a bill to close local fossil-fueled power plants could mean for everyday New Yorkers

The Case Of The Kidnadpped Scientist

Compelling climate change journalism can start with mysteries + lead unexpected places

April 16, 2019

A Climate Road Less Traveled

How one climate denier figured out his opposition to big government misled him on climate science + his top four talking points for taking climate action

Weaponizing Freedom Of Information Laws

Why would California consider limiting its 50-year old access to public records law?

April 11, 2019

Mass Timber: An Assessment

Does mass timber live up to the hype as the latest, greatest green building material?

It Could Get Very Bad

Bill McKibben foresees climate chaos as a world ender. Is it to late for a happier future?

April 09, 2019

Hearing The Climate Talk

How do you talk about the climate emergency when it seems as if no one is listening?

April 08, 2019

The Arctic: Feeling The Heat

Fast-rising Arctic temperatures are changing almost everything

Decarbonization: No One's Waiting On Washington

Decarbonizing technologies are disruptive in ways that can be slowed, but not stopped

April 05, 2019

Beware The Great Indoors

The lowdown on air pollution at home

Overcoming Solar Inequality

Not all communities have equal access to solar power + what to do about that

April 04, 2019

EVs' New BFFs

Electric power utilities are not the only ones who see business opportunities in a growing electric vehicle market

Brooklyn Green - Building Industry Influencer

Architect + 475 founder Ken Levenson highlights the impact of universities on the spread + advances in high performance, energy-saving building

April 02, 2019

Intro To Water Batteries

Using hydro power to store energy isn't new, but better ways to use water for energy storage are on the horizon

Jay Inslee - THE Climate Candidate

Running as the climate advocate candidate, Jay Inslee spells out his campaign for the Presidency in this interview

April 01, 2019

The GND - Let's Get Realistic

If the 'center' has disappeared from US politics, what does the mean for a Green New Deal strategy? Read, ponder + draw your own conclusion

Rising Waters - When Solutions Cause Problems

Louisiana's levees are creating more flood risk than flood protection as the coast disappears

March 29, 2019

How To Pay for A Green New Deal

Paying for the GND would be just like how the federal government pays for anything + why inflation's not a worry, argues Forbes contributor/public policy professor

March 28, 2019

Anatomy Of A Shutdown

What happens when a big coal-burning power plant shuts down in a small town?

March 27, 2019

Follow The Cap And Trade Money

What is California buying with the $3.4 billion in carbon cap + trade it's collected since 2012?

March 26, 2019

Reporting On Climate

The climate/new media nexus was fraught even before Trump was elected, but many issues + insights remain relevant

Don't Forget Chernobyl, It Hasn't Forgotten You

Despite decades of cover-ups + denialism, the toxic legacy of the Chernobyl nuclear power disaster comes into focus

March 25, 2019

Hamilton's Lessons For A GND And A New Labor Agenda

Fulfilling the potential of the Green New Deal can mean deploying lessons learned since the 1930's about maximizing government policy impacts. It also can mean a post-AFL-CIO labor + social justice movement

Confronting Climate Gentrification

Four responses to urban climate gentrification, where real estate prices in environmentally safe but historically affordable areas skyrocket + displace vulnerable residents

March 22, 2019

A Better Balance Between People And Water

In climate-disrupted times, states like NJ + NY are on the front lines of finding better ways to relate communities + coastlines

March 20, 2019

Fossil Fuel's Bankers

The 10th edition of Banking on Climate Change totals the lending + underwriting from 33 global banks to 1,800 companies across the fossil fuel industry

Stop The Pipeline

The Willams gas pipeline proposal is not justified by future utility customer needs according to a new 350 Brooklyn report, False Demand

March 19, 2019

Germany: Energy Storage Buy In

Over 120,000 German households + small-business owners have bought solar panels with battery storage since lower-cost systems appeared on the market 5 years ago

Federal Failure On Flood Mapping

Cities do their own flood maps as they lose confidence in FEMA's flood risk designations + are imposing more robust building standards

March 18, 2019

Turn NY Money Into NY Time

Investing congestion pricing revenues in better subway signals would save time for both rail + car commuters

Renewables Now: Less Is More

With the price of renewable energy plummeting, clean is already cheaper than coal, expect more

March 14, 2019

Cooling Must Become Hot

Seeing opportunities for economic + climate leadership in China by developing new air-conditioning technologies

Public Relations Biz And Climate Change

What do major public relations firms stand on having climate change position statements, doing internal carbon accounting + having rules about clients selection?

March 11, 2019

Fusing Infrastructure Bills To Climate Actions

Congressional Democrats start linking infrastructure bill particulars to addressing climate needs, stay tuned

Good For Walkers, Good For Bikers

Three ways to enhance street safety for both urban pedestrians + bike riders

To Measure Is To Manage - Just Not Yet

How hard can it be + how long does it take to get useful information on the energy appetite of NYC's building stock + harness it to action?

March 08, 2019

Bridging The Gaps

Written for the NYC 2030 District, this study identifies the power of peer-to-peer collaborations, which are partnerships between organizations that provide the foundation for facilitating building energy efficiency project aggregation + knowledge-sharing

March 07, 2019

When Failure is Not An Option

Overwhelmed by the dire climate news? “Blow up the dichotomy” between fear + hope, or truth + positivity, push back against powerlessness in the struggle for a fossil fuel-free economy

Resiliency - Easier Than Rocket Science And Closer To Home

AOC: The New Yorker Interview

"'It still feels terrifying every time. I am trying to pick my battles, but, until there are more people running toward the fire, it's hard to take a break." Ocasio-Cortez to David Remnick

March 04, 2019

Congestion Pricing - Whys And Wherefores

The case for why congestion pricing is a must to help fund NYC mass transit

Meeting NY's Renewable Energy Goals...

...Means solving specific systemic problems called out in a NYLCV White Paper

"Freeing People For Meaningful Work"

Catchy blog title, thought-leader sustainability content

February 28, 2019

Think Concretely

The ubiquity of concrete will never seem OK again

Clean Energy's Urban Innovators

Plug into forward-thinking ways 4 cities are transitioning to clean energy futures

Steam Heat: Q And A

If steam heat is a hot topic for you, keep reading

February 27, 2019

Making Energy Efficiency Affordable And Accessible

With funds borrowed from the federal government, local utilities make energy improvements to affordable housing, with on-bill repayments that ensure customers' bills will be lower than pre-upgrade

February 26, 2019

Where Electrification Makes Sense

Which 34 nations that are low-middle income or deemed emerging markets are good candidates for electrifying their overall energy supplies?

February 25, 2019

It's An Ill Wind That Blows Nobody Any Good

Reinventing Transit Tech

NY has a new Transit Tech Lab, what's it doing?

February 22, 2019

When Free Is The Problem

Is free street parking an urban right? an urban amenity? or a blight?

Making The Price Right

What's to be gained if states align electric power demand with pricing?

Science Vandalism

US national security being put in the hands of a far-out climate denier

February 19, 2019

Why Mass Transit Ridership's Down

Lack of access + bad service + more car ownership = depressed urban mass transit ridership, can this trend be changed?

February 15, 2019

Our Environment And Our Infrastructure 1/2

Do no environmental harm + protect natural systems when upgrading infrastructure

What If The US Can't Build The Infrastructure It Needs 2/2

Is the fiasco of the California high-speed rail project a sign that the US is not up to the GND promise of modernizing + greening its vital infrastructure?

February 14, 2019

Doing Right By Climate Front-Line Communities

Does the Green New Deal correct the environmental justice problems for climate front-line communities that undermine carbon cap + trade programs?

February 13, 2019

The Ambition Of The Green New Deal

The Green New Deal aims to transform the US economy + the Democratic Party while saving the planet, but how?

Climate Graphics - Fun And Participation

Charting paths to serious carbon footprint cutting

February 12, 2019

Surviving Steam Heat

Most NYC apartments use century-old heating systems, can anything be done to modernize steam heat, boost occupant comfort, save money + cut carbon footprints?

February 08, 2019

Quote Of The Day

"I’ve indeed read over the Green New Deal put forward by Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. On the one hand, I love the bigness of it; I can’t remember the last time I saw this kind of bold language + lofty goals in a piece of legislation. And I like that; in the same way that I admired AOC for not standing up + clapping mindlessly during the SOTU, I admire her for proposing a moon shot. But aside from needing a lot more detail, the plan will also require a lot of political wrangling. Labour, which should be one of her natural allies, won’t love the job implications of shutting down steel plants that run on fossil fuels. And she’ll need to schmooze business with the language of sustainable investment. I suspect the way to bridge the gap will be to somehow position all this within the context of competitiveness, job creation + the US-China tech/trade war. That’s a lot of string pulling to do." Rana Foroohar, Associate Editor, Financial Times

She Has A Green Dream

AOC's the best kind of dreamer + for supporters of the Green New Deal it is about reaching for the stars, an effort to reshape expectations about the scale of actions needed to address an existential crisis

Polar Vortex - Teachable Moment

The frigid weather brought by the polar vortex gives reporters a a vivid opportunity to focus on amplified climate risks like increased frequency + intensity of extreme weather events

February 07, 2019

Get More Sun On The Water

We know how to float PV installations on water, but will it catch on in the US?

Phoenix: Life After The Colorado

40% of Phoenix, Arizona's water needs are met by the Colorado River, what happens when the river's gone?

February 06, 2019

More Heat Means More Cooling

What is the future of air conditioning + its impacts as the world heats up? The International Energy Agency reports

February 05, 2019

Ain't It The Truth

February 04, 2019

When Climate Change Hits Home

You think you get it about climate change, until you see it through your kids' eyes

UK: The Good News

UK carbon emissions down 38% since 1990, how did that happen?

Think Globally, Green Sanitation Trucks Locally

By using methane from organic waste to fuel NYC Sanitation collection trucks, the Mayor would be doing something big to honor his climate action vows

February 01, 2019

AOC On Carbon Pricing And More

Carbon pricing + much more got covered in a conversation between Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez + Ta-Nehisi Coates. "We don’t have to compromise our values to find common ground with other people."

January 31, 2019

True. True. True

Community Gardens Give So Much

An East Harlem community garden gives many good things to its neighborhood

Washington DC: Rx For Energy Slurping

As the first city in the US to pass a law requiring cuts to GHG emissions with provisions for building energy retrofits, how is Washington DC tackling the details of getting it done?

January 29, 2019

Bringing Climate Policy To Life

Renewed + rising attention to climate change is no guarantee of political success for a Green New Deal

Boston 0x50

Boston has a zero carbon emissions goal for its electric power supply by 2050 + a carbon neutrality goal for its transportation sector, how will it get there?

A Ferry Loveletter

January 28, 2019

When Politics Derails Mass Transit

NY politics is a disaster for mass transit, some thoughts on how to fix the MTA

January 25, 2019

Virginia Beach: Plan For Rising Waters

Faced with the risk of both fast sea level rise + estuary flooding, Virginia Beach, VA has a plan for mitigation + adaptation with dozens of specific action proposals

Creating A Climate Positive Toronto

For your consideration, Sidewalks Toronto sees the opportunity to aim for the climate positive in the waterfront Quayside development

America's A Big Climate Loser

January 24, 2019

Mass Transit Planning - Mind The Gap

What happens when a metro area tries to plan for mass transit now, anticipating high rise population density coming later?

Climate Change - Sickening

8 reasons why climate change is a global public health emergency

January 23, 2019

Advancing Electrification

Urban Green Council convenes an advisory committee to look at the current capabilities of heat pumps + the technical challenges of installing them in large existing residential buildings. Here's why: electrification of heat + hot water will play a critical role in NYC’s long-term emissions reductions + meeting its 80x50 climate action goal.

Science At Work: Measuring Ocean Heat

Dive into the scientific research behind the headlines about rising ocean temperatures driven by a changing climate

January 22, 2019

Flood, Rebuild, Repeat

Either we learn from past mistakes or we'll be doomed to repeat them. Start here

January 18, 2019

Healthy, Greener Urban Communities

Explore the overlaps between designing healthier cities + greener ones

If Elected...

What are the green plans of candidates running for the office of NYC Public Advocate?

January 16, 2019

Rooftop Solar: Very White

Racial + ethnic disparities characterize the distribution of US rooftop solar installations

Land Use Rules To The Rescue

Urban land use rules are a power tool for creating a Green New Deal

An Environmental Holy Grail

Solving the plastics recycling problem

January 15, 2019

Green New Deal: Defining Goals

Is a 100% renewable energy goal the best way to make the Green New Deal a reality?

January 14, 2019

Green Group's Top Priorities For NY

Leading with congestion pricing + climate change, the NY League of Conservation Voters publishes its agenda for 2019 NY State green policy

Mainstreaming Climate Finance

Innovative finance guidelines + products point to the possibility of climate-friendly finance getting mainstreamed

January 10, 2019

State-By-State Energy Efficiency Scorecard

The 12th annual ACEEE report with state-by-state energy efficiency scorecards is here

Getting To Yes On Home Energy Efficiency Upgrades

EnergyFit, a pilot project launched in 2016 by the Pratt Center, sought to grow the number of energy efficiency upgrades in 1-2 family homes in Brooklyn. What's the takeaway?

Subway Chief Not Sold On Gov's L Train Plan

NYC Transit chief, Andy Byford, publicly lists his not-yet-resolved concerns about Governor Cuomo's no-shutdown-fix for the L train

January 09, 2019

The Weekly Question

January 08, 2019

Climate Science For Climate Justice

Preview how climate science could impact Juliana v United States, a law suit brought by young people against the federal government, claiming the “nation’s climate system” is critical to their rights to life, liberty + property + asserting the federal government has violated their substantive due process rights by allowing fossil fuel production, consumption, + combustion at
'dangerous levels'

January 07, 2019

Unpacking The GND

What's the deal with the Green New Deal? Not at all definitive, but a place to start

Clean Energy Innovation - It's Not Magic

Take a closer look at what the GOP calls "innovation" for solving our climate crisis + what's well known about how it actually works effectively + large scale

January 04, 2019

A Green New Deal For NY

First takes on what a Green New Deal for NY could mean, including some legislative + policy ideas already on the table

January 03, 2019

Reinventing Climate Finance

What are the top financing levers for driving decarbonization across critical industry stocks?

Belt And Road And Coal

If you think China's global Belt + Road infrastructure plan won't affect you, you'd be wrong

UK: No Place For Chimney Sweeps

Double good news for UK electricity, generating levels at their lowest since 1994 + renewables producing 33% of that power. BTW, population is up + economy's doing OK

January 02, 2019

A Third Space

How to transform buildings + other urban conditions into instruments for environmental sustainability by working with the biosphere -- an essay by urbanist Saskia Sassen

NY's 2019 Energy Agenda

What are top items on New York's energy to-do list for 2019?

Mercurial Threats

Think cost-benefit analysis is just for nerds? Here's how the EPA is weaponizing it to undermine limits on emissions of mercury, a neurotoxin

December 31, 2018

Do Inhale

December 28, 2018

Science At Work: The Climate 'Domino Effect'

Researchers seek an understanding of how climate change creates cascading impacts on agriculture, energy, transportation + other human systems

December 26, 2018

You Are Not Alone

12 communities fighting on the front lines of climate action now

December 24, 2018

Take Note: 2018

A climate journalist's Year-in-Review

December 21, 2018

Trouble In Mind

When planners look ahead 25 years, what do they see as the NY metro area's biggest challenges?

December 20, 2018

France: It's Not The Climate, It's The Politics

France's Yellow Vest protest reveal a lot about domestic politics +the economy, but not much about public opinion on carbon taxes

December 19, 2018

Know Your Building's Energy Appetite And GHG Emissions

Is your NYC building an energy sipper or a slurper?

Quote Of The Day, Decade

"To be aware of the wonder and enchantment of the world, its astonishing creatures and complex interactions, and to be aware simultaneously of the remarkably rapid destruction of almost every living system, is to take on a burden of grief that is almost unbearable." — Georg Monibot, writer

NY MIA From Bold Transportation System Plan

9 northeast states + Washington DC gear up to create a climate-smart, economy-boosting regional transportation system proposal, but NY's not part of it despite significant support

December 17, 2018

Lessons From California for Global Climate Talks

As the COP24 climate talks in Poland struggled to end with a to-do list, California strides forward on its climate agenda

December 14, 2018

Not Big Enough For The News

Endangerment Evidence

After a decade on the books, 'endangerment finding' evidence keeps mounting to support this keystone of US climate policy

December 13, 2018

Annual RGGI Report

How's RGGI doing? Here's the newest annual report from the 9 state Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, a cooperative effort to reduce emissions of CO2, a major greenhouse gas

Worries Over Germany's Energy Transition

Why has Germany's drive to decarbonize stalled + can it be re-energized?

December 12, 2018

Sizing Up The Green New Deal

Is youthful idealism v tempered pragmatism a useful way to analyze the Green New Deal movement?

2018: Climate News, Not Silence

Here's a multi-media recap of 2018, quite a year in climate news

December 11, 2018

What Happens In The Arctic Impacts You

December 10, 2018

Net Zero-Energy Makes Dollars and Sense

Even with cold midwest winters the payback time for spending money on building net-zero energy homes is a proven fact

Climate Legal Eagles - Keep At It

Watch the Lisa Heinzerling lecture on the role of climate litigation during the Trump Era

This Is Not A Fish Tale

December 07, 2018

Reasons For Climate Cheer

Signs of low-carbon cheer (sort of) based on an understanding of the business cycle, not the Paris Climate Accord

December 06, 2018

To-Do's For New Enviro Leader

Julie Tighe, the new President of the NY League of Conservation Voters, has a lot on her mind + on her to-do list

Imagine

For babies born in 2018, imagine the implications of a Green New Deal when they graduate from college

December 03, 2018

Climate Dropout Clout

Consider the 'Trump Effect' on the trajectory of the Paris Climate Accord + international commitment to climate action

Climate Adaptation Planning Uptake

A downbeat report on the state of climate adaption, but with insight on pathways forward

Meet The NY Green Bank

What is the NY Green Bank + what does it do?

November 30, 2018

Alarmist, Extreme, "I Don't Believe It"

The climate-denialist Trump administration disses the 2018 National Climate Assessment

November 29, 2018

Elections Matter For Climate Action

2018 election results improve chances for putting prices on carbon

Don't Guess. VeriFi

Thinking about upgrading your residential building utility systems? Here's a FREE interactive, online software application to calculate potential cost savings of energy efficiency improvements

November 26, 2018

One Less Thing To Worry About

NY tackles EV range anxiety with a plan to create a high speed charging corridor on the Thruway + at hubs in Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse, Albany, Yonkers+ JFK airport

November 23, 2018

The Tragedy Of The Commons

Now, more relevant than ever

November 21, 2018

Think Outside Your Box

What's the draw to climate action for some young Evangelicals?

November 20, 2018

A Shrunken Planet

What does Bill McKibben mean when he writes that the planet is shrinking?

How Scientists Cope With Grim Climate Science Report

The downbeat IPCC Special Report has personal resonance for climate scientists

November 19, 2018

Give Thanks

They're Coming

E-scooters, a trending micro-transit option, works better in some cities than others, is it right for NYC?

Catching Up With AOC

Making her Washington debut, NY's high-energy new Congressperson Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is a subject of media fascination

November 16, 2018

These POPS Are For You

NYC's Privately Owned Public Spaces often fall under the radar screen, here's a way to find them+ engage

Clean Water - Still A Work In Progress

With its old school pipes, NYC combines sewage + rainwater for disposal, so rainy days mean spills of untreated waste. The City is working for an answer that will meet State regulators standards + satisfy community concerns

November 14, 2018

Concrete Carbon Solutions

Concrete, one of the world's big CO2 emissions sources, could be reengineered to absorb + store this GHG

November 13, 2018

Data For Decarbonizing

How cities can use targeted data to make the most effective emissions reductions decisions

The Future Of Air-Conditioning NY

NY's air conditioning needs could eat up 80% more electricity if it gets as hot as some climate change models project

November 12, 2018

NY: Left In the Decarbonization Dust

A hometown booster urges New York to catch up with California's big decarbonization goals + crucially, develop a funding + regulatory plan for meeting those goals

November 09, 2018

Community-Owned Solar Coming To Brooklyn

What's not to like!

Adaptive Traffic Lights, Modular Sidewalks And More

Have a brain stretch, listen to these Sidewalk Labs podcasts

November 06, 2018

For Everyone Under 30...

...Not a single month in their lifetime has fallen within the limited range of temperature, precipitation or storm activity that characterized Earth for the previous 10,000 years

Making Connections

Tom Steyer see links between hate groups + climate denialism - conspiracy theories could be a shared world view

November 05, 2018

What Governors Can Do About Climate Change

Imagine you're elected Governor! Now, what's your strategy for fixing the climate?

November 02, 2018

Regulatory Rollbacks - Nothing To Celebrate

The Trump Administration war on environmental, health + consumer regulation means degradation + premature death, so who's actually benefitting?

Teaching Climate Denial

Florida is becoming ground zero for conservative groups striving to control how climate science is taught in school

November 01, 2018

The Persistence Of Memory Extremes

It's the persistence of summer weather weirdness, more than its extremeness, that will make climate disruptions so devastating

More Ways To Green Gotham

Urban forest managers have a plan for NYC

October 31, 2018

The Environment Of The Florida Campaigns

Noxious environmental realities like the red algae tide, are forcing Florida's candidates to campaign on green issues, including the hotly-contested Senate race

The Climate Of The NY Governor's Race

Talk of climate change/climate action is MIA from the NY governor's race

A Cornucopia Of NYC-Themed Podcasts

Enjoy these Gotham Center podcasts, Open House NY walking tours for your ears

October 30, 2018

Negative Emissions - Not The Rx

Why negative emissions technologies can't save us from climate chaos

Arts Inspire Climate Action

The Great Transportation Transition

For Dave Roberts, defending car fuel efficiency standards (CAFE) from Trump's attacks will become moot as electric vehicles take over

October 29, 2018

Climate Science And Public Responses

Marcia McNutt, President of the National Academy of Sciences talks about the state of climate science + the public's understanding of it

PACE Advocacy

A note from a sustainable architect colleague,
"As a member of the Architectural community of New York, I am writing to urge you and your colleagues to propose and pass PACE legislation this year. All of the internal issues and concerns about PACE have been addressed by city administrators, we only need to propose a local law and pass it through City Council.
Passing PACE legislation is critical to developing new financial markets to support the upgrading of existing buildings to be more energy efficient in order to meet our carbon use reduction goals, improve human health and air quality in the city, provide new construction jobs, and make the city safer and more resilient to major disruptions.
Any legislation must include commercial, institutional, and multifamily buildings in order to address the true needs of New Yorkers. At the state level, we need further advocacy to pass single family residential PACE as well."

October 25, 2018

The Race Against Climate Change Is A Race Against Time

Public attitudes + political mobilization will determine winning or losing this race

All That's Solid...

The wild creatures of Antarctica are facing dire disruptions due to climate change

Defending Truth In Science

Bruno Latour, a philosopher who views facts as arising from their social matrix, defends the scientific enterprise

October 24, 2018

Energy Storage: Clear Goal But Means TBD

New York is committed to 1,500 - 3,000 MW of energy storage by 2025 , but the ways + means to that end are a work in progress

October 23, 2018

The Climate Comics - No Laughing Matter

Can climate science be pitched to conservatives?

Scientists Run For Congress

Scientists run for Congress, push back on attacks on climate science + Administration's evidence-denying policies

October 22, 2018

The Great Climate Persuader

Rising insurance premiums could be the thing that convinces Americans climate disruption risks are real

Lead Harms More Than IQ's

City To State - Decongestion Now

A broad NYC coalition is demanding the next State budget include congestion pricing, November election outcomes could be pivotal

October 19, 2018

Using The Sun For Racial Justice

Learn how a Minneapolis solar power entrepreneur advances solar power to power racial equality

October 18, 2018

Florida Campaign: Environment Is One Thing, Climate Another

While both the Democratic + GOP candidates for Governor of Florida both seek the environmental vote, they don't agree on climate change

IPCC Climate Report - The Ultimate Wake-Up Call

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez calls for a Green New Deal to mobilize the US economy + David Wallace-Wells, a New York Magazine journalist, sees climate genocide coming soon, unless the US mobilizes at a WW II preparation level

October 17, 2018

Closing Indian Point Without Sacrificing Climate Commitments

Big gains in NYC energy efficiency are the only hope for keeping on-course for big GHG emissions cuts once the Indian Point nuclear power plant closes

October 16, 2018

Climate Change And Economics...

...Go together like a horse + carriage, a key insight of Nobel Prize winning economist Bill Nordhaus

October 15, 2018

Denier Data

This might be a first-ever research data base for who's who in the climate denialist industry

October 09, 2018

All Eyes On Washington State

With the federal government AWOL on climate change, a Green New Deal is on the ballot this year in WA putting a price on CO2 ect — another state steps up

October 03, 2018

The Business Case for Carbon Pricing

Is an economy-wide carbon price worth pursuing? Nonpartisan Citizens Climate Lobby makes the case for why they believe a bipartisan federal carbon bill can — and eventually will — get passed

October 02, 2018

Nobel Nonagenarian Plugging Away On Solar

Scientist Arthur Ashkin wins Nobel Prize in physics for old work with lasers. Oldest person to win a Nobel — retired from Bell Labs but still doing research. Currently working on ideas related to solar power, prompted by President Trump's decision to remove the U.S. from the Paris climate accord.

Few Candidates Running On Climate Change

Midterm election round-up — why are the candidates muted on environmental issues?

September 26, 2018

Climate Emojis

Paths To Fossil Fuel Disinvestment

Institutional investors are forging several pathways to financially-secure fossil fuel disinvestments

September 25, 2018

Ooh, Ooh Ooh, What Heatpumps Could Do

What are heatpumps + how can they help New York slash its carbon footprint?

China: Public Opinion On Climate Change

Surveys show Chinese attitudes to climate change driven by high-profile government-led campaigns + the public's air pollution concerns

Now There's A Map For That

Mapping urban GHG emissions is being rolled out by Google

September 20, 2018

The Little Energy Innovation Engine That Could

Nimbly avoiding Trump's budget ax, ARPA-E continues to support leading-edge energy research, for example long term energy storage tech

September 18, 2018

Drafting The Energy Storage Roadmap

NY begins to chart a path for energy storage development, initial comments from service providers + energy consumers

Portland: "Gentle Density"

Bigger buildings + smaller homes is the planning recommendation to Portland, Oregon leaders for greater urban sustainability

September 17, 2018

Something's Happening Here

When is the last time the words "electric vehicle" + "frenzy" appeared in the same sentence?

Good Data On GHG Cuts Hard to Get

September 14, 2018

If Tish James Is Elected In November...

...What could this mean for climate + environmental justice litigation in NY?

Let's Hope This Is An EV Chart

The "Swiss Army Knife" Of Climate Action

Seven tools that make building energy efficiency a versatile power tool for crating the climate procgress we need

September 12, 2018

Speed Slow Kills

Hurricanes Florence + Harvey can be so destructive because they move so slowly + scientists find a 20% drop in hurricane movements since 1949

September 10, 2018

How To Green Organizational Management

What is needed to embed sustainability in organizational management practices?

Climate Action - More Than Environmentalism

True or false? Demands for climate action are undercut by calling them an environmental agenda

September 07, 2018

Getting Community Buy-In For Community Solar

Live in a city? don't own your own roof? Community solar can be the key to accessing affordable + renewable electricity

September 06, 2018

Keynesian Economics And The Climate Crisis

Dear Reader, this is a fascinating but very book review about the economic theories of John Maynard Keynes. The climate crisis comments come at the end

How To Show And Tell Climate Change

Storytelling strategies for dramatists writing plays about climate change

The Deuce ACE

Listen to Joseph Goffman, a principle architect of the Obama-era Clean Power Plan, weigh in on a menu of legal challenges to Trump's Affordable Clean Energy Rule (ACE) substitute

Live Better

September 04, 2018

Wind Power - What's New, What's Not

Installing wind power near the Mississippi River is something new, the siting fights are not

August 31, 2018

Now For The Hard Part

Poised for a 100% zero-carbon electric power law, how might California get it done by 2045?

Transit Review: Take The N Train

The Municipal Art Society is moved by the newly renovated N train stations in Astoria

The Grapes Of Climate Change

Bordeaux wine makers, facing hotter weather, must change their venerable ways or become climate losers

August 29, 2018

The Arctic Meltdown And You

If you think the massive Arctic meltdown won't change your life, think again

August 27, 2018

Climate Change - Health Disruptor

"Climate change is sickening" is the scientific truth

John McCain - GOP Climate Maverick

Does the McCain climate legacy signal the past or the future for his party?

August 24, 2018

Houston After Harvey, What Resilience Needs

"If the money doesn’t feel safe—if it isn’t going to be protected from flood risk, along with the workers who work there—it’s going to go elsewhere.”

Social Science At Work: Building Energy Retrofit Decisions

Decision making in multi-family has a dynamic that makes decisions to improve building energy performance a challenge, according to new research

August 23, 2018

Albany Not On Track For 50x30

Renewable energy is growing, so why would the state miss its goal of getting 50% of its energy for renewable sources by 2030

Gulp - The Future Of Water In Texas

Think rainwater catchment desalinization + toilet-to-tap replacing dams + reservoirs in Texan cities

August 22, 2018

Separating Fact From Fiction

NRDC, a national environmental advocacy organization, spells out detailed rebuttals of claims made by the EPA's proposed all-power-to-coal rule. Here's a 6 point analysis done by The Sabin Center for Climate Change Law

August 21, 2018

Political Power For Electric Power

Will one of Germany's most powerful agency ministers, succeed at expanding the nation's power grid?

Greens Sue Nuke Power Subsidy

The Hudson River Sloop Clearwater sues NY for what it deems illegal subsidies given to nuclear power plant owners

Think Concretely

Concrete blocks are a new contender in the race to develop energy storage systems

August 20, 2018

Winning Climate Cases

Analyzing 26 years of climate litigation reveals what wins in court + what loses

Dallas: Tree Planting Made Smarter

The urban cooling impact of planting 1,000 trees in Dallas gets a boost with GIS mapping

August 16, 2018

Let's Look At The Energy Subsidy Record

August 15, 2018

Blueprint For Green Partnerships

Collaboration is key for a can-do energy performance policy to drive efficiency in NYC's large buildings + to cut its carbon footprint 80% by 2050. Here's the Urban Green Council how-to report

August 14, 2018

Memory Palace

Listen to Nate Dimeo's Memory Palace podcast "White Heat White Light", NYC, Summer, 1892

Charge

August 13, 2018

Science At Work: Urban Mercury

Mercury, a known neurotoxin, now has mapped sources in Toronto's environment

NYC Waterfronts: Revival And Reinvention

Reviving NYC's polluted waterfronts won't mean turning back the clock, what does the Hudson Riverkeeper envision instead?

Molten Salt For Nuclear Power - The Press Releasase

August 09, 2018

East River Greenery

A long time in coming, but now new East River-edge parks in Brooklyn, Queens + the Bronx are open to all

Help Your Devices Weather The Summer

Advice for keeping your electronic devices cool + operational in the summer heat

August 08, 2018

Tax Changes Loom For Wind Power

With the coming phase-out of the production tax credit for wind power projects, what to expect for the industry?

Too Darn Hot At Night

August 07, 2018

Become An Effective Climate Communicator

Here's a website loaded with practical ideas for becoming a better climate communicator to foster civic + political action

The Big Question

What would electrification of buildings' heat + hot water gear mean for consumers + the climate?

August 06, 2018

Green Rating For NY Elected's

How does your state legislator score in the New York League of Conservation Voter ratings?

Ideology In The Driver's Seat

There are so many things wrong with Trump's effort to freeze vehicle fuel efficiency standards, here are just some

Seattle Goes Bold Green

A bold but underutilized high-performance building model is tweaked with zoning bonuses in a new Seattle energy retrofit initiative

August 03, 2018

Jamaica Bay - Resilience Rx

Key findings of a Rand Corporation study with a framework for analyzing resilience proposals for protecting Jamaica Bay communities from superstorms + sea level rise

August 02, 2018

That's Rich

Cogent criticisms of Nathaniel Rich's 40,000 word "Losing Earth: The Decade We Almost Stopped Climate Change" published in the NY Times Magazine

Pioneering Energy Justice

Renewable energy + energy efficiency upgrades are on the environmental justice frontier in California thanks to carbon cap + trade revenue

August 01, 2018

The Funnies

The States That Set The PACE

Which states lead + which lag on PACE, innovative financing paths for energy smart commercial + residential buildings?

July 31, 2018

Nowhere Will Be Safe

Think you'll be safe from climate change inside a room with AC? Think again

July 30, 2018

How Clean Energy Leaders Lead

What leadership in urban renewable energy looks like today

July 27, 2018

Dear Abby: How To Talk With A Climate Science Denier

Better responses than silence or snark for conversational comebacks with climate deniers

July 26, 2018

Plan Ahead Now

National Grid offers a utility blueprint for northeast states to cut their GHG emissions 80% by 2050

July 25, 2018

Climate Change - Still Niche News

Even the most climate-conscious news media still silo climate reporting from weird weather disasters, why?

Use Taxes To Grow Green Roofs

Legal eagles propose a NYC tax strategy to install more green roofs, which, so far, have been few + far between

Why Nuke Industry's Endangered

Aging + costly to operate, today's nuclear power plants can't compete with natural gas-fired plants + could close, even though they're climate-friendlier

July 23, 2018

Putting Energy Data To Work

The NYC Retrofit Accelerator, a case study of a project to advance energy upgrades in existing buildings

Needed: Deep Transit Make-Over

City + state transit systems are dysfunctional or worse + don't meet climate action needs, what must be changed?

This Energy Revolution Is Underway

Once, everyone talked about the coming solar power/energy storage revolution, now, it's happening

July 20, 2018

Everyone Knows Heat Kills...

...Here's what NYC grassroots environmental justice activists are doing about it

Science At Work: Climate Change Changes The Seasons

The temperature contrast between seasons is amplifying due to human-caused climate change impacts, new research finds

Utilities Help NYer's Buy EV's

Why are Con Ed + National Grid stepping in to make it easier for New Yorkers to buy electric vehicles? If a Tesla is a stretch, Con Ed also rebates the cost of LED's

July 18, 2018

Take The Pledge

With a specific 10 point agenda, America's Pledge offers a road map for carbon-cutting, bottom-up action by businesses, cities + states

July 16, 2018

Really Unseasonal

Why is Los Angeles having such weird weather this summer?

Sarcasm As Climate Persuader

Sarcastic writing in The Onion alters the attitudes of the climate indifferent new research finds

July 13, 2018

Autonomous Vehicles Are Coming

Can cities do more than just expect the unexpected with the arrival of self-driving vehicles?

Why New Yorkers Need Their Subway

Growth in NYC's labor force participation is linked to growth in subway ridership + what that means

Busy Anti-Idling Activist

Wish someone would do something about idling, emissions-spewing vehicles on NYC streets? Meet George Pakenham

July 12, 2018

Where Restoring Power Is Not Enough

It's power grid + its people battered by storms, grid restoration is not enough for Puerto Rico, now solar power + microgrids enter the scene

July 11, 2018

The New High Life

Worried about floods + storm surges? If you can afford it, you can literally move up

More See Changing Climate

US public opinion shifts toward acknowledgement of climate change + human activity links, but political polarization very high

July 09, 2018

The Cosmos And The Climate

Astrophysicist Adam Frank reflects on what we've learned about other planets + climate prospects for ours

The Post-Pruitt Era

States, cities + communities will remain on the front lines of environmental protection, ex-EPA chief Pruitt was just a bit player in a larger drama

July 06, 2018

New Options For Solar Siting

Siting solar panels on brownfield + landfills in NY, just got much easier

NY Aims To Slash Wind Costs

What's up in NY?, cutting costs of offshore wind power with an industry-led R+D consortium

Fracking For Plastics

A new petrochemical corridor emerges in the Ohio River Valley as fracking floods the region with petrochemicals

July 03, 2018

Independence Day 242

Ready, Set, Ocasio-Cortez

Are climate scientists + policy types down with Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's call for a Green New Deal?

Think Global, Act Local - The Update

With local funds + a local workforce Washington DC grows its new green economy

July 02, 2018

Sizing Up Urban Climate Footprints

Data collected from 13,000 cities reveals a lot about the urban climate footprint - some cities have very big feet

More Disastrous Disasters

Expect Americans' vulnerability to disasters to rise, here's why

Environmental Regulation At Risk

With a long-lasting conservative majority in the Supreme Court, decades of environmental regulation could be overturned, along with other key parts of US law

June 28, 2018

Kennedy's Environmental Impact

What does Justice Kennedy's retirement mean for federal environmental protection laws?

June 26, 2018

A Question Energy Nerds Want Answered


Atlanta Looks To An All-Renewable Future

Catch up with the 100% renewable energy blueprints under consideration by the Atlanta, GA City Council

June 25, 2018

Resolved: Cities Must Write Better Building Codes

Solar One Shines On NYC Nabes

Here Comes Solar is a program for making solar power + storage accessible + affordable for all in NYC

June 22, 2018

The Good News About The GOP Climate Tax Idea

"Democrats don’t often act like it, but they are right on climate change...That’s why fossil fuel companies are reaching out to, ahem, “end the impasse.” It’s what you do when you’re losing."

June 21, 2018

Solar Power - The Hurricane Test

What are the lessons for solar power resilience from the hurricanes that struck the Caribbean in 2017?

The Politics Of Carbon Fees

Have chances improved for federal action on a carbon fee with the latest Old Guard GOP idea?

June 20, 2018

Trump Gives US Future To China

With China's solar tech advances + Trump's embrace of the past, the future of US energy leadership gets dimmer

June 19, 2018

How To Move A Green Roof

When relocating,, a Manhattan architectural firm took along its green roof

Global Energy Outlook For 2050

June 14, 2018

Market Forces Boosting Renewables

Move over public incentives, as auctions begin to propel the growth of renewable energy, but they may not be the panacea

Georgia On My Mind

How has Georgia become a top-10 solar state if not by explicit legislative policy?

Economics 101: Building Electrification

The economic case + climate value of switching to electricity to supply buildings heat + hot water is made in a new Rocky Mountain Institute report

June 13, 2018

NYC's Climate Suit Against Big Oil

Will Exxon be the next Philip Morris, when it comes to history-making, big-payout litigation?

June 12, 2018

Lots To Gain, Nothing To Lose

June 11, 2018

More Dixie Cities Adopt Climate Plans

Breaking with the past, cities in the southeast begin to adopt climate + renewable energy plans

NYC: Active On Passive House

Science At Work: Southern Ocean Doing Less

New research finds the Antarctic Ocean absorbs less CO2 from the air than believed

June 06, 2018

Legal Eagles: Trump's Coal/Nuke Bailout

What are the likely legal challenges + defenses if the Trump Administration imposes its leaked coal/nuke industry bailout scheme?

Energy Storage Now

Trends in electric energy storage take a surprising turn in 2018

Talking Persuasion

Want to move the political dial on climate change? Learn how to talk about it

June 05, 2018

Let's Get Riskier

The proposal floated by the Trump Administration to pay above market rates for coal + nuclear generated electricity won't, as advertised, increase the power supply's security, only its vulnerability

June 04, 2018

Climate's Hunger Games

By sheer good fortune, Hunts Point, NYC's food distribution center, didn't get savaged by Superstorm Sandy, but what about next time?

5 is Not Enough

NOAA rates the strongest hurricanes 'category 5', now scientists see the need for a 'category 6'

June 01, 2018

Outer Space Can Make Ice On Earth

This TED Talk is not science fiction, it's night sky cooling + it's awesome

May 31, 2018

Science At Work: Impact of Hotter Oceans

Rising ocean temperatures have a negative impact on the productivity of phytoplankton, the first link in the marine food chain

Stop Wasting Waste Heat

Seize the opportunity to turn waste heat into a renewable energy resource

A Better Way To Use The Ballot Box For The Environment

The Environmental Voter Project advances the strategy of getting people who already care about climate protection to turn up at the ballot box

May 29, 2018

Make Green Investments Blue Chip

From the investor POV, what makes large-scale renewable energy investment attractive?

Congestion Pricing - Act II

Optimists think the $19-39 billion price for repairing the NYC subway system gives congestion pricing a second chance

Save Our Subways

It will take more than money to save the NYC subway system, it will take grown-up political leadership

May 24, 2018

Ranking Urban Parks

How does you city compare to Minneapolis, rated #1 in the US for its parks?

May 23, 2018

Talking Points On Everything Electric

What are the prospects for powering everything with decarbonized electricity?

E-Buses In The Fast Line

Prediction: city bus fleets will rapidly go electric, here's why

May 22, 2018

Where Climate Active Foundations Put Their Cash

What kinds of project do or don't get funded by climate-facing foundations?

May 21, 2018

Artful Resilience

May 18, 2018

Be Careful What You Wish For

US automakers want a rollback of fuel efficiency + emissions standards, but not exactly the ones proposed by the Trump Administration

Renewable Energy Math

What happens to electricity prices if wind + solar generate 50% of your electricity?

May 17, 2018

Science At Work: Sea Level Rise

A Defense Department report explains the biggest drivers of rising global sea levels + how to manage coastal risks

Weaponizing Science

In the practice of science, who decides what's true + how is 'uncertainty' deployed by climate denialists?

May 16, 2018

Flood Of Money v Flood Of Water

Development proposals for Manhattan's Hudson River shore are a chronic source of combat + outrage, here's the latest

Wouldn't It Be Nice If All This Light Was LED

May 15, 2018

Breathers Beware

Nearly 25% of US coal burning power plants lack sulfur dioxide controls + now the EPA wants to cut existing control rules

Hot Debate Over CA Rooftop Solar Rules

Even some committed greens disagree about California's solar rooftop requirement

May 14, 2018

Population Control's No Answer To Climate Crisis

Climate journalist Dave Roberts explains why population control is neither a good nor decent solution to our climate crisis

Urban Parks - Necessity Not Luxury

Sustainable cities must guarantee access to + protection of their public parks + open spaces or they won't be sustainable

May 10, 2018

Not Your Mom's Arctic Ocean

Atlantic + Pacific waters are flowing into a warming Arctic ocean, what could change?

NY's An Energy Star

NY buildings lead the nation on Energy Star awards for sustained excellence in energy management

NY's An Energy Star

NY buildings lead the nation on Energy Star awards for sustained excellence in energy management

May 09, 2018

The 0.00007 Percent Non-Solution

Electric grid resilience should focus on customer benefits, not the 0.00007% of outages causes by fuel supply failures

May 07, 2018

MAGA Is Gaga - Pruitt Style

Energy Efficiency For All

Meet SAHLLN, get the resources you need at this hub for information on financing energy/water efficiency + renewable energy in multifamily affordable housing properties

How To Talk The Climate Talk

Katharine Hayhoe is a a scientist,person of faith + master of climate communication

May 04, 2018

Dangerous, Dirty But Short-Lived

Follow The Leader

Belief in + awareness of science consensus on human-caused climate change dipped in 2017 among US conservatives, per new Gallup poll

May 03, 2018

Museums Can Be Energy Stars

Until a decade ago, the words sustainability + museum rarely appeared together, now there are more than 200 have registered for LEED certification

May 02, 2018

Getting Past An Energy Efficiency Catch 22

How building owners and manufacturers can find a common interest in advancing the market for energy efficient building products

Learning The Green Beat

Tips from a green beat reporter with a nose for news

Source: International Renewable Energy Agency

May 01, 2018

Rx For NYC Buses

The MTA rolls out plans for fixing up NYC's ailing bus system

Dog Bites Man Headline

"Pruitt's EPA Is on the Verge of 'Regulatory Capture'"

Coal Miner's Daughter Runs For Senate

Meet Paula Jean Swearengin, an anti-coal activist in West Virginia coal country, running in the Democratic Senate primary

April 30, 2018

Legal Eagles: Pricing Carbon In The Wholesale Energy Market

An update on NY efforts to put a price on carbon in its wholesale electric power markets

East NY: Envisioning A Transit Hub

Area residents work on a proposal for East NY transit hub that won't be an engine of displacement + will be a path to good jobs

NYC: Green Infrastructure

Read the 2017 Green Infrastructure Report, see NYC in a whole new light

April 26, 2018

Not All Sea Levels Are Created Equal

The US east coast is becoming a flooding hot spot, but why are as sea levels rising faster there?

April 25, 2018

The Drawdown Climate Solutions

What's the #1 climate solution proposed in Drawdown?, a very specific list of 100 effective actions for tackling climate change

April 24, 2018

If You See Something Say Something

The US companies taking concrete climate actions see climate disruption risks to their supply chains or their reputations

Climate-At Risk Cities Need Regional Resilience

April 23, 2018

Brief History Of Wind Energy In The Arts

Did you know the first image of wind power is on an Egyptian clay vase dating to 3500 BCE?

April 20, 2018

The Serengeti Strategy

Climate science activist Michael Mann explains climate deniers' strategy for attacking people like him, 20 years after publication of the Hockey Stick graph

April 19, 2018

Schmutz On Ice

Pollution carpeting the edges of Greenland ice sheets raises risks of catastrophic melting

April 18, 2018

That's BIG

Turbines the size of two football fields + shaped like palm fronds could be the next big thing in offshore wind power

April 17, 2018

Sizing Up RGGI Carbon Market Impact

RGGI, a 9 northeast states agreement to cap carbon emissions, has created local jobs + revenue, but has it cut emissions?

April 13, 2018

NY Needs Energy Efficiency For All

Governor Cuomo can make access to equitable energy efficiency a reachable goal for all New Yorkers

April 12, 2018

Top 10 Energy Stars

Invest In Sustainability, Make Money, Feel Good,

More private equity firms are working to prove a thesis that you can do well by doing good

A Plug For Plug Loads

To be a leader on energy efficiency, NY needs its own appliance efficiency standard, which will also save utility consumers money, + increase grid reliability

April 11, 2018

Scaling Up Passive House

What are the keys to advancing Passive House construction toward the goal of a new urban normal?

Pinpointing CO2 Growth

If the US electric power supply is seriously cutting its carbon output, then what's become the biggest source of climate-disrupting emissions?

End Days For US Climate Diplomacy

If Mike Pompeo is confirmed as Secretary of State, expect US climate diplomacy to disappear

April 10, 2018

The SEC And Climate Disclosure

The SEC gives Exxon a pass, but not Chevron, regarding shareholder demands for corporate disclosure about climate risks

April 09, 2018

Make Friends With The Climate

Use less fossil fueled transport while decarbonizing transport + treating energy efficiency as a valued resource with research, policy + litigation

Offshore Wind Update

Massachusetts has lots to teachthe other 18 coastal facing states about developing wind power

The Global Energy Future

Here's a safe energy future prediction, when China changes, everything changes

For Your Consideration

April 06, 2018

Whatchamacallit

We need new words to talk about the impacts of climate disruption, "drought" for example

Become A Savvier Green Consumer

Interested in signing up for renewable electric power? Here are some consumer tips

April 05, 2018

Economy Up, Carbon Down

Losing The War On Science

Climate science gets shellacked by the GOP, will courts or elections change that?

A Crack In The Shell

Shell Oil's own analysis of fossil fuels + climate risks goes back decades +predates its efforts to block climate action policies

April 03, 2018

Green Lending Growth

Commercial property mortgage lenders + borrowers learning to embrace energy efficiency

Storm-Proofing Houston

A strategic plan for upping flood resilience in Houston, with useful ideas for many coastal cities

April 02, 2018

Shell Oil: Climate Change, Yes, But...

Wondering what to make of Shell Oil's 2070 climate action target?

Efficiency For Earth Day

What NY could achieve if Gov. Cuomo makes a bold commitment to energy efficiency on Earth Day 2018

March 29, 2018

Renewables Thrive At Auction

Consider the implications of recent auction results for grid purchases of wind + solar power

March 28, 2018

Highs And Lows Of Hunts Point Parks

The Hunts Points parks on the South Bronx waterfront get big cheers + big sighs

Better Than Botox

Aging wind turbines can get rejuvenated with new electronics + longer blades as the local labor market also gets a lift

Judge Rules on Climate 'Civil Dsobedience'

A Massachusetts judge finds in favor of a civil disobedience defense brought by 13 gas pipeline protestors

March 27, 2018

Legal Eagles: Climate Law Suit Boom

Courts are where it's at for US climate protection action these days

March 26, 2018

The (Not) Funnies

It's Not Easy Being Climate Friendly...

...Even in liberal, Democratic states

REV'ing Up For Energy Efficiency

NY can accelerate building energy efficiency growth by giving utilities a stake in its success

March 23, 2018

Using "Transparency" As A Red Herring

A scientist explains why Pruitt is about restricting the use of legitimate science, not fostering it at at the EPA

March 22, 2018

Small, Retro And Fit

NYC learns to cut GHG's one small building energy retrofit at a time

March 21, 2018

Disrupted Climate Costs Insurers Billions

According to filings by 15 major US insurers, 2017's natural disasters have so far cost the industry at least $14.5 billion + that's "significant"

Quote Of The Day

"Apparently the Trump administration will prepare for disasters that are consistent with its ideology (ISIS, crime by immigrants) + not those that aren't (climate change, gun violence, contaminated water in poor communities)." Professor Michael Gerrard

What Climate Action Needs Now

Meeting Paris Accord climate goals means getting cities, state + corporations to officially sign on

March 20, 2018

Making The Grade

Climate Litigation Today

Blue states + eco-advocates seeking to preserve Obama Era rules or craft remedies to get around federal hostility to climate action is what's happening now

March 19, 2018

Meet The Musk Of Passive House

Justin Palmer wants to do for Passive House in the US what Elon Musk did for Tesla

Small Number, Big Impact

Is it a big deal if the Earth warms by 1.5 degrees or 2 degrees Celsius? Yes!

March 14, 2018

Next Generation Nuke Plants, Or Not

For some, small modular nuclear reactors can save a troubled industry, others disagree

Something Utilities Should Savor

Carbon-cutting climate policy could be electric power utilities' new best friend

March 13, 2018

Climate Activists' Failure

Failing to halt climate change isn't the the biggest setback for activists, it's failing to communicate + persuade on what's wrong with natural gas

Urban Transit Desertification

Dozens of US cities leave people stranded in transit deserts, can this change?

March 12, 2018

If Tomorrow's Power Supply Is Microgrids...

...the day after tomorrow's could be integrated microgrid networks for climate-friendly, reliable power

Needed Now: More Energy Efficiency

The NY Clean Energy Standard requires the state to
meet 50% of demand with electricity generated from renewable energy by 2030 + this White Paper explains how escalating energy efficiency will help meet this 50x30 goal

Carbon Cap/Trade For Transport

Can RGGI, the multi-state carbon cap + trade program, be a model for capping transportation-sector carbon emissions?

March 08, 2018

Save Lives, Cut The Heat

Adding 'reflective surfaces' in both urban + rural areas will help reduce health-harming heat

Mobility For All

Without a robust bus system, NYC mass transit fails many aging + disabled residents

March 07, 2018

Getting To The Price Is Right

Figuring out the right price for small, distributed energy resources with emissions has been a challenge in NY, pricing carbon is a better path

March 06, 2018

Millenial Votes And Climate Action

10 House elections where Millennial's climate views could matter this year

Deep Decarbonization 101

Are there feasible pathways to reaching carbon free transportation + heating to power a low carbon economy?

Corporate Climate Responsibility

Is corporate leadership talking more talk + walking more walk on responsible climate + sustainability conduct?

March 05, 2018

Don't Overstate State Climate Action

Looking at climate policy + politics in the northwest tempers optimism about making rapid progress

Rooftop Solar - Do The Numbers

Could rooftop solar get as cheap as utility-scale solar + what's in it for utilities?

Confessions Of A Regular Green Guy

It's easier to talk about the climate than to take action, until doing some makes 'dollars + sense', but still...

Global Energy Efficient Trends

Why is the rate of global energy efficiency gains slowing down + what would speed it up?

March 02, 2018

Expanding Cleveland's 'Emerald Necklace'

Plans are being made to connect Cleveland's parks + green spaces with networks of walkable greenways + bike paths

For Solar-Seeking Apartment Dwellers

Community Shared Solar can plug NYC apartment residents into locallly-sourced clean energy

Sign Language

March 01, 2018

RE100

What 127 corporations who have pledged to go for 100% renewable energy doing to get there?

February 28, 2018

Less Will Lead

Energy efficiency will be a star in tomorrow's distributed power grid world

Keep The Sea Out Of The Sewage

California coastal communities working to keep sewage treatment plants safe from more ocean flooding

Congressional Eco-Scores

How does your member of Congress score on the League of Conservation Voters' 2017 ranking?

February 27, 2018

Electrical Freak-Out

Sizing Up China's Carbon Trading Scheme

Will China's emissions trading scheme avoid the pitfalls hobbling EU's market for cutting carbon emissions?

February 23, 2018

OMG

February 22, 2018

Plug-In Ships

Electrification of shipping fleets takes its first steps in Europe

Putting Data To Work

Now there's a toolkit for urban stakeholders to benefit from building benchmarking laws to establish effective programs to turbo-drive energy efficiency

February 21, 2018

Blockchain Skepticism

Despite its appeal, blockchain technology may not deliver on its promise of facilitating low cost, distributed, renewable energy

More Science, Less Climate Tribalism

February 20, 2018

Better Science Boosts Lawsuits' Chances

It's no slam dunk, but better climate attribution science improves chances for municipal plaintiffs in a new wave of lawsuits against fossil fuel firms

Sun Rises Over Politics

Tump's solar tariffs + embrace of fossil fuel have not been fatal for solar power markets

Treehugging - It's Healthy

Pay for trees as part of the urban public health infrastructure budget

February 19, 2018

Build Them Right, Now

It's smart to decarbonize new building construction, rather than upgrading it later, what's needed to remove obstacles on this path?

February 16, 2018

Community Organizing Advances Divestment

Who are the community organizers who pushed for the NYC pension system's decision to sell off its fossil fuel investments?

Legal Eagles: Re-Think Leasing

Green up your legal skills, learn what net zero leases can do

February 15, 2018

Sustainable Energy Now

The 2018 Sustainable Energy Facebook finds economic growth doesn't mean rising energy use

February 14, 2018

Molten Salt For 24/7 Solar Power

What does molten salt have to do with providing solar power 24/7?

City Futures

Major trends transforming urban energy + mobility systems, called out in World Economic Forum report

Droning For Climate Action

Deliveries by drone, with the right logistics, can be more climate friendly than shipments by diesel truck

February 13, 2018

Deafening Silence

The Climate War Nexus

Does climate change cause more war? No clear answer here

February 12, 2018

Drill Holes For Warmth + Cooling

Prospects grow with new tax breaks for geothermal heat pumps that provide both heating + cooling

It's All About Batteries

Forget Tesla's sexy EV's, batteries are what will drive its business

I. Can't. Even.

Make NY Great Again, a 1916 bizarro idea

February 09, 2018

EPA Chief: Trump's Scariest Cabinet Pick

It's been said about Trump's EPA chief," In the United States envisioned by Pruitt + his funders, personal liberty is everywhere. So is trichloroethylene."

Science At Work: Ice Age Climate Clues

Ice age trees buried in the Gulf of Mexico holds scientific clues to what happens when the climate changes

February 08, 2018

Stop Stumbling Over Split Incentives

Building owners often point to gaps between who pays for energy upgrades + who benefits from them as an obstacle to action. Here's a fresh take

February 07, 2018

Eco-Scores For NYC Council

Stay current with the League of Conservation Voter's NYC Council Scorecard for 2017 + ratings for many in 2018 leadership positions

The Great Energy Debate In 2 Parts

Part 1. Climate hawks agree, a 100% renewable energy is the right goal, the big debate is over whether it's achievable + how. Part 2

PV Tariff Consequences

Truth is, Administration-imposed tariffs on imported PVs are unlikely to boost domestic manufacturing

February 05, 2018

Geothermal Energy - Hot But Not

Will geothermal energy remain the "forgotten renewable"?

February 02, 2018

LEED Leadership

Let's Talk About This

Seeking climate solutions across political divides

February 01, 2018

Two Little Words

"Climate change" was MIA in the official Democratic rebuttal to Trump's State of the Union speech - was that strategic or stupid?

January 31, 2018

NYC: Shrinking Culture Footprint

A generational changing of the guard or something else? (no, not climate change)

Biking And Gender

Listen Up: Podcasts We Like

MIT energy researcher Jesse Jenkins lays out what a deeply decarbonized electric power grid might be

January 30, 2018

When A Tariff Is Not Just A Tariff

Think through some of possible implications arising from the US tariff imposed on Chinese-made solar panel

The Path To Energy Efficient Buildings...

...Runs through mortgage lending

The Price Is Wrong

Why is the cost of creating urban rail in the US so much higher than in Europe + are there better ways to build?

January 29, 2018

Not Moved By Mayor's Transportation Stance

Mayor De Blasio gets low scores from transportation advocates

Climate Policy Tactics

You can't always get what you want, but if you try sometime you find...

NJ Rethinks Nukes, Efficiency, Renewables

A bill to bail out NJ's nuclear power plants would include energy efficiency + solar incentives

January 26, 2018

Design, Justice & Zero Waste Conference + Research Collaborative

Submit your proposal for presentations + workshops at the May 8-9 conference: Design, Justice & Zero Waste: Exploring Pathways to a Circular Economy. Be part of a discussion with a global audience of innovative creative eco-minded collaborators. Proposal deadline: Feb. 18

Not A Frill

What's a frill + what's a must when building public infrastructure that's used by millions + lasts a 100 years?

Climate Disruption's A Public Nuisance

Today's climate law suits rely on the old, reliable legal standard of public nuisance, so what's that?

January 25, 2018

Assessing Trump's Solar Tariff

It could have been worse, but the President's geographic base is the most likely loser

January 24, 2018

More Wind Than Water

More US electricity will come from wind than hydropower, a history-making shift predicted by US Energy Information Agency

3rd Try For Pricing Carbon

Washington Governor + former House Member Jay Inslee keeps trying to at put a price on carbon

January 23, 2018

Growing The 21 Century Grid

Reliability + decarbonization should guide NY for developing the power grid we need now

TED Talk: Conservative(s) For Climate Action

January 22, 2018

Media Talks Energy/Climate In Trump Era

Year 1 of the Trump Administration as seen by NY Times + Washington Post energy + climate beat reporters

Wind Power Surprises

Three changes slashing the cost of wind power now

Eine Kleine Climate Musik

Rapping about climate destruction

January 19, 2018

Thumbs Up On Congestion Price Plan

Streetsblog likes what it sees in Governor Cuomo's mid-Manhattan congestion pricing proposal

January 18, 2018

Science: Out Of The Ivory Tower...

...And into popular culture

Legal Eagles: States' Role In Upholding Federal Enviro Law

If less federal enforcement of environmental law is a trend, what can states do?

Cheerleading for Offshore Wind

Big benefits for Massachusetts if it boosts its offshore wind ambitions

January 17, 2018

Renewable Energy - Lessons To Learn

Lesson #1, focus on the cost to own not the cost to buy

Christianity Not Greening

Continue reading "Christianity Not Greening" »

Tracking Solar Tariffs

A pending decision about imposing tariffs on imported solar panels may be delayed regarding available remedies + other complex matters

January 16, 2018

Creating Climate Emojis

"Climojis" are a new thing now

Exxon "Hearts" The 1st Amendment

Exxon seeks to derail climate fraud probes with First Amendment free speech claims

Energy Predictions For 2018

10 trends to keep an eye on in renewable + fossil energy

January 12, 2018

Finding Common Ground On Climate

Tips for friendly persuasion about climate change

Worse Than Trashy

An investigate journalist finds the private trash collection business in NYC is dangerous, exploitive, even deadly

January 11, 2018

Green Living Hacks

Offshore Wind Power Momentum

US prospects for a boom in offshore wind gather speed + strength + US manufacturing takes note

NY: Move Markets To Store Energy

NY's plan to install 1,500 MW of energy storage by 2025 is designed to be met by markets + Green Bank financing, not mandates

January 10, 2018

Exxon Alleges Urban Conspiracy

Exxon claims California cities suing it for climate damages are engaged in a conspiracy

January 09, 2018

Pittsburgh: Making Climate Dreams A Reality

Why environmentalists worry about Pittsburgh's climate action plan

Rx For High Solar Costs

Interested in residential solar? here's one way to cut costs by 50%

January 08, 2018

Regulation 2.0

3 ideas for reinventing regulation: apply strategic thinking; deploy communications/information technology; + engage in innovative marketing

The Way It Was

It's said the parts of lower Manhattan created by landfill are the most flood-prone as result of rising seas + storm surges, so consider the island in 1642 next time you move

January 05, 2018

The Truth About Truthiness

Maybe, just maybe, we don't live in a post-truth age after all

Divergent Fates For Urban Open Spaces

In post-Katrina NOLA, the highs + lows of open spaces offer lessons for communities + city planners

Connectivity, Resiliency, Community

In NYC, creating healthy digital eco-systems can enhance community capacity for resiliency

January 03, 2018

NYC Fire Dept. Leads On Battery Safety

Rules for energy storage gear safety will be issued by NYC Fire Department in 2018

It Should Have Been Cooler

Here's why 2017 global temperatures should set off alarms

January 02, 2018

Anti-Urban States Hurt More Than Cities

States hostile to their cities do widespread harm to all their residents + business prospects too

Streetcar Updates

Funding setbacks loom as time grows for completing a Brooklyn/Queens streetcar project feasibility study, but projects in other cities fare better

BYO In Flatbush

Teens in Flatbush campaign to cut plastics pollution, watch the video

December 29, 2017

What Climate Change Hath Wrought

Weird weather in 2017 was made weirder by climate change + how we know that

December 27, 2017

Sustainability: Ideas of Note In 2017

5 intriguing ideas from 2017 that hold sustainability promise for the New Year

New Year's Wish: Keep Energy Star Safe

December 26, 2017

RIP's In 2017

Solar + nuke businesses that died this year

Listening Outside Your Box

Intergenerational families try to talk about what's bringing changes to the dog racing sport they love

December 21, 2017

Energy Efficiency Market Failure

Is NY making a mistake in relying on market forces rather than policies to advance its energy efficiency goals?

Passive Houser Grows UP

High rise Passive House buildings become more common + NYC works on policies to accelerate this growth

December 20, 2017

DOE Manufactures A Crisis

Reality demands we distinguish problems in the electric power grid as it faces real world energy changes from the 'crisis' claimed by DOE chief Rick Perry

Holiday Tips

NY Grid Innovator Takes On Australia

Audrey Zibelman, former head of NY's Public Service Commissioner and REV champion, now expanding renewable energy in Australia

December 18, 2017

Great Green Go-Sees In NYC

Check out these 10 projects

An Energy Vision For Puerto Rico

Renewables + distributed energy resources are central to a proposal for rebuilding the Puerto Rican electric power system

December 15, 2017

Climate Refugee Destinations

As rising sea levels threaten US coastal population centers, where are people going to move?

Making The Bronx Resilient

Lots of moving parts in planning a Hunts Point resilience project, here's an outreach team webinar

December 13, 2017

NY Role In Reinventing Puerto Rico's Power Supply

December 12, 2017

Los Angeles: The Climate's Changed

Climate disruption isn't in the future for Los Angeles, it's now

How Consumers Pay Bigly For Zero Electricity

You can't make this stuff up

December 11, 2017

Reviving Puerto Rico's Power Supply

Can the lessons NY learned from Superstorm Sandy help Puerto Rico restore + replace its electric power supply downed by Hurricane Maria?

Curb Your BECCS Enthusiasm

Here's why BECCS, a speculative climate capture + storage technology based on burning crops for energy, isn't likely to save us

Get Cooler: Block-By-Block

Los Angeles, San Francisco + Palo Alto pilot a block by block citizen-engaging climate action project

December 08, 2017

Climate Message From 44 - Yes We Can

December 07, 2017

Tracking Gov's Green Promises

While the list of Governor Cuomo's environmental promises is long, has he fulfilled them?

We Are All California

When it come to climate change harms your state or territory could be next

December 06, 2017

Getting To Decongestion

Folks in cities with congestion pricing like it, but getting to yes means electeds must take some heat

December 05, 2017

Hope v Fear

Is there evidence for choosing either hope or fear in crafting climate change communications that lead to action?

What Money Can Buy

The role of climate science in Congress has been degraded by fossil fuel industry money in politics

Science At Work: Dust Does Climate Change

December 04, 2017

Energy Efficiency Is Always A Winner

Utility energy efficiency programs are growing + a good thing as they are the lowest cost way to keep the lights on

December 01, 2017

NY-NJ-CT Climate Action Agenda

The Regional Plan Association offers concrete ideas for rising to the climate challenge in the NY metro area

It's Not About You, It's About Your Income

Income levels, not good intentions or individual lifestyle choices, determine carbon footprint sizes

November 30, 2017

Pathways To Go From Brown To Green

What are we learning about the pathways + policies for making existing buildings better energy performers?

Tesla-Skeptics

Some experts doubt that the batteries for powering Tesla's newest cars are feasible

A NJ Thought Experiment

Imagine turning the Meadowlands into a climate change national park

A NJ Thought Experiment

Imagine turning the Meadowlands into a climate change national park

November 28, 2017

A Real 21st Century Question

Is 3D printing the future for rolling out super-tall wind turbine powers?

Wendy Talks TED

Watch Wendy Brawer's TED talk, she's the founder of Green Maps

November 27, 2017

No Garbage

Inventing the circular economy where nothing's wasted

Drowning By Flood Insurance

As flood insurance costs spiral up in coastal cities, what should Congress do?

Learn Differently

A revolution in education is a must for a sustainable economy, schooling must meet newly emergent needs

November 22, 2017

NYCHA's Solar Deal

The rooftops of NYC pubic housing will be hosting solar panels, but the 25 MW of renewable power will be sold for use elsewhere

November 21, 2017

The Bill McKibben Effect

What is the impact of the 'radical flank' of the environmental movement on the moderate part of the movement + why?

Green Buildings Should Go For Brokers

Energy efficiency building advocates must make the business case to brokers to get energy performance into the real estate transaction mix

What Pruitt Says, What He's Done

Let' look at the record of Trump's EPA chief, Scott Pruitt

November 20, 2017

Congestion Pricing: Harder Than It Looks

If congestion pricing is a good answer to traffic congestion + a big part of ending the NYC subway system failures, the question is what's blocking congestion pricing? (Note: decades of political decisions that injured the subway system are also to blame + congestion pricing revenue isn't guaranteed to ensure better decisions now)

November 17, 2017

Community Solar Now

Community solar power allows for shared access, think community garden, but for solar

November 16, 2017

Science v Politics

While it's not news that politics can outmaneuver science, what is news is the lack of political consequences for ignoring science. Here's a rating for the current administration

Science At Work: Evaporative Energy

More dependable than solar or wind, evaporation could become a major renewable energy source

November 15, 2017

TOD's The Way To Go

Transit Oriented Development would solve myriad problems for communities in the NY metro area

Scale Up, Scale Up Fast

If energy efficiency is is what's needed, then how to scale up investment rapidly?

Pay Now And Pay Later

Climate change damage has already cost the US economy $240 billion, expect that figure to rise

November 14, 2017

The Economics For Making NY A Clean Energy Leader

The good jobs + climate benefits of large-scale clean energy investments by NY spelled out in new report

Missing The Target

Grid Resilience And EV's

Resilient power grids + EV's make a high-performance combo

November 13, 2017

Time To Build Even Better LED's

While they're environmentally excellent, LED's are not perfect, yet

November 10, 2017

Enough With The Messaging

The time for climate persuasion is over, what's next?

November 09, 2017

It's A Swamp Thing

After decades of dredging + draining restoration of the Florida everglades begins

Be A Good Traveler

With peak travel season on the way, consider cutting your carbon footprint with the Good Traveler program

Handicapping The EV Race

Which cities are leading the way on electric vehicle markets?

November 07, 2017

Why Cool Is Hard, Not Impossible

Even if every nation meets its Paris Accord pledged goals, keeping emissions below a key threshold is unlikely, but tougher goals could do the job

Food For Capitol Energy Thought

A critic finds fault with NY's proposal for heating/cooling the Empire State Plaza in Albany + offers an alternative

November 03, 2017

Sabotaging Science

What's with EPA's plan to get rid of its science advisors in the name of 'avoiding financial entanglements'?

Slow-Going For Storm-Proofing NY

NYC is trying to mitigate the impact of a future Sandy-like disaster, but turning ideas into reality has been slow, complicated. Why?

November 02, 2017

Notable Findings

The National Climate Assessment's findings about confirmed + emergent science issues in the final draft, version, report release date Nov. 3

November 01, 2017

Tax Anxiety For Renewables

The wind + solar industries are on the alert about the fate of current Production and Investor Tax Credits in soon-to-be-unveiled GOP tax proposal

October 31, 2017

Dear Senators

An open letter to Senators Murkowski + Cantwell from former EPA Region 2 Director Enck about what's needed to help Puerto Rico get back on its feet after hurricanes' devastation

Solarize Trailer Parks

For low-income mobile home residents, solar power could be on way

October 30, 2017

Do Good - Pull The Plug

A text message alerts California utility customers to unplug their devices + cut demand for dirty power while saving money

2016: Global CO2 Spikes

Atmospheric levels of CO2 a hit record high in 2016, but WMO report finds rate of increase may be leveling

October 27, 2017

Science At Work: The Hurricane-Climate Link

Catch up with research on the hurricane-climate disruption connection

Getting More From Less

Advice for getting the right energy efficiency choices to the right customers

October 26, 2017

Incandescent, Carbon-Spewing Gentrification

Think it's hip to patronize a dimly lit bar in a gentrifying neighborhood? Think again

NYC Is Number One

NYC is ranked first as the US coastal city most in danger of major floods + sea level rise risk, but second for social vulnerability

October 25, 2017

The Time Is Now...

...for city buses to go electric, NYC, are you onboard?

Sue The Bastards

Lawyers + scientists argue about whether fossil fuels companies can be held legally responsible for climate change

POPS Flops

Privately owned public spaces (POPS), created in exchange for zoning bonuses, are disappearing from NYC, but profits from the zoning bonuses stay

October 24, 2017

Do Nothing, Pay More

Projected costs of climate disruption are huge, while there's real money to be made in switching to renewable energy

October 23, 2017

Northeast Offshore Wind News

Listen to the podcast featuring Offshore Wind Energy, there's so much happening

Sandy Five Years Later: Everything Else

From tall towers to subways, from offshore reefs to social resilience, is NY better prepared for a Sandy-scale storm now?

Sandy Five Years Later: The Electricity Grid

Has the electric power grid in the northeast been made resilient since Sandy?

Technical Terms

October 20, 2017

Climate Change, What A Nuisance

San Frannciso's climate law suit against fossil fuel firms could pivot on the power of public nuisance law

Benchmarking Pays Off

Established in 2009, NYC's building energy + water benchmarking law has a lot to tell us now

Science At Work: What Satellites See

Some power plants pollute more than volcanos + other fascinating findings from NASA satellite data

October 19, 2017

Regional Mass Transit Plans...

...and how to pay for them

Leaving Diesel In The Dust

Electric buses are starting to appear on city streets, could this be the end of dirty diesel?

Rx For NY Congestion

What is congestion pricing + how could it help NY?

October 18, 2017

Offshore Wind For Delaware

A Governor-appointed working group will make recommendations for fast tracking Delaware offshore wind project development

October 17, 2017

5 Things Wrong With EPA's Plot To Kill The CPP

Looking for a summary of what's wrong with EPA's move to off the Clean Power Plan? Read this

October 11, 2017

Solar Prices Declines Vary

Compare the speed at which the cost of residential rooftop solar power will be competitive with fossil-fueled power in cities around the globe

Intro To Environmental Impact Bonds

What are environmental impact bonds + how are they different from conventional municipal bonds?

Stuck In Denial

Why are online climate denial myths so hard to debunk?

October 10, 2017

Map It

Visualize how the US generates electricity, state by state

The Best Reason For Offshore Power

That's where the most wind is

October 09, 2017

4-Letter Word For Climate Action Impact

V-O-T-E

Rotterdam: Wrong Way On Carbon

What did Rotterdam get wrong in its climate action policy? Hint: answer starts with "c"

October 05, 2017

Science At Work: Stilling

Scientists are asking if the worldwide slowdown in wind speeds -- stilling -- is linked to climate change

October 04, 2017

Gina Says

While confident courts will uphold protections EPA created during her tenure, Gina McCarthy is frustrated that so much progress “feels up for grabs.”

We're Still In

Aligning NYC with the Paris Climate Agreement

October 03, 2017

The Climate-Alcohol Connection

More CO2 in the atmosphere means more alcohol in grapes, is that a good thing?

Oceans Of Climate Change

Melbourne: Grouping For Renewables

Renewable energy growth needs a reliable customer base, Melbourne, Australia is creating one

October 02, 2017

Climate Action: More Than Carbon

Methane + HFC's pose clear + present dangers to the global climate, curb them now

Rescue US Energy Innovation

Under threat from the Trump administration, investing federal dollars in energy research, development + demonstration make good dollars + good sense for the nation

September 29, 2017

Take Climate Action, Empower Women

A leading climate journalist never writes about the "population question" because its the wrong question

September 28, 2017

Tropical Rain Forests Now Part Of The Problem

Due primarily to human activity tropical rain forests now put out more carbon emissions than they absorb

2017 State Energy Efficiency Scorecard

Find out if your state is an energy efficiency leader or laggard + why

September 27, 2017

Build It Back Better

Reimagine Puerto Rico's power supply + grid, then rebuild it with sustainability in mind

Good Renewables News

Evidence from states with renewable energy requirements shows real growth in wind + solar, with benefits outweighing costs + more would be even better

September 25, 2017

Offshore Wind Bill

GOP + Democratic Senators, learning from state innovators, introduce a bill to aid the growth of offshore wind projects

Overcoming Climate Trauma

Feeling depressed, overwhelmed, angry as you try to resist the forces of climate disruption? Some helpful tips

Climate Rx: New Ideas, Not New Tech

Smart, scaled-up use of existing technologies can go far toward decarbonizing energy use while raising costs just 1% claims NRDC report

September 22, 2017

Science At Work: The Polar Vortex

While connecting cold winters to global warming seems counterintuitive, new research supports the idea

The Power Of Seeing

See the impacts of climate disruption on your life -- things won't look the same

Market Movers For Renewable Energy

Corporate procurement decisions are a major force in shaping renewable energy markets, but are small + mid-size businesses engaged?

September 21, 2017

Make The Connection

Don't Get Distracted By Paris

Keep your attention on gutting EPA climate action, not on the chatter about whether Trump will bail on the Paris accord

States Can Do A Lot For Offshore Wind

The future of offshore wind power at commercial scale can be shaped by state policies

PV End Of Life Planning

Can photovoltaic panels be recycled in an environmentally friendly way?

September 20, 2017

EV's Galore

September 19, 2017

NY Energy Policy Stumbles

The future of distributed solar power in NY is dimmed by a state policy order

September 18, 2017

UK: Coal Is Going, Going...

By 2025, burning coal for electric power in the UK will be history

September 15, 2017

Hurricane Risks - Inland Flooding

Pushed by coastal hurricanes, dangerous floodwaters can be blown far inland

September 14, 2017

What Government Can Do

For protecting public safety security as climate disruption occurs, government plays an essential role in rethinking the ABC's of a nation's infrastructure

September 13, 2017

Dear NY Public Service Commission

Here's why keeping our lights on means ensuring that Con Ed plans for climate change

Zero Waste Fashion

Circa 1960

September 12, 2017

What City Climate Financing Can Do

5 ways urban scale climate funding can make loans available + attractive for property owners to upgrade building energy performance

September 11, 2017

What She's Reading Now

5 top picks by Naomi Oreskes for reading about the climate change politics + why she chose them

Solar Ups And Downs

The utility scale solar power market is on an upswing, but residential solar is having its first downturn

On 9/11 And Harvey

For horrors that happen, can rules + regulations delimit the awful harm?

September 08, 2017

How Media 'False Equivalence' Works

GOP v everybody else on climate change

Go Passive, Go Tall

What's needed to build + operate a 26-story tall Passive House residential building?

Science At Work: Nanochemistry

Reducing pollution + combatting climate change are 2 of the promises of nano materials chemistry

September 07, 2017

It's Not Easy...

...being a green thought leader, here are some tips

September 06, 2017

Doom Loop Politics

It's not just the politics of climate change that's caught in the vortex of today's hyper-partisanship

Don't Blow The Carbon Budget

The world's already spent 73% of its carbon budget, can it avoid busting that budget now + avoiding climate chaos?

September 05, 2017

Coping With Climate Dread

How to stop worrying + start coping with climate change

September 01, 2017

Tax v Congestion Price

NYC's subways run on money, what's the best track for raising what is needed?

Call It Futurology...

...or call it climate porn, but don't dismiss this narrative of coastal cities deeply disrupted by climate in the 2020's-2030's + how to pre-empt it

August 31, 2017

Legal Eagles: 11 Climate Q/A's

Consider 11 climate law questions raised by Hurricane Harvey + mull over future-facing solutions

Solar Friends/Solar Foes

There are more than 2 sides in today's struggles over advancing rooftop PV

No Zoning, No Building Code, No Defense

In the name of development, Houston has no land use rules + no building codes, so who picks up the tab when disaster strikes?

August 30, 2017

Questions That Will Outlast Harvey

What will it take to rethink: flood insurance, oil refinery regulations, human vulnerability to 'natural" disasters, federal climate policy?

August 29, 2017

Time To Talk About Climate Change AND

Now's the time to talk about climate change + other systemic injustices turning disasters like Harvey into catastrophes

9 Things We Can Say About Harvey + Climate Chaos

Climate disruption didn't 'cause' Harvey, but it’s a huge part of the story

August 28, 2017

Clean Tech Investor: Lessons Learned

Why do clean tech investors have such a hard time making a buck + what could change for DER?

The Sustainability-Diversity Link

Make the connection by making the good business case

On Cancer And Climate Change

One blogger's personal meditation

August 25, 2017

Buried Treasure In Energy Grid Report

Bright prospects for renewable energy can be found in the Department of Energy grid reliability report, if you look for them

Become A Better Climate Communicator

How to get to "Hey, we’re in. We’re on board with these goals to get to carbon neutrality" whether it’s individually, in companies/corporations, in our cities or our states

I Was An Exxon Scientist

Climate scientist Katharine Hayhoe, did Exxon-funded, methane research + confirms claims about the contrast between its internal cutting-edge climate research + its external climate disinformation campaign

August 24, 2017

Listening To Trees

From the Amazon to Manhattan trees offer lessons about nature's connections

Tilting Against Windmills

The electricity grid reliability report issued by the Department of Energy puts its finger on the scale for fossil fuels + nuke power

August 23, 2017

The Other NWA

The Non-Wires-Alternative electric power revolution gears up in NY and CA

Cool Your City

Effective, doable actions to cutdown on the urban heat island effect

August 21, 2017

Green Roof Proof

Do green roofs live up to their promise? researchers in Hoboken,NJ to study which designs work best

Know The Score

The first environmental action scorecard for NY state legislators is released by the League of Conservation Voters

Debate: Wrong/Right Path To Climate Action

Consider this: three things wrong with Democrats'/environmentalists' approaches to climate action

August 18, 2017

A Carbon Cheerful Scenario

Consider this: how Dems might get Trump to enact a carbon tax

August 17, 2017

Climate Science At Work: Clouds

What we know now and what's not yet known about the climate change/cloud nexus

My Summer Reading

Here's a review of 2140, a slightly sci-fi take on a very climate-changed NYC in the not so distant future; I say it's a good read

US Energy Use - From Past To Future

While technological change has been a constant in the history of energy in the US, flat-lining usage is something new

August 16, 2017

V2G

For everyone who uses a car, the vehicle to grid circuit would be transformative

Help Is On The Way

With the ability to multi-task, electric vehicle batteries could become much more valuable

August 15, 2017

Tell Me Why

What explains the 14% fall in US carbon emissions from 2005-2016?

Just Do Them

Houston: Green For Some

The greening of Houston misses many neighborhoods still burdened with chronic pollution + toxic environmental risks

August 14, 2017

It's Big, It's Passive, It's East Harlem

The nation's biggest Passive House project, coming to East Harlem, will create 655 affordable housing units

August 11, 2017

Introducing REV Connect

REV Connect, a centralized portal for distributed energy providers, could be a game changer for NY

Summer Reading

The rising seas of climate change

From Dirty To Clean

August 10, 2017

Raising Big Bucks To Save The Subway

Making the case for tolling NYC's free bridges + creating a central business district congestion fee that would create $1.5 billion dedicated to fixing the subway system

The Strength Of Weak Ties

With 80% of the world's population living in cities by 2100, reliance on the creativity urban life sparks to grow sustainably + resiliently will be a must

The Strength Of Weak Ties

With 80% of the world's populations projected to live in cities by 2100, reliance on the creativity that urban life sparks to grow sustainable + resiliently will be a must

August 08, 2017

Consider This

According to the draft National Climate Assessment, which the Trump Administration may never finalize + release "Many lines of evidence demonstrate that it is extremely likely that human influence has been the dominant cause of the observed warming since the mid 20th century. Over the last century, there are no convincing alternative explanations supported by the extent of observational evidence."

Paradise Soon

Solar power + battery storage equal a clean energy "paradise" to come in Kauai

An Inconvenient Sequel

If Al Gore isn't the real star of his new climate documentary, who is?

August 07, 2017

Making Green Bills Better

The Environmental Defense Fund has suggestions for making proposed NYC energy efficiency bills even more efficient

Wind Makes Work - Or Doesn't

Spin into the controversy about whether the wind energy industry is creating (enough) job domestic jobs

Get Indivisible On Environmental Action

Environmental protections are at risk in Washington -- get informed and do something about that

August 04, 2017

9 States Mull New Carbon Caps

The nine RGGI-member states plan their next carbon cap + trade moves, despite Trump's climate rollbacks

Jacobson v Clack

Mark Jacobson makes the case for a 100% renewable energy system while Christopher Clack calls this goal a dead end

August 03, 2017

Moving Past The Summer Of Hell

Suggestions for Governor + Mayor to make the NYC transit system great again

August 01, 2017

2020 Wish List

A climate action champion would make a great 2020 Presidential candidate

July 31, 2017

Carbon Cap Adds Up To Big Bucks

EXCLUSIVE: Tightest pollution cap could get #RGGI states $3.2B more https://t.co/i0KfQOfE8C via @NRDC #CT #DE #MA #ME #MD #NH #NY #RI #VT pic.twitter.com/Bo2FJWIidc

— NRDC Energy Team (@NRDCEnergy) July 31, 2017

Bullet-Proofing Trump's Eco-cide

Trump's eco and climate hostile Executive Orders will gain strength if Congress makes them law

July 28, 2017

Energy White Paper For NYC

What are the principal electric system paths for getting NYC to its 80x50 climate action goal?

July 27, 2017

Carbon-Free City

Being built from scratch, Peña Station Next, Colorado will aim to be carbon-free

Risky Career Choice

'It's never been harder to be a climate scientist'

Advancing Renewable Energy Goals

State renewable energy portfolio standards have been key in state clean electricity advances - now market demand is beginning to rise

July 26, 2017

The Five Risks

What are the 5 gravest risks the Department of Energy must grapple with?

July 25, 2017

Green Building Index - 2017

Dive into data on the greening of US office buildings + find today's key trends. Note: for NYC, #10 on a list of 30 cities, only Manhattan properties are counted

Stumbling Block For Energy Efficiency

Federal law pre-empts cities + states from setting appliance/equipment energy efficiency standards, even if the Trump Administration stops engaging. Are there work arounds?

Fossil Energy Embraces Clean Tech

Gas-burning power plant makers start installing batteries to create energy hybrid systems

July 24, 2017

Refuting Pruitt

Taking down Scott Pruitt's rationale for gutting EPA climate + fuel efficiency policies

Finding Climate Unicorns

What are carbon unicorns + how can cities find them?

Cool Gear

Cool as in not overheating in a changing climate

Smarter + Safer

Do you agree? Smart tech will help make weird weather challenged cities safer

July 19, 2017

Urban Heat Island

Dangerous Urban Heat Islands

Satellites detect dangerous Philadelphia urban heat islands with the most vulnerable populations

Science At Work: Measuring Heat

For climate science, measuring temperatures on land + sea is evolving + this affects understanding the historical data

July 17, 2017

The Great Los Angeles Anti-Car Revolt

Really? Yes!

Staff Draft Of Energy Grid Report Makes Waves

A leaked DOE staff-written draft of a report assessing power grid reliability undermines Secretary Perry's renewables skepticism

July 14, 2017

Practical Advice From EPA Alums

A practical guide for resisting Trump's EPA agenda, written by former agency employees

July 12, 2017

Shut It Down Together

How a green-blue alliance found the right way to shut down a coal-burning power plant in a Buffalo, NY suburb

Batteries Are The Game, Set, Match

July 11, 2017

Offshore Wind: Cleveland's New BFF

With abundant offshore wind an a history of manufacturing knowhow, Cleveland sees renewable energy as a path to a sustainable economy

Climate News v Climate Porn

The climate doomsday scenario laid out in NY Magazine raises big questions for journalists, scientists + activists

July 10, 2017

Intro To Other Renewables

Wind + solar are not the only renewable power sources

The Uninhabitable Earth

"It is, I promise, worse than you think, is the first line of NY Magazine's climate disruption feature story

July 07, 2017

How Cities Can Drive Sustainability

Can they? Read the comment section

July 05, 2017

The 21st Century Penthouse

100% Aspen

Getting 100% of its electricity from renewable sources, is Aspen, CO a role model for other cities or a one-off case?

July 03, 2017

Entitled To Your Own Opinions, Not Your Own Facts

Trump's Paris Exit Is Bad Economics

Economist Joseph Stiglitz deplores Trump's abandonment of the Paris climate accord, something that would have been very good for the US

June 30, 2017

Media Coverage, By The Numbers

Why the wide diversity in news coverage on 2017 protest marches + coverage of Trump's Paris climate accord withdrawal?

Think Differently

Cleaning up the toxic Gowanus Canal is an opportunity for fresh thinking about urban waterfront design

June 29, 2017

80x50: From Roadmap To Road Building

What we know now + what hard decisions must be made for NYC to meet its goal of cutting GHGs 80% by 2050

June 28, 2017

The Great Green Investor Shift

Urban Heat Island Roll-Back

City design must minimize the urban heat island effect, people's lives are at stake

Solar Cost Plunge

Around the world, solar installation costs spiral down + will keep plunging

June 27, 2017

Time To Retire "Baseload"

Think Recarbonizing Not Decarbonizing

Paul Hawkin, founder of Project Drawdown, explains why our climate goal should be recarbonizing

June 26, 2017

Power Grid: Advanced Study

Why "baseload" is such a 20th Century electric power gird standard + can replace it in the 21st Century

Africa: Solar Powering

Ready, set, go, the solar power race is on in Africa

Don't Mourn Paris, Organize

Climate action isn't stopping for Donald Trump

June 23, 2017

Needed: The Right Urban Policy To Grow Passive House

Fierce Fight Over Energy Goals

Hot debate + high emotions over a scholarly report advocating a 100% renewable energy nation by 2050

Cool Neighborhoods

NYC's guide to keeping neighborhoods safe when its way too hot

June 22, 2017

Science At Work: Sharper Satellite Vision

Improved satellite imagery is a power tool for conservation sciences

Fort Collins: 80x30

Energy efficiency programs, rolled out by the local electric utility could fast forward For Collins, CO GHG goals by 20 years

June 21, 2017

What Benchmarking Means To Managers

What do NYC building managers really think of Local Law 84, the energy benchmarking mandate?

Cities Are Not Climate Leaders

Consider these contrarian views on claims about urban climate action leadership

Celebrate Solstice 2017

June 20, 2017

South Texas Is To Wind Power...

Like Napa is to wine grapes, no room for other energy commodities

June 19, 2017

Climate Denial's Demolition Derby

Demolishing the legal keystone to federal climate action is high on the denial agenda

One Less Thing To Worry About

Wind turbines won't make you sick

Rx For Urban Heat Islands

June 09, 2017

Don't Ask "Do You Believe In Climate Change?"

Why it's essential to ask public officials the right questions about climate policies (Hint: read on for a good one)

Offshore Wind's Time Is Now

Even without subsidies, offshore wind is getting cost competitive with conventional energy sources

June 08, 2017

Trump Dims Prospects...

...for sustained international climate action

June 07, 2017

Shrinking Bipartisan Hopes

With little GOP member pushback on Trump's Paris exit , don't pin your hopes on Congress' bipartisan climate club

Bus Time

Countdown clocks could be just the thing to make NYC bus riders happier + keep them out of taxis

Plan Ahead

June 06, 2017

See The C Train...

...to see why NYC subways are running so badly now

We're Still In

Bye-Bye Climate, Hello Kochs

The role of climate bad hombres, the Koch Brothers, is clear in Trump's abandonment of the Paris climate accord

June 05, 2017

Connectivity 2.0

How a re-conceived digital ecosystem could advance urban resilience by way of fostering communities of trust

June 02, 2017

Trump: Diplomacy Loser

The international implications of Trump's dumping the Paris climate accord are disastrous + ends US status as 'the indispensable nation'

June 01, 2017

Plan B

Since Trump won't save the planet, it's up to us, argues new book by Bloomberg + Pope

China's Climate U-Turn

What explains China's quick u-turn from climate denier to climate leadership?

May 31, 2017

ExxonMobil Shareholder Vote

Defying ExxonMobil management, shareholders approve a resolution calling on the corporation to disclose business risks posed by climate change + international regulation

Public Green On Private Property

A run-down of the contentious issues in play for putting green infrastructure on private property in NYC

Seattle: Room For Sustainable Improvement

While Seattle merits it's sustainable city reputation, it faces mobility issues

May 30, 2017

Fannie Mae Tweaks Green Mortgage Program

Green home financing requirements get an update from Fannie Mae

May 26, 2017

Mind The Energy Performance Gap

Are there solutions to horror stories about buildings modeled to be energy efficient but aren't?

Think Big On Passivhaus

Get active on Passivhaus, check out this study about implementing Passivehaus standards for tall residential buildings

May 25, 2017

Renewable NY

Think California is the only state taking big bold steps towards a decarbonized future? Think again

Web Surfing For Carbon Cutters

For your consideration

How To Act Locally/Reflect Globally

The options checklist 101 for US cities + states to impact climate choices at the international scale

May 24, 2017

Kill The Science Messenger

Proposed Trump budget would gut federal climate/energy science research + programs

May 23, 2017

Censoring Science

A US Geological Services press release about a science study of sea level rise threats is scrubbed of any reference to climate linked coastal flooding, follow the discussion over whether this is government censorship

The Nuclear Option - Not

Is the financial collapse of the Vogtle nuclear power plant development by Southern Co. + Georgia Power something other than bad luck?

May 22, 2017

Meet Lamar Smith

Texas voters start to wonder about climate science denying, environmental regulation foe Congressman Lamar Smith

May 18, 2017

How Doth Your Green Bank Grow

It's fertile times for state-level green banks

May 17, 2017

Park Resilience Re-Do's Challenged

Wagner Park, at the south tip of Manhattan, is at high risk of climate disruptions, but that hasn't stopped redesign critics

May 16, 2017

Guaranteed - Wrong Choice On Paris

Whatever he decides, here's why Trump will make the wrong choice on the Paris climate accord

May 15, 2017

Climate Video Of The Day

The four horsemen the of climate apocalypse

NY: A Top Energy Efficent City

Of 51 US cities, New York is a star in the energy efficiency firmament, Learn about all of them here

May 11, 2017

Get Healthy

California's Negative Price Riddle

What should be done when the price of electricity from renewable sources drops below zero?

Transit Equity

Outer boroughs get short changed on mass transit

May 10, 2017

Come Clean

Some Surprising Solutions To The Climate Crisis

What makes the top 100 ideas proposed in a new book offering solutions to our climate crisis?

Legal Eagles: Tossing Science Aside

Consider the qualification rules for membership on the EPA Science Advisory Board + whether businesses reps qualify

May 09, 2017

Building Front Line Climate Defenses

To amp up its climate resilience, NYC issues architecture design guide lines for coping with extreme heat, floods + storms

May 08, 2017

Moving To Safe Places

Rail transit is a good way to get to safe places in case of extreme weather emergencies, research finds

Just One Winner With US Paris Pact Exit

True or false? Steve Bannon would be the only winner if Trump yanks the US out of the Paris climate pact

The Perils Of Pauline Gowanus

Maybe the idea of burying the Gowanus Expressway isn't dead after all

May 05, 2017

NYT Climate Op-Ed Do-Over

A rewrite of the (very) heavily criticized first piece by the New York Times new columnist Bret Stephens

May 04, 2017

To Wall Or Not To Wall

Build a wall or move inland is the great debate in New Jersey coastal towns

May 03, 2017

Build NYC To Last

With extreme heat + flood risks in mind NYC publishes building design guidelines tailored for adapting to climate change

Making Moves On Energy Makeovers

Undertaking energy retrofits in NYC buildings is no sure thing, now consider these opportunities to accelerate the pace

May 02, 2017

Central Park Lessons

What are the replicable + scalable take-aways from the Central Park Conservancy for other urban parks?

Miami: High Ground, Rising Prices

Given Miami's climate risk profile beachfront real estate could lose its appeal to inland higher ground + displace current residents

Cut The Jargon, Act On ESG

Investors now have the tools to understand how asset managers actually consider environmental, social/governance risks + opportunities

May 01, 2017

NYT: Not Entitled To Its Own Facts

New to the furor over Bret Stephens, the New York Times' climate-science slamming columnist? Catch up

Needed Now: A Penn Station Savior

Will Andrew Cuomo miss the opportunity to be the savior of Penn Station?

We Were Warned

Back in 2011 Grist magazine explored how climate change was starting to alter the urban landscape. Reader, what's changed since since?

April 28, 2017

The L-Ternative Contest

Contest winning proposals for moving between Brooklyn + Manhattan during the L train shutdown

Rating 45's First 100 Environmental Days

"Lazy + plutocratic" writes Dave Roberts

Adventures In New Tech: Molten Silicon

Can an Australian energy start-up replace conventional storage batteries with molten silicon tech?

April 27, 2017

Track US-China Solar Trade Dispute

What could be the consequences of petitioning the US over the import of low-cost Chinese solar panels?

Learning From Benchmarking

The wealth of data coming from NYC's building energy benchmarking law reveals a lot, community district-by-community district

April 26, 2017

Different Kind of Rx For Climate Change

Just like the bail out of banks during the Great Recession of 2008 saved the financial system, a federal buy out of fossil fuel firms could save the planet

People Love Parks, But

Despite all the benefits of urban parks, they're not getting the sustainability planning + support they need to thrive

State Carbon Tax Prospects

The Carbon Tax Center analyzes prospects for enacting carbon taxes, state-by-state

April 25, 2017

The Climate In Washington

Washington State climate politics + policy according to Governor Inslee

Market Forces Fatal To Coal

Calculating the market forces that are putting the big squeeze on the US coal industry

April 24, 2017

Quote Of The Day

“Attempting to revive coal or nuclear is like defibrillating a corpse: it will jump but it won’t revive." Amory Lovins

Old Kodak For New Solar

Old Kodak film-making machinery gets a new life to make cutting-edge solar power cells using a mineral discovered in the 19th Century

Don't Mourn - Organize Now

At the local government , community + corporate levels, citizen organizing to achieve climate action can have fast results

April 21, 2017

Build It Right

Continuous Improvement Needed

Getting to scale on building energy performance means learning from case studies

Pathways To Energy Efficiency Success

Proposals to improve energy efficiency in affordable, multi-family housing by modifying current regulations (Summary)

April 20, 2017

Natural Gas - Top US Electric Power Source

Up-to-the-minute overview of US electric power generation capacity with natural gas on top

Rather Be In Philadelphia

Super-scary scenario for climate dislocations facing Florida coast home owners

April 19, 2017

Changing Minds On Climate Change

Top four reasons people cite for switching from climate doubters to human-linked climate change believers

Siting Renewables In The Northeast

Four proposals for getting to yes on local approvals to site renewable energy installations

Negotiating 101: Don't Be The 1st To Compromise

Since no GOP elected's show signs of supporting a carbon tax, no supporters should start with things they'd negotiate away

April 18, 2017

The Flip Side Of Climate Risk

Consider the decarbonization opportunities

Stay Or Go

The likely consequences of a Trump decision to stick with the Paris Climate Accord or to bail

Climate Positive Architecture

The AIA's 8 climate change principles for architects + policy makers

Economic Health Needs Earth Science

Consider the links between our economic vitality + data-rich earth sciences

April 14, 2017

Looking Behind The Anti-Science Tag

For your consideration

April 13, 2017

Boston: Design For Living With Water

In the face of sea level rise, Boston's got a resiliency plan custom-designed for waterfront city

South-East Wind Power

Does the new Amazon wind farm in North Carolina signal a shift in regional electric power supplies?

Blowing Our Way

Prospects for a job-growing offshore wind industry to thrive in the USA

April 12, 2017

Learning How To Teach Sustainability

An experienced Arizona State University professor shares what he's learned about how to teach sustainability + help students become effective professionals

Obama's Climate Legacy

Niskanen Center lead lawyer gives a C+ to the Obama Administration's climate action accomplishments

April 11, 2017

Richard Florida: Urban Optimist Reconsiders

Have persistent inequalities + the Trump election changed the views of urban booster Richard Florida?

Avert Mass Transit Collapse

Just as mass transit is essential to the NY-NJ metro area, adequate + timely federal funding is essential to keep it going

April 10, 2017

94 Year Old Invents A Battery Breakthrough

Cost + life cycle problems with energy storage batteries are solved by a team of inventors led by a 94-year old

Finding Green In NY Budget

Tally up the environmental wins + losses in the just-passed New York State budget

Mind The Gap

Proposed EPA budget cuts will hurt some states more than others, but will hurt everyone when it comes to scientific research + controlling multi-state toxic pollution

April 07, 2017

All-Renewables: Fact or Fantasy

Optimist or pessimist, read up on the latest thinking about the feasibility of reaching a 100% renewable electricity goal

The Great Tree Giveaway

Get a free tree in NYC during Earth Day weekend 2017

April 06, 2017

Expect Some Unexpecteds

What might happen to climate policy in the Trump Era that would be a big surprise?

Ye Olde El

April 05, 2017

UN Energy Lessons

Would more energy have been saved if the UN headquarters had been demolished + built anew rather than retrofitted?

The Long-Term Impact Of Today's Transit Plans

Los Angeles + Philadelphia officials grapple with powering choices for tomorrow's urban mass transit

Making The Corporate Sustainabilty Office Matter

What's the most effective way to make the most of a corporate sustainability officer?

April 04, 2017

Why Trump Enviro Executive Order Won't Work

The environment won't benefit from the US President's recent climate inaction Executive Order, but transitioning to a low carbon economy is happening anyway, led by China

Renewable Energy: - Not If...

...but how + when to get to 100% renewable energy, an intro to these controversies

Dubai: The Big Shrink

By 2050, Dubai aims to have the smallest urban eco-footprint on Earth, what's the plan?

April 03, 2017

More Than Climate's Endangered

Science and the rule of law are jeopardized by the way Trump wages war on climate action

From The Mayberry Ministry Of Truth

Talking points by US President on clean air + energy

April 01, 2017

Black Lives Should Matter More...

... to environmentalists + to the Democratic Party

Tweaking PACE

With the popularity of PACE energy financing, the need for certain lending standards + consumer protection come into focus

March 31, 2017

Bloomberg's Climate Message - Don't Despair

Mike Bloomberg makes the case why coal wasn't killed by Obama + Trump won't kill climate progress

Rezoning Rockaway

In an area at risk from storms + sea level rise, will rezoning increase safety for Far Rockaway residents + businesses? Draw your own conclusions

Strike, Spare, Gutter

March 30, 2017

Now Everyone Can Be A Loser

Lower fuel economy standards are bad for everyone, even US car makers

Conservative Climate Converts

There aren't many, but the conservatives at the Niskanen Center have become climate tax advocates

March 28, 2017

DER: Put A Price On It

Now, NY will create a road map for pricing distributed energy resources, let's get going

No Retreat, No Surrender

For communities on the front lines of climate disruption, other answers may be better

Nuclear Power SOS

Can technology + regulatory changes save the nuclear power industry?

March 27, 2017

Science At Work: Climate And X-Treme Weather

Evidence mounts for blaming recent extreme weather on planet-scale that shift due to climate change - don't miss the video

Help Wanted: Policy Director

The London-based Climate Bonds Initiative seeks Director of Policy engaged in growing global markets for green financial instruments. Interested? Contact Claire.Berson@climatebonds.net quoting “Policy Director” in the subject line.

March 24, 2017

Meet Mustafa Ali

For 24 years, Mustafa Ali spent 24 years worked to advance environmental justice at the EPA, now he reflects

On The Climate Beat

The competition heats up between newer climate coverage media and the old

6 Ways President's Energy Plan Doesn't Add Up...

...but who's counting?

March 23, 2017

Keeping Our Paris Promises

Scientists' must-do list to meet Paris Accord climate goals by 2050

March 22, 2017

Cutting Wind Energy Costs

Watch out coal, the prices for wind power have already plunged, more coming

Cities Of The World...

...Leading the way on effective climate action, when will their countries help out?

It's Not Just Climate Science In The Crosshairs

In the Trump Era, attacks on mainstream media put independent journalism at risk + erode the foundations of democracy

March 21, 2017

Working The Energy Beat

Steve Mufson + Amy Harder discuss the biggest issues + changing landscape for energy beat journalists today

March 20, 2017

The Deep Decarbonization Debate

Yes we can, but what belongs in the renewable energy mix?

Offshore Wind Is On The Way

Roll over fossil fuels, Atlantic coast developers are figuring out how to do offshore wind

Energy Star Shines In City Centers

March 17, 2017

Oil Think

Clean Energy Job Boom

The lives behind the numbers

Extinguishing Energy Star

ICYMI

March 16, 2017

The Grey And The Green

Design parks for older adults, here's why

Rx For Urban Public Transit

The All Transportation is Local report, is a toolbox of ideas for cities to make better public transit project choices

Follow Spread The Money

Bloomberg reports the Obama Administration put climate-action money into myriad federal programs, making it harder for climate deniers to find + cut

March 15, 2017

Changes In Climate Polling

Don't Inhale

Air pollution denial could be the next climate denial in Washington

Blockchains 101

Want a sustainable planet? Here's how blockchains could help

March 13, 2017

Cuomo Flat Utility Tax - Bad

At least one critic calls Governor Cuomo's new state-wide flat tax on utility bills both regressive + unfair to NYC

Don't Get SRUB'ed

Want to protect public health + safety? Meet SCRUB, the bill seeking to undermine them + has already passed in the House of Representatives

EPA: What Matters Now

When it comes to EPA chief Pruitt, outrage over his science-free climate denialism is beside the point

March 09, 2017

Bill Gates: No Energy Storage Bellweather

Maybe it's just bad luck, but Bill Gates' energy storage tech investment in Aquion was the kiss of death

March 08, 2017

Think Globally, Act Globally

When it comes to slowing or reversing climate change global action is necessary, cities can't do it on their own, but here's what they can do that matters

Worse Weather Reports

With NOAA facing a 17% budget cut weather forecasting, which is linked to immediate public safety + climate research, which is linked to long-term public safety, are being jeopardized

March 07, 2017

Another Reason To Love Energy Efficiency

With the closure of the Indian Point nuclear power plant, NY's best opportunity for balancing electric power supply + demand is more energy efficiency

Exxon: What Its Auditors Knew

In the hot battle between Exxon + the NY Attorney General over the corporation's climate change awareness and investor risk disclosure, its auditing firm might hold key information

March 03, 2017

Decoding Pruitt

Consider what new EPA chief Pruitt said, didn't say, + what he meant in his first address to the agency

WSJ Doesn't Set The PACE

Fast-growing Property Assessed Clean Energy financing is nothing like a sub-prime loan crisis, sorry Wall Street Journal

March 01, 2017

Why Debate Solar Power...

...when real estate developers can make money from installing PV?

Making Sense of China's Carbon Data

It appears Chinese carbon emissions are trending down, but what does this mean?

Americans Don't Talk About Climate Change

February 28, 2017

Enviro-ECHO

A tip for environmental reporters, keep an eye on what happens to environmental enforcement under Pruitt's EPA, start with the ECHO database

CA: Mapping For Tomorrow's Power Supply

California utilities are mapping power grids to enhance distributed energy resource capabilities

Uber: Bad For NYC Mobility

Weighing in on a new report Unsustainable?
The Growth of App-Based Ride Services + Traffic, Travel + the Future of NYC

February 27, 2017

Federal Climate Change Funding - Then

1993-2014, trends + issues - that may become moot now

Renewable Disruptions

Given their power to disrupt business as usual, governments should be supporting renewable energy

February 24, 2017

Knitted Light Installation

See solar power's power at an upcoming MoMA PS1 installation by Jenny Sabin

Denial, Depressison And Melancholia

A reading list on the psychology of climate disruption experience

How Administration Could Off The Clean Power Plan

The current President says he will dismantle Obama's Clean Power Plan, here, how

February 22, 2017

And The Answer Is...

Electrify everything, it will save the planet + the utility biz too

Soak This In

February 21, 2017

Legal Eagles: Environmental Protections At Risk

With both climate + wetlands already at risk from executive order rollbacks, it's important to know the details of each for formulating defenses

Solar Power - Fine Print Matters

Loss of special tax credits may not the biggest threat to the growth of solar power

Adapting In Massachusetts

How are Massachusetts coastal communities, dealing with the challenges of climate adaptation?

February 17, 2017

The EPA Under Pruitt

Why Trump's pick of Scott Pruitt to head the EPA could be such a big deal

February 16, 2017

Why Big Biz Won't Press For Climate Action

According to one CEO, environmental issues aren’t a priority for many CEOs because, unlike immigration or gay rights, they do not directly affect company employees

Taxes And Renewable Energy

How might federal tax code changes impact the renewable energy industry?

Foodscrap Finance

Soon, NYC food waste could be converted to profitable energy by a composting company on Long Island

February 15, 2017

Meet Will Happer

Possible Trump science advisor Will Happer explains his doubts about climate science + why he thinks more CO2 is great

EPA: Gray/Green Alliance

EPA retirees around the country mobilize to defend colleagues still working for the agency, as fears of deep layoffs, regulatory rollbacks + science suppression spread

The Green Beat: Reporting Now

Advice from veteran environmental + energy reporters on how to do top-notch green journalism now

February 14, 2017

Must Be Love

The End Is Nearer

Toshiba's failure to build modular nuclear power plants on time + at cost, are devastating the company + could mean the end of any nuclear power rebirth in the US. BREAKING Toshiba chairman resigns

Don't Repeat This History

 What doomed last year's Washington State carbon tax legislation was a fissure within the climate movement, centrist economists + other policy wonks favored it but progressive greens opposed. Don't do this again with the GOP-floated carbon tax

February 10, 2017

Consider This

Is technological innovation the silver bullet to fight off climate chaos?

How Things Work: NYC's Electric System

When you recharge your phone, know what's behind the outlet

February 08, 2017

Green Ranking NYC Co-ops

Now, along with benchmarking scores, NYC co-op residents can get an Energy Star score + see how their buildings stack up

Keeping Your Powder Dry

February 07, 2017

Science At Work: Debunking NOAA Climate Debunker

One example of how climate scientists are responding to a UK media attack on NOAA's climate science + a US journalist's summary of what it's all about. Now, attacker clarifies that he wasn't slamming NOAA's climate research

Revisiting Sustainable Business And Design

Part 1 getting sustainability expectations right + Part 2 learn from experience, it's the best way to improve

Renewable Energy And National Security

Will DT disrupt the clean energy mission of the US military launched by President Bush in 2003?

February 06, 2017

Pie In The Sky

Lovely to look at, but here's why images of tree-covered skyscrapers don't translate well to reality

February 03, 2017

Yawn-Proofing Climate Data

Climate Data helps you explore how climate change affects your world by searching events, impacts + related climate signals

Eco-Scoring The City Council

Make the grade with the League of Conservation Voter's annual NYC Council scorecard rating all 59 members

February 02, 2017

NYCHA: 30x27

NYCHA takes the Carbon Challenge, pledges to cut its GHG emissions 30% over the coming 10 years, here's how

State Scientists/Planners' Power To Face Sea Level Rise

With new, more alarming sea level rise projections planners, scientists + budget makers in coastal states like California can do a lot to enhance resilient infrastructures

Predicting The EV's Future

Will electric vehicles do to oil what cars did to the horse + buggy?

February 01, 2017

Revolutionary NY Utility Regulator's Farewell

Audrey Zibelman, the woman spearheading NY's REV, sums up the project to re-invent electric power regulation before heading to Australia

Gorsuch On Green

How might Neil Gorsuch rule on environmental cases if he's Supreme Court nomination is approved?

January 31, 2017

Installing Energy Storage Batteries

Tips for getting a permit to install energy storage batteries in NY buildings

Solar Tiles v Solar Panels

How to decide between solar roof tiles + panels

No Longer Unthinkiable

"Organized retreat" enters the discussion about climate adaption strategies

January 30, 2017

Location, Location And Infrastructure

Real estate relocation deciders cite smart infrastructure + investments as a driver

Imagine

The 2030 District movement moves cities toward high performance + carbon neutrality, neighborhood by neighborhood

#Women For Climate In NYC

January 28, 2017

Flora And Fauna And Climate Change

If you know where to look you will see how climate change is affecting NY's plants + animals

January 27, 2017

Tweet Of the Week

"A thermometer isn't democrat or republican. It won't give you a different number depending on how you vote" Katharine Hayhoe

Bank's Ask And Tell On Climate

Asset manager, State Street Bank, asks corporate boards to disclose more information on what's being done to protect their businesses from climate change impacts

Posting Accurate Information Is The Law

Get to know the Information Quality Act, it requires that information posted on government websites like the EPA's must be accurate + unbiased

January 26, 2017

What's Old Is New Again

For the first time in millions of years the atmospheric concentration of CO2 breaches a critical threshold -- here's why it matters

Politics Not Following The Money, Yet

While wind + solar power have become the cheapest electric energy sources, most politics + regulations have yet to adjust accordingly

Meteorology's Public Trust

Why 21th century meteorologists have different responsibilities than 20th century weather people

January 25, 2017

Benchmarking Buy-In

Building energy benchmarking programs surge in cities around the nation, props to the City Energy Project

Science At Work: The Temperature Rise Start Line

Determining how close the planet is to crossing a climate-changing increase in temperature depends on where measurements start

Linking Nuke And Climate Sciences

How arguments about nuclear weapons shaped the climate change debate

January 24, 2017

Science 101: Public Facts

Explaining public facts, why they're so important + the role of the scientific method in establishing them

Tips For US States From Australian States

What happened to Australian states' energy policies when confronted with a fossil fuel-friendly federal government?

January 23, 2017

Higher Math: Solar Trade Tariffs

Calculating the winners + losers of higher US tariffs on Chinese solar panels is complicated

Now More Than Ever

Don't let the DT administration disrupt the climate action campaign, urges Bill McKibben

January 20, 2017

NY To Obama: Thanks For The Legacy

Obama's environmental legacy will benefit New Yorkers for year to come

The Power Supply Coming Your Way

There's a revolution happening in what electric power utilities + consumers can be doing, let's discuss it

January 19, 2017

The Big Climate Tech Question

Is carbon capture the killer app for slowing down climate disruption?

GOP Govs Renew On Renewable Energy

Here's how job growth in renewable energy can trump GOP political ideology

I'll Have What They're Having

January 18, 2017

One Hull Of A City

Renewable energy art installation "The Blade" comes to Yorkshire's coastal city, Hull

Get Up To Date With Data

Dive into the global warming data behind the headlines, courtesy of Berkeley Earth

January 17, 2017

SOS

Save Our Science at Senate hearings on EPA nominee Pruitt

January 12, 2017

NYCHA's Got New Design Guidelines

80-year old NYCHA, the nation's largest public housing agency, releases new guidelines that mix the realistic with the aspirational

January 11, 2017

US Wind Power Update

What's driving the growth of wind power in the 10 biggest production states?

2nd Avenue Subway - A Teachable Moment Century

NYC needs more subways, a Crain's NY editorial hopes NY will learn from the Second Avenue subway to build more, better lines now

Citites Unite To Buy EV's

Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle + Portland, OR may pool their market power to buy 24,000 electric vehicles, what about your city?

January 10, 2017

The Nightmare "P" Word

How could federal preemption be used to zap progressive state + local climate friendly laws?

Vertical Farming Takes Root

Look what's growing in Newark!

Huge Job Creation Engine

The US energy efficiency industry has already created 1.9 million new jobs + strong job growth projected for 2017

January 09, 2017

Look Deeper Into Tillerson

The media's been myopic in focusing only on Secretary of State nominee Tillerson's Russian ties

2nd Avenue Subway's Not Enough

21st century urban infrastructure projects can't end with the 2nd Avenue subway, here are some strategic suggestions

Fixing Methane Leaks

New technology advances will be deployed by the largest natural gas utility distributor in the northeast to detect + fix methane leaks

January 07, 2017

Science At Work: Risk of Atlantic Current Collapse

What is the AMOC + why are two new studies about its climate vulnerability important?

January 06, 2017

Growing Sustainable Tourism

Where is sustainable tourism headed in 2017?

The Future Of Climate Disclosure At The SEC

in 2010, the SEC began guiding corporations to publicly disclose certain information about climate risks facing investors, what will Trump's SEC nominee, Jay Clayton, do?

Build A Better Climate Narrative

If public awareness + attitudes about climate chaos matter more than ever, become a better 'storyteller' now

January 05, 2017

Energy Democracy

A thought experiment to radically rethink today's energy utility business models

Bright Ideas For LEDs

A guide for the perplexed about choosing the right LED lightbulbs

January 04, 2017

Impacts Of A President's Science Policy

Don't know if the incoming POTUS thinks science policy matters, but here are some facts about how it affects the economy

Pretty Pictures, Ugly Trends

Enviro Journalist Tips

Look for the best climate + energy news at the local + state levels now

January 03, 2017

Resiliency Reveille

Wake up to the latest or what US cities, large + small, are doing to raise their climate resilience

What Passes For Good News Now

The New Climate Capitals

From Albany to Sacramento, expect states to pick up the climate + clean energy momentum that will be lost in Washington

December 30, 2016

Meet The Climate Science Persuader

Ben Santer is a climate scientist who's ready to do some prime-time mind-changing in the Trump Age

Urban Mass Transit: The First Second Aveue Subway

From 1880-1942 the Second Avenue "el" took passengers from City Hall to 59th Street

December 29, 2016

Whew! Glad That's Over, On To 2017

Talking Heads Who Say The Darndest Things

The 15 dopiest things media figures said about climate chaos in 2016

December 27, 2016

EJ Expectations Dim

Just how bleak are current prospects for the environmental justice movement?

Kid Power

Follow The Settlement Money

When NY officials settle big law suits, what do cash settlements get spent on?

December 22, 2016

Obama's Science Advisor Looks Ahead

John Holdren, Obama's science advisor, says if the fact of climate disruption is acknowledged by the next administration, then it will have paths to choose from to avoid catastrophic changes

December 21, 2016

Hail And Farewell EPA Chief

EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy calls science the bedrock of the agency's mission + looking to the future says,"I feel pretty confident that what we have done is really very solid work"

Mapping NYC PV Potential

Explore this hi-res map of NYC's sun + shadow, block-by-block, season-by-season

2016: Top Solar Trends

Let the sun shine on this year's top-ten solar trends

December 20, 2016

Do Well By Doing Good

December 16, 2016

Bursting Carbon Bubbles

"Bubbles" for economists are overpriced assets — enough of them pose systemic risks — now think about how this applies to the price of fossil fuels + waterfront properties

Walmart Ups Its Climate Ante

Walmart sticks with climate activism, cutting the GHG footprint along its supply chain a Gigaton by 2030

Useful Knowledge From NASA

December 15, 2016

WEDG For Better Waterfronts

Foundations step up funding for WEDG, the Waterfront Edge Design Guidelines, to engage with, communicate about, + influence resiliency + designs for NYC waterfront projects

Energy Efficiency Computes

More Reslience Now

Strategies for cities to effectively + cost-efficiently improve their resilience in the face of risks posed by climate change

December 14, 2016

Now For Some Good News

A solar + storage microgrid for an Brooklyn affordable housing project advances 3 goals: keep operating costs down, cleaner energy + increased reliability

December 13, 2016

Book Review: ExxonMobil and American Power

With all this news about ExxonMobil, a little history is timely

December 12, 2016

Mapping A Future Without Coal

Energy economics + plunging prices of wind + solar power = RIP coal

CT: Green Bank As National Model

Since opening its doors 5 years ago, Connecticut's Green Bank has led the way on using public funds to leverage private investment in clean energy, energy efficient buildings + green jobs

December 09, 2016

Good News About PV-Making

In just one year, the amount a power needed to manufacture a solar panel + GHG emsisions created is equaled by the power it creates

A Sinking Feeling About Rising

Parts of the NY metro area will go underwater + others will be at greater risk of flooding as the region's sea level rises

December 08, 2016

Final Thoughts From Obama Science Advisor

John Holdren, the outgoing Presidential chief science advisor, finds reasons for tempered climate action optimism + thinks putting a price on carbon could get bi-partisan support

Train Tunnel Mystery

Is there really a lost locomotive in a 19th C. Brooklyn train tunnel?

A Tale Of Two Cities

Hotels compete with flowers on West 28 Street

December 07, 2016

Kids Sue To Have Future

Meet the teens who are suing to protect their Constitutional rights + a future threatened by climate change

Municipal Solar

What's up with rooftop solar power on City-owned buildings in NY?

December 05, 2016

Rx For Congestion

Will the latest cure for NYC's chronic traffic congestion get a test drive?

December 02, 2016

Meet Our Infrastructure

With all the talk about boosting jobs + the economy with big infrastructure investments, what is it + where is it?

December 01, 2016

The Melting Arctic Blogger

Neven Curlin, who's been blogging about the Arctic melt down for almost a decade, calls it quits for now

Green Numbers Cruchers Launch Climate Index

Calculate climate risks with the ACI; the Actuaries Climate Index is monitoring tool to understand climate trends + potential risks of a changing climate caused by observed extreme weather + sea level rise on the US and Canada

Vision For New Waterfront Park

Get a first look at design ideas for a new park coming to Brooklyn's old industrial + polluted waterfront

November 30, 2016

Blockchain For Clean Power 101

Could blockchain be the BFF to finance distributed renewable energy expansion?

The Consequences Of Politicizing Science

NASA spends almost as much on climate science research each year as it does on space exploration, what would Trump cuts to its climate budget mean?

Favorite Fake Climate News

Check out social media's most liked fraudulent climate news

November 29, 2016

Zero Cost, Big Savings, And Maybe A Raise

Paris Climate Accord: Key Financial Strategy

To keep the promises of of the Paris climate accord demands finance for sustainable infrastructure that is both low-carbon + climate-resilient, insists to Prof. Lord Stern

Bloomberg - Don't Mourn, Organize

Former-NYC Mayor Bloomberg calls on 128 US mayors to join the Paris Climate Accord, whatever the next President decides to do

November 28, 2016

Clean Air Act Boosts Economy

By investing more capital in pollution control technology, businesses had the capacity to produce more output while cutting pollutants is the reason why the US improved air quality + gained manufacturing between 1990 - 2008

Economists Count Cost Of Climate Harm

Climate change is or soon will harm global economic health say a majority of professional economists + current models low-ball that harm surveys find

November 25, 2016

Sustainability And The Customer

If 'sustainability' is as trending corporate claim, do US consumers care?

Atlanta: Community Safety In The Streets

Learn how 3 Atlanta, GA neighborhoods are cutting risks of stormwater damage by using porous paving materials + related green street improvements

November 23, 2016

Dear President Elect

A letter from 33 Mayors calling on Donald Trump to partner with them on climate-friendly policies + actions

To Be Or Not To Be

Will bright prospects for offshore wind coming to NY be realized now?

November 22, 2016

A Love Letter To Burlington, VT

A 100% renewable energy city, how Burlington Vermont made it happen

China: Global Climate Leader

If Trump derails US climate efforts, China will seize the opportunity to become the world's #1 climate-action nation + the economic benefits that entails

November 21, 2016

For Your Consideration: Trump And Ecomodernism

"Are we taking pragmatic actions to encourage the best impulses of the new administration or are we legitimizing something much darker? The choice is not one that will be presented to us all at once...we will be presented with it over and over again."Ted Nordhaus

Meet Steve Bannon: Climate Denier In The White House

Donald Trump's climate-change-is-a-Chinese-hoax views are baseless, but didn't come out of thin air

Book Review: Strangers In Their Own Land

Written before the election, Arlie Hochschild discover why economic self-interest + environmental health are no match for Trump's allure to Louisiana voters

November 18, 2016

Guides For the Perplexed

Interviews with climate activists on what to do during the Age of Trump

Trump's Energy/Climate Future

A first take on what Trump could/might/probably can't do to US energy + climate policy when meeting market + tech realities

Resiliency: From Theory To Practice

Climate resiliency adaptation plans of 17 US cities

November 17, 2016

Kauai: Sun Power At Night

Think solar power is just for daytime? Think again

Yes Or No: Trump Will Undo Obama's Climate Progress

While President Trump can't change climate science, experts weigh in on how much climate policy progress he might erase

Let's Hope They Can

Activist says climate-committed US cities are the great hope for this nation's contribution for cutting GHGs

November 15, 2016

Ensuring Battery Safety

NYC tackles the challenge of devising safety measures to minimize the fire hazard risk of energy storage gear

Canada Needs Benchmarking

Can't manage climate change without measuring building energy performance + improving it

Meet Mike Catanzaro

Some climate-stance background on Mike Catanzaro, a member of Trump's transition team. Want more?

Red Alert For Green

With President Trump + a GOP Congress what could happen to environmental protection?

November 10, 2016

This Is The End - True Or False

Does Trump's election mean abandoning all hope of keeping global heating below 2 degrees C?

The Clean Energy Opportunity

Unlike climate action politics, transitioning to clean energy is a goal many Americans share + states can do a lot

The Climate's Changed

Don't mourn (too long), organize

November 09, 2016

Where The Action Could Be

November 08, 2016

Psst — How to Save $3.4 Billion

Better benchmarking data can help apartment building owners save $3.4 billion on energy bills annually

Smart Cities For All

Do the right thing + deploy the right tools to ensure smart cities are technologically savvy + intelligently adaptive to all residents’ needs

November 07, 2016

Charleston: Red State City Acts On Climate

Coastal Charleston isn't waiting for South Carolina to take climate action

The R Word

Has 'Resiliency' been hijacked to promote pricey development in NYC?

Stop Scaring Us

If the Apocalypse is not the right climate action meme, what is?

November 04, 2016

Meeting The Climate Challenge...

...When BAU innovation isn't good enough

China: Living In More Desert

With all the talk of climate disruption, what's it like to live in China's expanding desert area?

November 02, 2016

Unexpected Headlines

Forget California: Northeast is emerging as a clean energy leader

What Moves People

Don't miss the New York Times readers' comments on Mayor de Blasio's proposed Brooklyn-Queens streetcar

Move Along

What's happening to public housing residents whose buildings were destroyed by extreme weather?

November 01, 2016

What Art Makes Visible

Smart Cities For All

Too much smart city research + planning is driven by the technology, rather than citizens' needs; this must change

October 31, 2016

Ante Up

The price tag is no reason not to invest big time in modernizing NYC's mass transit system

Inside The Sacrifice Zone

How the grave gap between Louisiana's sky-high pollution and its loyalty to the Tea Party illuminates our fraught political terrain

Value Added Farms Grows In Red Hook

How Value Added Farms, a roof top community project in Red Hook, has recovered + thrived after being destroyed by Sandy

October 28, 2016

Before The Flood: Season 2

WW II Not The Model For Climate Action Now

What's the flaw in Bill McKibben's stirring call for Americans to do a WW II-type mobilization for climate action?

October 27, 2016

The Mediterranean World Won't Be The Same

With 2 degrees C of global heating, here's what will happen to habitats around the Mediterranean world + it's unprecedented

Renewables In Higher Eduction

While use of renewable energy is growing, US college campuses still have far to go before they zero out carbon

This Means War

October 26, 2016

Science At Work: The Rising Methane Mystery

If the usual suspects don't explain the surge in methane emissions since 2007, what does?

October 25, 2016

New Tech Venture For Old Utility

Southern Company, a major regional utility, partners with Bloom Energy to put power-making fuel cells along with battery storage gear on-site at customers' businesses

Don't Buy Coal's Claim

While energy poverty is a real problem coal's claim to be the answer is unreal

Needed: A Better Weatherman

Why is US weather prediction so bad + why does it matter?

October 24, 2016

Hear That Pin Drop

Not The Road To Recovery

City actions in the wake of Superstorm Sandy are filled with missed opportunities says Staten Island leader

Lip Service Is Not Enough

Consider this campaign targeting corporations to give more than lip service to taking climate action

Corporate Climate Commitment: Beyond Words

Consider this campaign targeting corporations to give more than lip service to taking climate action

October 21, 2016

Why Climate Was A Debate Unmentionable

Topics at Presidential debates track subjects high on the public's radar, research finds climate change isn't, possibly because it's so frightening

October 20, 2016

Urban Archeology

Remnants of NYC's original 1904 subway system hide in plain sight at the Union Square station

Offshore Wind Power Thrives In Europe

Unlike the US Europe's offshore wind projects are booming, why?

October 19, 2016

Making Affordable Housing Resilient

What NYC needs to do to make affordable housing resilient, Sandy's teachable moments

Forecast: Rain With Green Infrastructure

October 18, 2016

Climate Activism End Runs GOP

The international agreement to phase out climate hostile HFC's will bind the US without having to get GOP approval

The Big Melt

Why is the melt-off of Greenland's ice such a big deal?

October 17, 2016

Stop Climate Change Together

Climate activist Bill McKibben nails it on why going solo on climate commitments won't stop chaotic changes

October 16, 2016

A Roll of the Dice

Most of the computer models that form the basis for the Paris agreement's emissions cuts assume negative emissions technologies will be removing C02 from the atmosphere on a large scale later this century

October 15, 2016

Curb Your HFCs

October 10, 2016

Matthew Tests Insurance Underwriters

Not since Hurricane Wilma hit Florida in 2005 has the U.S. Flood Insurance Industry and the niche FL wind coverage market been been stress tested

October 04, 2016

Risks Posed By Climate Change

October 01, 2016

Taking A Different Tack

September 28, 2016

EPA Climate Action Rules' Day In Court

What did judges, lawyers + observers say about the federal Appeals Court hearing on the EPA Clean Power Plan?

A Map To Remember

How NYC Will Decarbonize - In Depth

Developing the details, NYC's action plan to cut its carbon footprint 80% by 2030. Next up, stand + deliver!

Bloomberg's Legacy

Shrinking NYC's carbon footprint will be Mayor Bloomberg's biggest positive policy legacy

September 27, 2016

Micro-Grids - Demonstration, Legislation, Policy

Catch up with the latest microgrid developments in NY, CA + MD

September 26, 2016

Wayback On Trump's Climate Go-To Guy

Myron Ebell, Trump's newly named EPA transition advisor, is an old climate change denier

Sunrise For Green Resilience

September 23, 2016

2 For The Price Of 1

An international agreement to eliminate HFC's, a chemical widely used in air-conditioning + foam insulation, would help slow climate change while healing the ozone hole

Uncertainty Is The New Urban Normal

Get a bike + deal with it

Community Microgrid Power

What are community microgrids and why would New York neighborhoods need them?

September 22, 2016

Do The Carbon Math

What will happen to Earth if all its fossil fuel resources are drilled, pumped + burned?

Green Is The Color Of Urban Resiliency

Put A Lid On Heat

What's important about trying to limit global heating to 1.5 degrees Centigrade?

September 21, 2016

Guess Who

September 20, 2016

NYC Resilience Report Shout-Out

Doesn't Look Like A Good Plan B

September 19, 2016

The Sound Of Silence

Nutrient pollution + acidification are silencing the sounds of oceanic life

How Trump Could Exit Paris Pact

Off ramps from the Paris climate pact for a President Trump

Climate Change Rx

Electrify everything, here's why

September 16, 2016

It's Not An 'Act Of God'

It's climate change and FEMA flood maps are failing to keep current

Rx For Toxic Hot Spots

A carbon tax, although the need to solve EJ and undocumented folks' equity compensation issues remains

Consider The Oyster

Climate-induced ocean acidification harms oysters, but seaweed could come to the rescue (at least for the oysters)

September 15, 2016

2 Cheers For A Carbon Tax

For Bill McKibben, pricing carbon is a must, but it's not enough

It Only Hurts When You Laugh

The comic climate change timeline

September 14, 2016

The Great Re-Naming

Want cities to take action on climate change? Call it something else

Not Your Grandma's Electric Company

In Brooklyn + Queens Con Edison's energy efficiency/demand management project is so 21st Century

Never Waste A Good Crisis

The 18-month shutdown of the L train is the perfect opportunity for NYC to transform its transit system

Local Solar Politics Now

When it comes to solar power, local politics plays a pivotal role, so what's new now?

September 13, 2016

Science Citizens Ask

20 questions for Presidential candidates about science

September 12, 2016

Today's Quote

September 09, 2016

Smoother Sailing For Off-Shore Wind

Federal agencies announce a strategic plan to ease the path to offshore wind projects

September 07, 2016

#ExxonKnew

An update on Exxon's efforts to dodge the bullets of Attorney Generals and the public about its climate change knowledge + its denialst campaign to derail climate action

Science At Work: Cyclones And Climate Change

Predicting cyclones in Europe provides insight on why it's hard for climate science to make accurate weather predictions

September 06, 2016

Shh! It's A Secret

Now it can be told, learn about the 14 year secret solar power society of industry + thought leaders, the Solar Circle

Mapping Renewable Power Potential

Reviving The Oyster

Natural selection may help oysters survive human microbial threats + climate change, new research finds

September 02, 2016

Climate Chronograph

Design proposal for Washington DC, plant a field of cherry trees at a vulnerable spot for sea-level rise. When saltwater floods the land, trees closest to the shore will begin to die and then row after row of trees will turn brown, providing a publicly-visible marker of rising seas

Public Divide Grows Despite Scientific Unity On Climate Change

The partisan gap in the US over climate change enlarges as the unity of scientific agreement strengthens

The Status Of Smart Grids

Are investor-owned utilities making advances in developing smart grids and networks?

September 01, 2016

Watch Out Fossil Fuel Investors

The price of installed solar power hits historic lows, expect trend to extend

Irene: 5 years After

It was just a Category 1 storm, but 5 years after Irene, there are many resilience lessons for Vermont

August 31, 2016

Not A Call To Climate Arms

A polemic about Bill McKibben's polemic/metaphor/literal climate action call to arms

Seth Meyer Does Climate Change

Laughter can't hurt, but climate denialism can

New Use For Old EV Batteries

Maybe, just maybe old EV batteries can be repurposed to store power on the grid

August 30, 2016

Eighth Avenue Microgrid

Here's the Eighth Avenue microgrid feasibility study, in case you don't have time to real all 83 NY Prize proposals

83 Microgrid Contenders

Plug into the applications for NY Prize funding by 83 microgrid project proposers around the state

83 Microgrid Contenders

Plug into the feasibility studies for NY Prize funding submitted by 83 microgrid project proposers

August 29, 2016

Human See, Human Do

Electric vehicles could catch on with the public way faster than predicted

Student Journalists Active On Idling

Routine violations of NYC's vehicle anti-idling law uncovered by student journalists

Seeking The Holy Grail Of Batteries

Why is so hard to build -and commercialize - a better storage battery?

August 26, 2016

Give It A Whirl

Cap And Trade And Enviro Justice

Would limits to California's carbon cap + trade program, as set forth in new legislation, be a good thing for the environmental justice movement?

Twin Cities: Net-Zero Neighborhoods

Three development sites are being planned as net-zero neighborhoods in the Twin Cities

August 24, 2016

In A NY State (Of Community Solar) Mind

What portion of the nearly 2 gigawatts of proposed community solar projects in NY be built?

At Long Last

NYC's latest annual energy + water benchmarking report, analyzing data and trends from 2013

August 23, 2016

Bridging With Gas

The potential for natural gas to be a useful bridge fuel to a renewable energy future hinges on how long we'll stay on that bridge

August 22, 2016

America's Worst Post-Sandy Flood

Understanding the devastating Louisiana floods in the climate chaos context

City Sustainability...

...Just another urban legend?

August 19, 2016

Legal Eagles: Thumbs Down On Court Fracking Decision

A federal court decision striking down an Interior Department fracking regulation gets poor reviews from legal scholars

August 18, 2016

It's War Or Not

Bill McKibben issues a call to World War level mobilization for tackling climate change, but Dave Roberts asks whether it's "war" that Americans want + if that can jolt the political dial

Meet What's Under Your Feet

First lesson in urban resilience, get acquainted with the vital infrastructure that's underground

August 17, 2016

CA Cap And Trade Endangered

Is there a real risk that California's cap + trade program will expire in 2020?

August 16, 2016

Think Like A Wall Street Investor

Why a master of investor risk management is an carbon tax advocate

ID'ing Super Methane Leakers

New research pinpoints major methane hot-spots around the US and finds they're linked to leaks from fossil fuel production, processing + transport

August 15, 2016

Climate Change Is The 21st C Axis Threat

Bill McKibben writes we must wage war on climate change now with the all-out commitment we brought to WW II

The Ick Factor - It's Not Just Rio

While the Olympics has spotlighted the failure to treat sewage waste, it's not the only city with this problem

August 12, 2016

From Coal Jobs To Solar Jobs

A new university study makes the case that retraining coal industry workers for solar power jobs is feasible, but acknowledges obstacles

An Ex-Solar Skeptic Explains

What converted this solar skeptic to seeing its bright future?

August 11, 2016

Wind Politics Blows Into VT Gov's Race

Pro-wind power candidate Sue Minter beat an anti-wind power rival in the Democratic primary + faces an anti-wind GOP candidate in November

Green Lease Tools Handy For Renters

When making rental decisions commercial building tenants now can compare a location's energy performance + other business-relevant productivity metrics

August 10, 2016

More Years Of Living Dangerously

Year 2 of the climate-themed tv series, Years of Living Dangerously will kick off on October 30

August 09, 2016

Forget About Tomorrow...

... Climate change is happening now + the world may have reached a point of no return

Explore The Bronx River

August 08, 2016

Ferry Review Advances Climate Analysis

The Environmental Impact Statement written for NYC's plan to expand ferry service considers both the environmental impact of new ferry service + the impact of climate change on the the project

August 05, 2016

NYC's Ex-Garbage Dump

Composing 'Ear Worms'

Will the Rap Guide to Climate Chaos stick in your mind?

Smarter Grid, Safer Food

A $137 million microgrid for the Hunts Point Food Distribution center moves closer to reality with NY Prize money to fund a project feasibility study

August 03, 2016

Picture This

Float Your Boat

Consider the pros + cons of Mayor De Blasio's citywide ferry plan launching in 2017

August 02, 2016

The China Syndrome - Not The Movie

China opting for nuclear over coal to get its energy, even with post-Fukushima disaster pause

Relocate Now Or Lose Trillions

10 states at greatest risk for massive residential real estate losses due to rising sea levels

Extreme Heat: Today's Public Enemy

Get the facts in 70 seconds

July 29, 2016

Rashomon In Energy World

Today, actors in the energy sector have as many ways of seeing the world as characters in the classic Japanese film Rashomon

Clinton/Trump/Carbon Tax

Views on a carbon tax are not the only things that distinguish a Clinton from a Trump climate + energy policy

July 28, 2016

Clinton's Climate Champion

Meet Gene Karpinski, president of the League of Conservation Voters + former US PIRG chief

No Nuke Power Shocks

The scale ,safety + cost of shutting down German nuclear power + storing radioactive waste stir concern

Will PV Mean EJ In DC?

Will environmental justice benefit if PVs aren't affordable for everyone to meet Washington DC's renewable energy goal?

July 27, 2016

NYC's Underground Park

Get the lowdown on the Lowline, NYC's subterranean park

Obama's Place In History

President Obama's action on climate change could be his greatest historic legacy

Truth In Sustainable Advertising

Don't greenwash, don't greenblush; how to accurately describe green packaging, products or services

July 26, 2016

Beat The Heat Advisory

Making Great Public Spaces...

...and why they matter for urban public values

Help Wanted: 'Opening the Edge' Fellowships

Deadline July 28 The Design Trust for Public Space, partnering with NYCHA, will award four fellowships in community organizing, landscape architecture, active design, and lighting design for Opening the Edge: Reimagining Green Space at Wald Houses

July 25, 2016

Yeas And Nays: Transit-Oriented Development In Chicago

Despite Mayoral support & project successes, transit-oriented development in Chicago has its critics

Hot Buildings Aren't Cool

Overheated buildings threaten occupants & cannot be ignored, even in Passive Hose designs

Floatovoltaics: A Win-Win Choice

Installing floating photovoltaic panels on drought-stricken southwest lakes, what's not to like?

July 22, 2016

Nuke Power: The Green Debate

From an economics + a climate POV is nuclear power worth saving?

5 Old Spaces For New Public Places

As NYC's population soars, converting old infrastructure locations to new public recreational places makes sense, here are 5 projects with real potential

July 21, 2016

GOP: Our Way Is The Highway

As to federal spending on mass transit, high-speed rail, ferries, bike-share programs, sidewalks, recreational trails, landscaping +historical renovations, GOP platform says fuggedabout it

A River Runs Through It

Cities dive into river restoration, but expectations vary

Tesla's Tomorrows

Elon Musk has goals for a creating a sustainable energy economy, but does he have a plan?

July 19, 2016

NY: Enviro Law Update

Attention environmental legal eagles, update on New York's key 2015 court & regulatory developments

Low-Income Housing Is Energy Efficient Housing

Why is making housing more affordable by making it more energy efficient such a 'wicked' problem?

Illuminating Facts

Calling All Candidates

A election year guide on progressive, climate-friendly urban policy, courtesy of Grist

July 18, 2016

Keeping A Lid On It

Deep dive into the relationship between state RGGI carbon cap + trade schemes and the EPA Clean Power Plan

July 15, 2016

The Politics Of Pricing Carbon

Foreground + background about the Democrats' position on how to price carbon

NYC: Stay Safe By Staying Cool

Extreme heat's a serious health risk, here's how to beat it in NYC

July 14, 2016

Clouds On The Move

Scientific analysis of 30 years of cloud data supports climate change theory, here's how

The Kelp Cure

Kelp + other sea plants hold promise to use soft-solutions for rising ocean acidification linked to carbon emissions

July 13, 2016

Next -Gen Power Grid

Three scenarios for the power grid of 2030. Hint: they're all distributed systems, but the similarity ends there

How L.A. Kept Its Cool

During a record heat wave how did Los Angeles keep its AC going & its lights on?

Linking Green To Blue

Academic research at U. C. Berkeley documents connect the dots between a low carbon future and good jobs & careers in the clean energy industry

July 11, 2016

London And Paris: Deadly Heat

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Strategic Coastal Retreat

Retreating from the encroaching Atlantic, 19th Century-style

July 08, 2016

Fast Track Shoreline Protections

Protection of 'living shorelines' may soon get fast track federal permits because they are power tools for fighting sea level rise

July 06, 2016

Drowning NYC

Can NYC be saved from fateful flooding powered by climate change?

Dem Platform: Abandon Fossil Fuel, Not Workers

With a goal of 100% renewable energy by 2050, the Democratic Party election platform also promises a $30 billion investment in coal communities

July 05, 2016

Believe It Or Not

The true, if just-weird, story of how George W. Bush tried to raise the gas tax

Boulder: Lessons For A Public Utility

Is turning a private power utility public a silver bullet for boosting renewable energy?

July 01, 2016

Exxon Calls It Free Speech...

....but others call Exxon's anti-climate action advocacy defrauding investors

June 30, 2016

Chile: Renewable Energy At Risk

What are the primary drags threatening Chile's once-booming renewable power sector?

June 29, 2016

Help Wanted: Social Media Editor

The Natural Resources Defense Council is hiring a social media editor to work in the NY office

June 28, 2016

Why Price Is Not Enough

A Superstorm's Teachable Risk Moment

A study of damage from hurricane storm-surge inundation on the Atlantic & Gulf Coasts finds more than 6.8 million homes are at risk, with a total reconstruction-cost value of more than $1.5 trillion

Congress Can't Use Science As Excuse For Climate Inaction

Congress should use the scientific consensus about climate change to make bold policy for cutting GHG emissions

June 27, 2016

Best Solar Output

Once again, SunPower is validated as maker of the world's most efficient rooftop PV panels

June 20, 2016

From The White House To Your House

White House Accelerates On Renewables

Initiatives to advance energy storage technology & integrate renewables into the power grid are announced the Obama administration

Find Your Solar Potential

Get energized, explore New York's new solar map for residential & non-residential buildings

June 16, 2016

The Exxon Empire Strikes Back

Exxon Mobil sues the Massachusetts Attorney General in a Texas court to stop a climate fraud probe

Outer Boro Rails

Hop on board for a NYC outer-boro-only rail proposal discussion

Big Banks Still Bankroll Fossil Fuel

Despite claims of backing away from fossil fuels, big banks still investing billions in them

June 15, 2016

A Renewable Win-Win In TX

Top 10 Solar Installers

Who are the top US solar installers and do they do to get there?

Walking Spurs Property Development

Smart urban growth by way of walkable cities is lined to more valued development

June 10, 2016

Obama: Green The Supply Chain

Suppliers of goods to the federal government,, when bidding on contracts, might have to report whether they publicly disclose GHG emissions, plans for cutting them & risks climate change poses to their operations

Candidates On Energy And Climate

What Clinton & Trump are saying now on about their energy and climate policies

When Failure Is Not An Option

If urban sustainability is a necessary goal, how will it be achieved?

June 09, 2016

The Methane Melee

Carbon Tax Optimists

Making the case for the possibility of success

June 08, 2016

Stop Urban Heat Death

Adding the heat of climate change to the urban heat island effect, puts cities on notice to create workable cooling strategies and precautions now

June 07, 2016

Bloomberg Rx For China's Urban Climate

One former NYC Mayor has some smart growth proposals for China's burgeoning cities

June 06, 2016

Bronzeville: The Future Of Urban Energy

Chicago's southside Bronzeville neighborhood will be the living lab for big time energy system innovations

Donald-Proofing US Climate Commitments

What steps is President Obama taking to prevent a Trump administration from running riot over the US commitment to the Paris climate accord?

A Lone Star Blow To Coal

As Texas coal-burning power plants retire, nearly 100 % their energy will be replaced by solar sources

June 03, 2016

Sewage Harbor, Methane Included

Energy Revolutionary

Professor Mark Z. Jacobson is a leading advocated of saving the planet by converting to a 100% renewable energy economy

Intro To REV's Revenue Roadmap

Underpinning success of the NY REV, a new carbon-conscious approach to utility regulation, is a road map that will make it feasible for utilities to earn revenue from new sources

June 02, 2016

No More Tears

NY REV Update: How To Make Money

New rate design is a major tool created by NY's Reforming the Energy Vision for enabling utilities to make money in a transformed business model context

0 x 50 - Or Not

The NY State Assembly takes climate & environmental justice action by passing a bill to ban almost all non-vehicular greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, now keep an eye on what the State Senate does

May 31, 2016

'Ocean State' Senator: Climate Warrior

Rhode Island Senator Whitehouse pulls no punches about who's to blame for Congressional inaction & climate change denial among elected officials

Rain Gardens For Queens

What are rain gardens and why is NYC spending $7.3 M to build 321 of them in Queens?

Secretary Of The Future

Want the next President to take the future seriously? Here's a climate/infrastructure place to start

May 26, 2016

Trump's Energy Policy Speech

The takeaway

Zoning: Flawed Power Tool

Readers comment on a New York Times article reporting 40% of Manhattan buildings could not have been erected with today's zoning rules

Weighing The Alternatives

Making the case (a bit reluctantly) for step-wise climate incrementalism rather than the big binding international deal

May 24, 2016

An Inconvenient Truth: 10 Years After

Overcoming his initial disinterest in doing a documentary, the impact of Al Gore's An Inconvenient Truth grows larger a decade along

German Solar: Growing But Not Shining

Germany loses its global solar leader position, although growth resumes

May 23, 2016

Climate Science Now

A digest of current climate science research for us civilians

May 20, 2016

Interact With This Map

Dam

Today's trends in hydroelectric dams is illustrated by comparing the US & Costa Rica

May 19, 2016

Not Your Grandma's East Harlem Waterfront

Plans are afoot for transforming the East Harlem Esplanade & neighborhood waterfront recreational access

Solar Benefits By The Numbers

NY Green Bank Does Energy Efficiency

Although small compared to its solar deals, the NY Green Bank provides a $5 million line of credit to an energy efficiency consultant

May 18, 2016

Green Legal Eagles Mount New Exxon Challenge

A new law suit contents if Exxon knew about rising climate risks facing its facilities, then it had a legal responsibility to take protective steps, but it did not

Birds Of Paradise

See them here, make your day

May 17, 2016

Oil Rig Lessons For Offshore Wind

Yes, Virginia, there is something the offshore wind industry can learn from offshore oil extraction

Location, Location, Location

If you were a clean tech company in which state or city would you most like to locate & why?

Spend Nickles, Save Communities

New York's low-income communities will be big winners with the new nickle plastic bag fee

May 16, 2016

Trump's Climate

"I will not support or endorse a carbon tax", Trump tweets

NY Could Cut Renewables' Gordian Knot

Can the NY REV solve a renewable rate setting problem that's got other state utility regulators & customers tied up in knots?

Renwable Energy Today

The global growth of renewable energy is soaring but further progress faces challenges from the conventional power grid

May 13, 2016

DOE Cuts Off Funds For TX Carbon Project

What's up with DOE suspending money for a carbon capture & storage project in Texas?

The Utility Times They Are A Changing

The Edison Electric Institute, the voice of the electric utility industry, says disruption is happening, innovate or else

May 12, 2016

Win The Building Energy Performance Trifecta

Eight tin-depth proposals for making buildings into energy efficiency champions

ICYMI

Climate change, what you need to know now

May 10, 2016

The Climate Funnies

Future Ferry Landings

As a city both linked & separated by water, see what's coming to upgrade 15 NYC ferry terminals

Puebla: 90x50

Today it's not just national government tackling climate change, learn what Puebla Mexico & others are doing

May 09, 2016

Help Is Here

Car Free NYC Revival

Time to accelerate the car-free streets movement by looking back at NYC in the 1970's

Limits To Urban Climate Powers

Cities face 6 big barriers to climate action, especially when national political commitment is lacking

May 06, 2016

Top 10 Green Projects

What makes a winner in the 2016 sustainable architecture project awards?

Public Unaware Of Climate Rule

Obama's Clean Power Plan, a landmark & controversial climate rule, but most Americans have never heard of it

May 05, 2016

What Can We Do?

It's not about you

May 03, 2016

American Climate Refugees

First-of-its-kind climate resilience grant to resettle Native Americans

May 02, 2016

If I Only Had A Brain

Team Heila Technologies wins MIT Clean Energy Prize (CEP) for creating a "brain" for microgrids

April 29, 2016

Progress Toward OneNYC

What progress does the de Blasio Administration cite in meeting its OneNYC goals?

Store Energy With Gravity And Rocks

Effective energy storage doesn't have to be new-fangled

April 28, 2016

Solar Bankruptcies: Compare And Contrast

Lessons learned from the very different reasons for bankruptcy at solar firms Solyndra & SunEdison

Euro Lessons For Reviving US Rail

Building A Greener Battery

Can Energizer develop small batteries that are no longer big environmental polluters?

April 27, 2016

Locating Energy Poverty

A-List Climate Writer Tackles Carbon Tax

Climate & energy journalist Dave Roberts on what it would take, politically, to create a carbon tax able do what's needed

April 26, 2016

NYC: Leads By EV Example

Cities & states can have a real clean air impact by purchasing EV fleets and NYC is a leader

Climate Feedback

Explore this new website where climate scientists review online media articles, provide ‘feedback’ on the scientific accuracy of the information presented & readers can see these annotations directly alongside the original texts

The Post-Paris Climate

What to expect now that the Paris climate accord has been signed by 195 nations?

April 25, 2016

Detroit: Climate Justice, Climate Action Now

Detroit decides that community-based climate action is not a luxury that can be put off for tomorrow

5 Flaws In Federal Energy Bill

Critics identify 5 faulty provisions in the recently passed Senate Energy Policy Modernization Act

Regional Systems To Modern Euro-Grid

Knitting together a fragmented electric power grid is key to European energy progress

April 22, 2016

Needed: Carbon Revolution

2 cheers for carbon taxes but don't stop there if climate-saving carbon cuts & an energy revolution are the goals

Getting Technical About NYC's Low Carbon Future

The newest technical recommendations for transforming NYC buildings for a low-carbon future

NYC Earth Day Query

Is NYC doing its part on key climate action items?

April 21, 2016

True, Even Self-Evident

The outcome of the 2016 Presidential race will be critical to the outcome of the Paris climate accord

Save The Planet With Data

Cities, states & corporations must honor pledges to disclose and verify their GHG emissions data or effective climate action will be impossible & here's how NAZCA can help

April 20, 2016

Nostrils Are Portals For Pollution

How climate change adds to American's health risks from breathing polluted air

Make Tomorow By Mapping It

Don't miss this Green Map, power tool for shaping the Lower East Side of the future

More Than One Way To Make The Solar Case

A comparison of German & US pro-solar power positions sheds light on what works best is context=dependent

The Climate Action Dashboard

Visit the NAZCA dashboard and discover what actions cities regions, companies, investors & civil society organizations have taken to fulfill their 11,000 climate pledges

April 19, 2016

Harvard Law Advocates For The Virtual

An Environmental Law Clinic at Harvard Law School urges Massachusetts regulators to green light 'virtual' power plants

April 18, 2016

What's Old Could Be New Again

Meet Proxy Carbon Pricing

Both corporations & government have compelling motivations to use a proxy carbon price, what are they?

How Exxon Can Avoid Kodak's Fate

Climate action & economic self-interest demand fossil fuel companies convert themselves into renewable energy providers

April 15, 2016

Unraveling A Key Climate Policy Riddle

What should US climate policy do about methane?

Quote Of The Week

Amsterdam: Going In Circles

Amsterdam drafts a road map to become the first city running on a sustainable circular economy

April 14, 2016

Rx For The L Train

What's the right way to repair the L train, heavily damaged by Superstorm Sandy?

April 13, 2016

Getting More Bang For The Benchmarking Buck

What can NYC learn from the EU to give its building energy benchmarking law more clout?

Watt's Used

Now yo can find out just how much electricity your gadgets & appliances consume

The Fracking Debate: Round X

Can fracking be successfully regulated or must it be banned?

April 12, 2016

Hansen On Climate Activism

Follow one scientist's path to climate activism

Post- Paris: Fulfilling Cllmate Commitments

Take a first look at what countries can do to fulfill their Paris COP-21 climate action pledges

Needed: A National Grid

The solution to California's 'problem' of too much solar power, is building a national grid that can send renewable energy everywhere

April 08, 2016

10 Years After

Ten years after An Inconvenient Truth opened, changes to our climate remains an inconvenient truth

The Meaning Of The Tesla Model 3

Will the new mid-market Tesla Model 3 be the iPhone or the Blackberry of the auto industry?

April 07, 2016

Heathy, Active And Green

Activity-friendly urban design boosts public health & mass transit access cuts carbon emissions

Auto Industry Slow On Fuel Efficiency

Why is achieving a 55 mph average auto fuel use standard so elusive?

April 06, 2016

The Consensus Gap

In case you think public understanding of climate change now aligns with the scientific consensus, it hasn't

April 05, 2016

Substation Substitution

One Brooklyn neighborhood could make energy history as Con Ed ramps up efficiency & renewables instead of building a new substation to handle growing demand

EJ In NY Not Joined To Mayor's Hip

Environmental justice groups have some pointed comments on the De Blasio climate action blueprint

April 04, 2016

No More Dirty Fuel At Home

Get inspired by the River Arts apartment complex that ended its use of high pollution heating oil with help from NYCEEC

Yes Virginia, Energy Benchmarking Works

Big corporate benchmarkers like Walmart & Coca Cola put this data to work cutting their carbon footprints

Life In The Anthropocene

With the profound impacts of human-induced climates change, maybe nature is not gone for good, but is it the same?

April 01, 2016

Cities For Clean Power

Cities & urban organizations mobilize to support the EPA Clean Power Plan that will cut the carbon in power plant emissions

March 31, 2016

Feel The Nuclear Bern

What to make of Sanders' pledge to phase out nuclear power in light of his climate action commitment?

Climate Science Pioneer

Meet Claude Lorius, the glaciologist with the data that first showed the planet was heating up

March 30, 2016

Sustainability Accounting

The Sustainability Accounting Standards Board issues provisional reporting standards for industries in the infrastructure sector

Woodsman, Spare That Tree

NYC rooftop water tanks are a gold mine of wood to be repurposed & reused

March 25, 2016

How To Keep The Lights On In Brownsville

Con Edison has agreed to spend $250 million in Brownsville to implement a Reforming the Energy Vision (REV) strategy and assist with its energy loads

March 24, 2016

Communitcating Dire Climate Science

Pluses & pitfalls in media coverage of climate scientist Jim Hansen's new dire publication

Manhattan's Smallest

Take a virtual tour of Manhattan's tiniest parks

Green, Energy Efficient And Affordable

Make affordable housing more affordable by making it green

March 23, 2016

Where The Solar Action Is And Why

Aloha All Renewables

What are the most probable paths for Hawaii to meet its 100% power mandate by 2045?

Trends To To About: Air Source Heat Pumps

What does an air source heat pump do?

March 22, 2016

EPA At A Turning Point

At Congressional hearings, EPA Administrator McCarthy testifies her agency is at a "turning point", where its budget must keep up with scientific advances

March 21, 2016

The Great California Two-fer

No Worries

Why US CEO's don't lose sleep over environmental scandals at their firms (but the public's climate concerns could change this)

The Sustainability OF E.O.'s

Will Obama's climate-action Executive Orders & regulations prove sustainable by the next President?

March 18, 2016

India v US: Solar Panel Ruling

What happens when international trade rules conflict with climate agendas & energy security claims?

Way Out West

Photos of western renewable energy installations

What We Think About Climate Change Now

Recent public opinion polls find a sharp rise in Americans' climate concerns & demands for action

March 17, 2016

The World Has Changed Since The Paris Climate Agreement

Climate progress & setbacks since the December 2015 Paris Climate Agreement

Saving Jamaica Bay

Meeting Jamaica Bay in a new documentary is the first step to saving this NYC nature gem that shields the city from storms & floods

Translating 'Clean Energy' Into GOP

How to talk to the GOP about clean energy in ways that will be heard

March 16, 2016

Science At Work: Transparent Community Standards

The power of science to attribute climate change as a cause of extreme weather events will grow with development of transparent community standards

Judge Garland's Eco-Record

Take a deep dive into a 2010 round-up of the judicial record - including environmental decisions- of SCOTUS nominee Merrick Garland

March 15, 2016

Science at Work: All About The Anthropocene

A brief history of scientific research findings on the Anthropocene Era

Fugged About Climate Re-Framing

Re-framing or finding another way to move the public opinion dial on the urgency of the climate change challenge is unlikely to work

Growing Community Solar Means Affordable

Any strategy to grow community solar projects must ensure on affordability to succeed

March 14, 2016

V Is For Victory Garden

Before there were urban farms there were NYC's World War II 'Victory gardens"

What Good Neighborhoods Need

It takes good infrastructure, not just more buildings, to make equitable, sustainable NYC neighborhoods

Conservative Clean Energy Advocate

Meet Jay Faison

March 11, 2016

When Is It Weather...

And when it it climate change?

Europe: Status Of Renewable Energies

The growth rate slows for new renewable energies in Europe but it's still increasing

Rubio's Top Social Media Moment

What Marco Rubio remark at the Republican debate got the most social media attention?

March 09, 2016

REV Tutorial: Valuing Distributed Power

As part of NY's Reforming the Energy Vision how will the PSC's Benefit Cost Analysis Order be applied by utilities when they consider distributed power investments

California's Solar Sisterhood

Meet the women fighting for an equitable clean energy economy future in California

Quote For The Day

March 08, 2016

Make The Connection

NY has 3 climate deniers in Congress, who have received $224,054 from fossil fuel enterprises

Utility Green Pivot Flops

Part 1 What went wrong for utility heavyweight NRG when it sought to reposition itself as a renewable power supplier?
Part 2

Beyond the Nudge - The Bonus

If a corporation ties a year end bonus to an employee's carbon cutting performance, what happens?

March 07, 2016

YieldCo's Bite

What's the role of debt-heavy YieldCo's in the biggest corporate bust in US solar history?

Learning By Failing

Helsinki's Uber-like bus ride-sharing experiment failed, what's the takeaway?

Pakistan: ID'ing Its Biggest Threat

Why climate change, not terrorism, is Pakistan's biggest existential threat

March 04, 2016

Stand By Rates -- There's Got To Be A Better Way

What are stand-by rates and why do they make utility customer who want to innovate at the grid edge so angry?

EV's Eating ICE-V's Lunch

How electric vehicles could make internal combustion engine vehicles history, not to mention the oil industry

Nuclear Power Debate - Not Over Yet

The pros & the cons, the conclusions are yours

March 03, 2016

The Saga of NYC's Lost NYC Subway Lines

Who knew!

Houston: Unprepared For Hell And High Water

Home to many toxic chemical-laden fossil fuel businesses and vulnerable to hurricanes & floods, why isn't Houston doing more disaster preparedness?

McClendon: Before The Obituary

Mega-fracker & right-winger Aubrey McClendon got the once over in Rolling Stone back in 2012

March 02, 2016

Sierra Club Secretly Took Fracking Money

Was it the size or the secrecy of the hydrofracker's donation that put the Sierra Club in hot water?

Science At Work: The "Pause"

Better reading of satellite temperature data offers no comfort to climate deniers' who see a warming 'pause'

March 01, 2016

Buffet's Flawed Climate Optimism

What does Warren Buffet get wrong about climate risk, the insurance industry & the economy as we know it?

REV At Work

NY REV, the new rules governing electric utilities, start to make innovative impacts

Sticker Shock

The cost of flood damage is projected to rise faster than sea levels, according to a new study

February 29, 2016

The 100% Renewable Question

Watch the debate about whether the California 100% renewable energy strategy viable globally & what's the pathway?

Science At Work: How Much Carbon Sinks?

Calculating the amount of CO emissions that sink into the ocean, rather than stay up in the air, is a big science modeling challenge

On A Bicycle Built For Her

Before cutting carbon became a transportation must, our great-grandmothers were being liberated by the bicycle

February 25, 2016

Smart Cities In New Places

Making Solar More Affordable

A Connecticut coalition of religious & faith-based groups is working to make solar power affordable for low income families

February 24, 2016

Legal Eagles: SCOTUS Clean Power Grab

How the Supreme Court erred in ruling for a stay to the EPA Clean Power Plan pending initial judicial review of the rule in the D.C. Circuit

Consider This

Science At Work: Sometimes Slower Heating

If global warming is a trend, not a straight line, what explains the ups & downs?

February 23, 2016

Bonn: Why Paris Climate Agreement Matters

Ashok Sridharan, the Mayor of Bonn, Germany states what the Paris Climate Agreement means to him

New Carbon Market Rules Needed

To implement the Paris Climate Agreement new international carbon trading rules are needed

No Doubt About It

Research confirms climate denialism is all about political orientation

February 19, 2016

Chew On This Tough Question

Is a national high voltage transmission system the cheapest was to cut emissions from power plants?

Ethics Of Fossil Fuel Disinvestment

An MIT philosophy professor parses what's missing from the university's decision to hold on to its fossil fuel investments

Planners Praise Trolley Proposal

The Regional Plan Association spells out why it supports the Mayor's Brooklyn/Queens streetcar proposal

February 18, 2016

Benchmarking NYC Hotels

What's the good news in the benchmarking data that NYC hotels use 32% more energy per square foot than the average building?

It's A NY State Of Mind

10 NY critters to love and that should remind we're all connected

Dirty Air And Dementia

Is there any evidence to link air pollution & diseases like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's?

February 17, 2016

Hitch Business Competition To Winning Energy Performance

Corporate energy performance is improved by mobilizing some old-school competition

Green Doubt On Possible SCOTUS Nominee

Sri Srinivasan, cited for Obama's short list of possible Supreme Court picks, gets poor notices from some environmentalists

Renewable Energy Finance Grows Up

Innovative tools for financing renewable energy projects are maturing into a suite of SOP's

February 16, 2016

Flatten The Duck Curve...

...To make renewable energy the new normal on the power grid

February 15, 2016

Urban Places Matter...

...Here's how to make them sustainable, equitable & resilient, with thanks to NYC Emerging 2030 & NYC Eco-Districts

February 12, 2016

Weekend Reading: Carbon Pricing

Seven reasons to bake pricing into national climate policies

The Cape Wind Epic Slogs On

Will the obstacles ever end for the Massachusetts Cape Wind project?

Some States Stay The Carbon Cut Course

Over a dozen states continue work on plans to comply with the EPA Clean Power Plan, despite the Supreme Court's decision ruling that delays it

February 11, 2016

Get Your Words Worth

It can't be said too often, we must figure out how to reach voters and get across that climate disruption/chaos/change matters to them

More Wilder Weather

What do you get when climate change meets El Nino?

Getting Past The Climate Silence

The near total silence on climate change during 2016 Presidential debates could be ended by posing some good questions

February 10, 2016

The Key To Urban Resilience Is...

...The capacity of cities to deal with uncertainty is paramount

The Urban Underground: Clean Energy Resource

The underground steam/hot water systems in many cities are clean energy/efficiency powerhouses just waiting to be engaged

The Myth Of Corporate Climate Leadership

Why old school US corporate giants won't innovate to advance a low-carbon economy

February 09, 2016

Obama Proposes Big Clean Energy Budget

A doubling of federal funds for clean energy research & development over the next 5 fives is proposed by the White House

Irrelplaceable: True Or False

Despite crashing prices, is the fossil fuel industry irreplaceable?

February 08, 2016

Why Cruz Is Wrong About Climate Change

Find out in 8:57 minutes or follow the lecture with PowerPoint slides

The Fundamentals We Can't Ignore

Upgrading urban infrastructure to meet 21st century needs is necessary for a sustainable planet

Government Green

Get acquainted with NY's top ten public official eco-influencers

February 04, 2016

Amory Lovins: Emerging Energy Economics

Like all commodities, oil prices can gyrate wildly, but wind & solar are something else, and just like energy services companies replacing utilities as commodity sellers, that's good news

The Fashion Page

How hair stylists can advance the cause of climate protection

February 02, 2016

On The Brooklyn Waterfront

What's delaying plans for the Greenpoint Monitor Museum & the Bushwick waterfront park?

Regardless Of Ground Hog Day...

Disaster preparedness pros & first responders are turning to climate forecasts to help them plan better

RGGI 2.0

Now's the time for the 9 RGGI states to step up their carbon cutting and lead the nation

February 01, 2016

Ain't It The Truth

Sunset For Oil Subsidies

Signs of a global trend to end fossil fuel subsidies by both oil importers & exporters

True Or False

The renewable energy revolution is now unstoppable

January 29, 2016

The Candidates, The Climate, The Voters

Rx For Lagging Energy Efficiency Upgrades

What's the cure for the inconvenience & poor access to upfront capital impeding homeowner energy efficiency upgrades?

Insurance Industry Faces Rising Risks

The multi billion-dollar cost of California wildfires indicates how climate disruptions will impact property insurance risks & access to premiums

January 28, 2016

Chicago Archdiocese Goes Green

A star in Chicago's benchmarking program makes the Catholic archdiocese an energy efficiency leader by example

Reason To Cheer

Here's why the renewable energy tax credits passed as part of the $1.8 trillion federal spending bill is something to cheer

Green Jobs, Green NY, Dismal Numbers

What's up with the low participation in NYSERDA's Green Jobs/Green NY program launched in 2009?

January 27, 2016

Masdar City: Ancient Coollng Lessons Relearned

Redeploying the wind tunnel effect and other ancient urban cooling strategies are put to good use in Masdar City, Abu Dhabi

Renewable Power Needs New Grid

Adding high levels of renewable energy to the nation's power supply requires modernization of today's transmission grid NB; Read comments to see how controversial this idea is

January 26, 2016

Energy Data - Where Real Estate Meets Public Policy

Hudson Yards developer Related Companies is not alone in seeing the business value of good energy performance data - while advancing NYC's 80x50 goal

Good Green Solar Jobs Rising

Vocational education & employment are lighting up as SolarCity builds its jumbo solar panel factory in Buffalo, NY

January 25, 2016

Science At Work: Blizzard Jonas

What does the Gulf Stream have to do with all that snow on your street?

The Autocorrelation Problem

Is the recent run of record-breaking warm years a climate meaningful trend? Not for the statistically fainthearted

Ponds: a New Urban Resiliency Tool

Copenhagen is building parks that can turn into ponds to protect neighborhoods by managing storms & heavy flooding

January 22, 2016

RGGI States Weigh In On EPA Clean Power Plan

9 RGGI states, with hands-on experience in carbon emissions cuts submit comments on the draft EPA Clean Power Plan rules

Building For The Afterlife

Sustainable building principles should commit to designing structures today that can be demolished later & their components recycled

$18 Million For Cheap Solar + Storage

A federally-funded pilot program aims to slash costs for systems that integrate solar power with energy storage

January 21, 2016

Charting Record-Breaking Climate Data

Examine the front page climate news in graphic form with lots of expert comments

The Beginning Of the End For Utility BAU

2016 is shaping up to be the year Reforming the Energy Vision (REV) could start delivering on its promise to transform business-as-usual for NY utilities

NYC: From Climate Talk To Climate Action

Will the de Blasio climate action agenda, introduced in 2014, move forward in 2016?

January 20, 2016

Don't Slurp Your Energy

Is your NYC building an energy slurper or sipper? Your Benchmarking score counts & can power cost savings

El Nino, La Nina, Rising Temperatures

Science At Work: Deep Ocean Heating 2

Since the Industrial Revolution, rising heat has been stored in the deep oceans, but now at unprecedented rates

January 19, 2016

A's To Your Solar Q's

Ever wonder where the solar power created on your rooftop goes and who gets paid for it?

Science At Work: Deep-Ocean Heating

The heat being tapped in ocean depths is a crucial part of Earth's heat-sink system & our understanding of climate change

Chicago's Latest Benchmarking Ressults

Chicago's building energy benchmarking reports find energy performance is improving as the program expands

January 15, 2016

Houston v Texas

The city of Houston and the state of Texas are on opposition sides in litigation over the federal Clean Power Plan

Meet Methane

What makes methane such a potent GHG?

Economists Agree On Climate Change

Climate change is now hurting the global economy; this will hurt economic growth; & carbon pricing is an efficient way to cut pollution

January 14, 2016

Legal Eagles: A Little-Known Law Could Cut GHG's

Section 115 of the Clean Air Act has great potential to achieve cuts in GHG emissions, according to legal scholars

2015: Vintage Year For Renwable Energy

January 13, 2016

Give Credit Where It's Due

Obama merits props for his clean energy, efficiency & climate initiatives despite Washington gridlock

Mapping The Total Urban Carbon Footprint

By mapping the consumption-linked carbon footprint of Berkeley, California, a more telling picture revealed & the way emissions are measured will determine the way they will be cut

How To Succeed At Sustainability

Settle in for a long-form read that lays out how to to succeed at sustainability-oriented project innovation

January 12, 2016

Desiring Streetcars On The Waterfront

A 17 mile-long Brooklyn Queens Connector could bring streetcar service to the waterfront for $1.7 billion & other urban streetcar news

Next Up For Climate Backsliders

Citizen law suits against countries that don't meet their Paris climate accord pledges could be the next big thing

ExxonMobil's Climate Stance: A Follow Up

Renewed shareholder activism is spurred by investigation into ExxonMobil's climate science obfuscation

January 11, 2016

Shocked, Simply Shocked

Presidential debate moderators ignore climate change, while focusing on the horse race aspects of the campaign

Kids Want Prez Hopefuls To Debate Science

If the Presidential candidates talk about big science issues, maybe the next President will do something about them

January 07, 2016

Nuclear Power's Biggest Problem

Construction costs are too darn high

BYOB

Bring your own (energy storage) battery & boost solar power use while de-stressing the power grid

Sustainable Homes For The Homeless

Santa Monica: designing for more humane, sustainable cities

January 06, 2016

Park It Here

China: 10 NYC-Sized Cities In 10 Years

China experiments with new patterns of sustainable urbanization for populations ten-times that of NYC over the coming decade

Science At Work: The El Nino/Climate Tango

While El Ninos are not caused by climate disruption, scientists are learning how they interact

January 05, 2016

Science At Work: Climate Forcing

New research helps clarify how much different known climate change agents are raising temperatures and some media confusion ensues

January 04, 2016

See Sea Level Rise

Interactive US coastal map here

De-Fusing The NIMBY Dynamic

Well-funded community benefits programs & good design can ease NIMBY opposition to urban infrastructure & development projects

December 30, 2015

Vintage Year For Energy Efficiency

Appliance energy efficiency standards get a big boost this year & consumers are winners

This Year Here

December 29, 2015

Solar Tech Advances

Japan & China are on the leading edge of advances in thin solar film technology, but they're not alone

The Future Of Our Climate

Reasons for despair & reasons for hope

100x50 For NY

NY Renews - a coalition of environmentalists, labor unions, EJ and faith-based groups - will campaign to shift energy in the state to 100% renewables by 2050 while growing good jobs locally

December 28, 2015

Plants As Power Plants: 1922

State Climate Politics: Compare and Contrast

Florida, a state so vulnerable to climate impacts, shows how much difference an election for Governor can make

Top Eco News 2015: Greens KO Pipeline

Environmentalists key to pulling the plug on the Keystone XL oil sands pipeline project

Leasing The Wind

Taking a page from the solar playbook the wind power industry seeks growth in lease deals

December 21, 2015

Coal v Voters

Be Careful Who You Call A Climate Denier

What did a leading climate advocate get wrong in her attack on nuclear power supporters?

December 19, 2015

Chicago: The Year In Benchmarking

Chicago's newest benchmarking annual report provides in-depth information & analysis on the energy performance of 1,840 Windy City buildings

December 18, 2015

NYPH: 2015

Recapping New York Passive House 2015 projects

Silver Lining In Budget Deal

The last word (for 2015) weighing the pros/cons of extending wind & solar tax benefits in exchange for lifting the ban on crude oil exports

Family Feud Over Clean Energy Strategy

Should the most climate-friendly energy policy prioritize technology innovation or deployment?

December 17, 2015

Melting Our Future

Centuries of melting Greenland ice may be unavoidable & that means steep global sea level rises

Signs Of A Climate Shift

There's evidence for a turning point toward climate action in the US

December 16, 2015

Meet CEIP

CEIP is part of Obama's Clean Power Plan drafted to help low-income communities get more energy efficient & boost their use of renewable energy

Reporting Rules For Renewable/Alt Energy

The Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB), releases standards consisting of disclosure guidance & accounting provisions on sustainability topics for use by publicly traded U.S. and foreign companies in their SEC filings

December 15, 2015

Holiday Cheer

Utilities make real progress on the energy efficiency front in 2015

Your Wind Power Questions Answered Here

Climate Change And Cities

What city leaders need to know to succeed as climate change leaders & the time to start is now

December 14, 2015

Miami's Fate: Sleep With Fishes

The future? Fuggedaboutit

And The Answer Is...

Will meeting the Paris climate summit goals make electric power utilities indispensible or irrelevant?

December 12, 2015

Economists See Value In Climate Action

A survey of 1,103 economists finds a majority think taking climate action is the rational choice

December 11, 2015

Urban Climate Action Accelerants

What are the three criteria for prioritizing urban climate action agendas?

Ask A Techie

How would a 100% distributed energy grid work?

A Just Transition, A Regenerative Economy

Making the climate justice path with strategic foundation funding in three US communities

December 10, 2015

Why Cities Matter In Climate Diplomacy

Urbanization is a hallmark of the 21 Century, what will it take for cities to lead in climate diplomacy?

Nuclear Power And Public Health 2.0

Are current federal rules to predict health impacts of nuclear power outdated?

Scaling Up Green Bonds

How to pay for all that green infrastructure the world needs now

December 09, 2015

A Tax With (A Tad) GOP Support

What explains support for a carbon tax by some Congressional Republicans?

What Climate Leading Cities Do To Lead

Climate Denialism In Action

WARNING this is a bummer to read

December 08, 2015

How To Feasibly De-Carbonize

Take a deep dive into one of climate policy's biggest challenges

Mirror, Mirror On The Wall...

Who's the greenest city of them all?

Today's Climate Leaders

How cities & forward-looking businesses will advance climate progress, even if nation states don't

December 07, 2015

Climate Negotations - In the Weeds Thorns

What is 'differentiation' and why is it such a big deal for Paris climate negotiations?

Get In On The Quiet Revolution

Until now, only political insiders & policy wonks knew about Governor Cuomo's " quiet green revolution as an economic development tool for in NY

December 05, 2015

COP21: Fact v Fiction

Desmog the conservative media fog about key Paris climate talk issues

December 04, 2015

If You Live Near A Coast - Read This

What's at stake for the world's coastlines at the Paris climate meeting

PACE Bonds Help Renovate America

With securitization of PACE bonds for home energy performance upgrades families, job opportunities & the planet are all winners

Listen To Leonard Lopate

Interview with Robert Pollin author of Greening the Global Economy

December 03, 2015

Stop Funding Climate Chaos

The oil subsidies of G-7 nations + Australia dwarf the Green Climate Fund, time to reverse the figures

Wish We All Could Be California...

...Public opinions on climate change

December 02, 2015

How Denialist Tail Wags GOP Dog

Why is the GOP the world's only major climate denialist party? (Hint: it's not because Americans have a monopoly on disbelieving climate science)

Paris: Think Global, Act Local

Beside hosting COP21 what is Paris doing to fight climate change?

Edison v Tesla, Round 2

While Edison lost the battle over running the electric grid on DC power, Tesla's AC model may be the loser now

December 01, 2015

Limited Climate Action From CSR

Lessons from the fair-trade coffee campaign highlight the limits to climate achievements from corporate social responsibility (CSR) campaigns

Doing What Needs To Be Done

If COP 21 won't produce a climate agreement able to prevent climate chaos, what will?

The Making Of A Climate Justice Activist

An interview with Wen Stephenson about his path to full-time climate activism & his new book What We're Fighting For Now Is Each Other

November 30, 2015

Paris: It's A Start

COP 21 can produce a viable climate action plan, then it's up to governments, citizens & institutions to deliver the results & patience is a must

Paris: Good Intentions Won't Save Us

When it comes to effective climate action coming out of COP21, you know the old adage about good intentions...

Wrong On The Climate Facts

Misunderstandings about national security & El Nino, when it comes to climate change, clarified here

The Making Of A Climate Justice Activist

An interview with Wen Stephenson about his path to full-time climate activism & his new book What We're Fighting For Now Is Each Other

November 27, 2015

FEMA: Plan For Sea-Level Rise

Mapping sea level rise could become part of federal emergency management preparedness

Barriers To An All Renewables World

If social & political blockages would melt, the world could be powered with 100% renewable energy by 2050

November 24, 2015

Speak Climate Better

Explaining Persistent Climate Skepticism

Will you be surprised by this explanation of why many Americans are climate change doubters?

Chicago: New Clean Tech For Old Building

Chicago's 85-year old Merchandise Mart keeps young by installing a money-saving energy storage battery

November 23, 2015

Grass Roots - Where The Action Is

True of false? Climate grass roots, not big green groups is where hope for big changes can be found

Legal Eagles: Public Trust And Climate Change

While upholding the 'public trust' doctrine for protecting natural resources, a Washington State court denies the climate claims of some atypical plaintiffs

Why Numbers Count

Here's why passing the 400 ppm threshold for CO in our atmosphere matters to scientists

November 20, 2015

Power Grid At Risk

What are US power grid operators doing to secure this critical infrastructure from cyber attacks?

US Climate Attitude Trends

A national survey finds Americans are talking to each other more about climate change

November 19, 2015

For Energy Efficiency/Flow Chart Fans

Solar Investors Are Big Losers

What up with plummeting solar stock values?

November 18, 2015

The Passive House Flip-Book

Take a virtual tour of NY Passive Houses

States Of Preparedness

GOP Ramps Up Fight With Gov't Scientists

The GOP Chair of the House Science, Space & Technology Committee accuses NOAA of "publicizing" his demand for the internal emails of agency scientists & officials.

November 14, 2015

In The Eco-Politics Arena

Making the green case for a Clinton Presidency, not everyone will agree

Black Lives Matter - Clean Air Needed

Air pollution is a stealth killer in black communities

November 13, 2015

Solar Power With Carbon Emissions

ICYMI, why California's utility-scale Ivanpah solar power plant uses natural gas and emits carbon dioxide

From Granite To Green

Can home energy retrofits be made as popular as kitchen remodeling?

From Roofs To Streets - Combat The Heat

Resource guide for cooler cities

November 11, 2015

Methane Emissions: Global Climate Crisis

Making the case that leave-it-in-the-ground isn't the only solution to the global methane emissions crisis

Utilities Throw Shade On Solar

How some utilities undercut solar rooftop demand

Put Exxon On Notice - Stop Bending Science

How does a corporation bend science and why NY's Exxon climate investigation could put a stop to it

November 10, 2015

The RECing Crew

Renewable Energy Certificates (REC's) are green gold, but what are they doing for renewable energy? (Note: 2007 publication, still relevant)

The Climate's Changed

What today's record CO2 levels mean for all our tomorrows

Why The GOP Can't Support a Carbon Tax

Spoiler alert, you won't be surprised, even given the fate of the planet

November 09, 2015

Coal Plunges

2015, the year global coal consumption fell between 90 and 180 million tons - the largest drop on record

Deep Retrofit On Roosevelt Island

How to succeed at an ambitious energy performance upgrade at a fully-occupied apartment building on Roosevelt Island

Understatnding Keystone Activism

Why it's so important to keep clear on the distinctions between climate grassroots activism & climate policy making

November 06, 2015

Obama Nixes Canadian XL Pipeline

Do the right thing by just saying no

Exxon Knew

As a result of misrepresenting what it knew about climate science, Exxon may have harmed all of humanity

November 05, 2015

Weird Weather And Climate Change

Explaining 2014's weird weather events from a climate change perspective

A Thought Experiment

Imagine a GOP thaw in its unwavering opposition to climate science & policy actions

November 04, 2015

Climate Science: Ozone Layer, Friend Of Climate Action

How the campaign to phase-out ozone-eatng substances helps mitigate climate change, but there's more to be done

Legal Eagles: Learning From The EU Energy Efficiency Experience

Seven types of recommendations for improving US building energy efficiency programs based on EU experience

Mixing Sun And Gas

What to make of the fact that California's giant Ivanpah solar power plant burns natural gas?

November 03, 2015

New Life Underground

November 02, 2015

A Potent Climate Action Tool

While many emotions are powerful, shame is special in its potential to change corporate & political climate conduct

October 30, 2015

Batteries' Time Has Come

UNESCO: Urban Sustainability And Historic Districts

What are the best paths for linking urban sustainability to historic preservation?

Climate Science: No Hiatus

Explaining the NOAA 'No More Hiatus' paper for citizens concerned about climate change

October 29, 2015

Exxon's Climate Snow Job

Understand how Exxon tries to sow confusion by hyping uncertainties in climate science

Metro Area Tunnel Trouble

Watch the video that shows just how dire our rail tunnel risks are & what needs to be done ASAP

RIP Greener

In case you've been wondering, now you can enter eternity in an eco-friendly fashion

October 28, 2015

Sandy: Three Years On

Are NYC neighborhoods better able to withstand storms like Sandy today than they were in 2012? And have we adequately addressed the economic and social inequities in at-risk communities that Sandy laid bare?

Confronting Climate Despair

Author Wen Stephenson talks about how to push back against paralyzing despair over climate change & stay engaged

The Deforestation/Climate Link

How Indonesia's massive deforestation & mega-forest fires impact global climate change

October 26, 2015

Best Headline Of The Week

"Big Electric Shocks Big Oil", with a mix of good & not good renewables news content

What Retreat Looks Like

What would managed retreat mean for the NYC coastline?

Bacteria To Save The Planet

Scientists target deep sea bacteria able to convent GHG's into baking soda or chalk

October 23, 2015

The Carbon War

Listen up, how we can win in a time of energy transition

Office Buildings: Green Is Good

Evidence for the financial benefits of green office buildings is amassing in real world settings

Save The Planet - Get Connected

Help is on the way for climate action, it's called the Third Industrial Revolution that will transform consciousness with connective media says Jeremy Rivkin

October 22, 2015

What Climate-Forward Cities Do

Take note of and take notes on Boston, San Francisco & Washington D.C.

ExxonMobil: First, Sow Doubt

Lessons from the master merchant of doubt for weaponizing climate science uncertainties

El Ñino 101

What is El Ñino & why is it important now?

October 21, 2015

Green The Ghetto

Van Jones weighs in on today's green jobs gap and how to close it

October 20, 2015

Pulp Fiction

Burning 'bio-fuel' wood pellets for fuel is not a climate-friendly thing to do

OneNYC Has Its Eyes On The Planet

Can Bill de Blasio's OneNYC blueprint help to green the planet while benefiting local folks?

The ExxonMobil Racket

The lawyer who prosecuted Big Tobacco under RICO for its cover-up of health science sees ExxonMobil as ripe for a possible racketeering investigation by the Justice Department into its climate science smoke & mirrors

October 19, 2015

Upsetting The PACE

Could PACE energy financing be harming home sales in California?

Meeting Urban Energy Demands

Are mega-projects the best answer to a sustainable energy future?

MTA Funding - Try To Do The Math Politics

A perfect SAT score won't boost your confidence in MTA funding promises

October 16, 2015

Powering Earthquake Resilience

Solar power + energy storage gear would help keep the lights on after earthquakes in San Francisco

NY: Three Years After Sandy

Are we safer now?

True Or False

Nuclear power is needed to meet US climate goals

October 15, 2015

Al Gore: Doing Very Well By Doing Good

A look inside Al Gore's very successful, planet-saving investment firm

Sustainability Now: The VW Lesson

True or false? Sustainability has become a potent agent of product die-off & creative market destruction

Distributed Generation - 19th Century Style

The famed Dakota apartment building was designed with its very own distributed generation system

October 14, 2015

Solar Success Stories

The college town of Blacksburg, VA didn't seem like a good rooftop solar program candidate, but look at it now

Another Hot Month

September 2015, second hottest on record, and more record setting heat is on the way

Zoning For Affordable Housing

Striking a zoning rule that requires provision of off-street parking can help make NYC housing more affordable (but will it alter car ownership?)

October 13, 2015

Social Science Studies People's Climate March

What made the 2014 NYC Climate March a success?

Protect the Urban Climate - Fight Forest Fires

Urban air quality and climate are threatened by forest fires & indiscriminate forest burning

October 09, 2015

Grid Neutrality

What is grid neutrality & what's it got to do with empowering customers?

Too Smart For Your Own Good

What does your smart home know about you that you don't?

How To Print A Green Building

3-D printing is deployed by the Oakridge National Lab to construct an energy efficient one-room building linked to a hybrid-power vehicle

October 08, 2015

Our Clinton-Era Gas Tax

1993 was the last time the US raised its gas tax

SASB: Your Time To Be Heard

The public comment period opens on proposed Sustainability Accounting Standards Board investor disclosure guidance for publicly-traded infrastructure firms

What Works With Weatherization

Q & A about the cost-effectiveness of a federal home weatherization program

October 07, 2015

Funding For Top Climate Finance Ideas

Got a good idea for climate change mitigation or how to drive private investment into adaptation in poor nations? Apply to the Global Innovation Lab for Climate Finance funding competition

Climate Action: Keep Hope Alive

Climate scientist Michael Mann thinks climate action can save the planet & the denial of hope is a dangerous thing

Multiple Urban Benefits

All the ways energy efficiency add to urban resiliency

October 06, 2015

What We're Fighting For Now Is Each Other

A review of book that takes civil disobedience as a path for climate activism

Energy Efficiency: Do Better Faster

When it comes to energy efficiency doing good enough is not enough because time is not on our side

REVolution

What's so revolutionary for power utilities about New York's Reforming the Energy Vision?

October 02, 2015

PV: Bragging Rights

It's good to see a campaign to win the most-efficient PV panel title

September 30, 2015

The Driving Force Of Energy Innovation

Past performance is no guarantee of future return, so place your bets

ExxonMobil Before The Bar

Critics foresee lawsuits against ExxonMobil based on what its own scientists knew about a changing climate

Climate Action: Pope 1, Economist 0

Economist Nordhaus muddles what carbon markets can do, Francis doesn't

September 29, 2015

Harder For Big Oil To Make A Buck

Is Shell's retreat from Arctic oil exploration a sign of financial distress in the fossil fuel industry?

The Young, The Red And The Green

Younger adults who identify as Republican want government to cut GHGs & often want to switch to renewable energy

Avoid NY Metro Transit Catastrophe

What the NY metro region needs now, lots of subsidized ferry service

September 28, 2015

Trust But Verify

California legislation tackles the verification challenge when it comes to building energy efficiency reports

September 25, 2015

Nuke Industry Faces Clean Power Rule

The good & bad news is that the nuclear power industry gets what it deserves in EPA's Clean Power Rule aimed at cutting power plant carbon emissions

Light, But Don't Ignite, At Home

A new non-flammable storage battery could make storing solar power at home a lot safer

September 24, 2015

Hillary's Got A Plan...

To modernize the energy infrastructure & up climate protection, but will enviros embrace it?

Obama Takes On Climate Change

The Rolling Stone interview

REV4NY Conference Live-Streaming

Now you can be two places at once

September 23, 2015

Likes The Pope, Loves The Market

While praising the Pope's climate advocacy, economist William Nordhaus has issues with the Pontiff's anti-market POV

Reading By Daylight

This May Come As A Shock

It's lobby, not cost, that is key to climate policy-making

September 22, 2015

Get To Know Your Building Better

California amplifies the impact of energy benchmarking with a bill that gives owners access to whole building data from their utility

Campaign 2016: Trump's Climate

Fact-checking what The Donald said about climate change during a radio interview

What Exxon Knew In 1982

Exxon's own climate modeling supported the emerging scientific warming position in 1982 with a prediction of "noticeable temperature changes starting "early in the 21 Century & going up from there

September 21, 2015

Feds Need Better Climate Impact Planning

While federal infrastructure project proposals must undergo environmental impact review, authorities rarely require projects to incorporate climate impact considerations

September 18, 2015

The Pause That Never Was

New statistical studies show there has been no 'pause' in global warming

Climate-Friendly Affordable Housing

Super-energy efficient Passive House design is adopted for a Portland OR affordable housing development

September 16, 2015

Using The Sun At Night

The day is nearer when you can use solar power at night

Google Autofill

Are climate scientists...

The Times They Are a Changin'

It's no longer OK to be the paid mouthpiece for climate deniers and coal companies according to the world largest PR firm

September 15, 2015

Aspen: Totally Renewable

How Aspen, CO became the third US city to get all its electric power from renewable sources

September 14, 2015

Left Coast Energy Bills

It was a busy week with winners & losers for California climate-friendly energy legislation

In Defense Of Public-Private Park Partnerships

A former NYC Parks Commissioner finds lots to like in the public-private partnership model for financing parks, the latest in a long history of urban public goods paid for by private wealth

Utilities For A Climate-Friendly Future

More of Dave Roberts must-read column

September 11, 2015

Whole Lotta Gas Leaking Going On

A newly published report finds Manhattan's aging natural gas lines leak much more per mile than those in cities with newer systems

In Mourning, Still Organizing

Even if NY Magazine's newly-minted climate optimism is ahistorical, organizing for climate justice remains a must says movement stalwart

Oil Industry Victory Smaller Than It Looks

For Carl Pope the oil industry defeat of California legislation to cut oil use by 50% is not a sign of strength - but don't relax just yet

Climate Change Statistics 101

What's the risk message in the 'fat tail' of climate change statistics?

September 10, 2015

Decarbonizing Our Future - The Value Proposition

Beyond The Photovoltaic Bikini

It's not a minute too soon to start envisioning new tasks for solar power

Join The Dave Roberts Fan Club

Why utility monopolies are failing us now

September 09, 2015

Obama: Clean Energy Champ

The Department of Energy has facts on the ground & $1 billion in interest payments to prove its loan program advances a renewable energy agenda

CEOs' Low Expectations

CEO's voice low expectations for the outcome of the Paris climate talks, but do they really care?

EPA Clean Power Plan - A Messaging Triumph

Some environmental justice advocates dismiss the EPA Clean Power Plan as 'grossly insufficient'', but a perfect example of Obama's brand of political practice

September 08, 2015

Family Feuds Over EPA Clean Power Plan

Conflicts emerge within states over response to the EPA Clean Power Plan

GOP: More Bark Than Bite On Climate Talks

Reasons to allay your fears about Republican bad-mouthing of the Paris climate talks to foreign governments

Overload for Glass Wall Demand

Soaring demand for glass curtain walls in new building collides with production limits

September 04, 2015

Don't Be A Drip

The San Diego water academy teaches citizens how to save water

Up On The Roofs

NYC rooftops have the potential to host 11 gigawatts of solar power-making

California To Fossil Fuels: Bye-Bye

With The Governor's signature, California's public pension systems will have to sell parts of their fossil fuel stock holdings, more climate legislation expected this year

September 03, 2015

Cash For Coal Clunkers

A utility with clunky old coal-burning power plants (+ one nuke plant) wants Ohio regulators to make consumers buy their electricity

Climate Week NYC Countdown

September 02, 2015

Carbon Tax Brawl

Don't miss the red-hot climate debate over the potency & probability of a US carbon tax

Utility Scale Solar Power - Hrumph

Based on Ivanpah, California's jumbo solar power project, the debate is on over the future of this renewable energy technology

September 01, 2015

Bigger Is Better

True or false? a few big urban parks have more impact than numerous small green spaces

Religious Messaging Gap

Are U.S. Catholics hearing the Pope's climate change message?

Nesting Now

A review of the third generation Nest home thermostat

August 31, 2015

Utility-Scale Solar Power Surge

Utility-scale solar power plant output is 31 times higher than a decade ago

Let's Look At The Lomborg Record

Facing vigorous protest by university faculty & students, the Abbott government withdraws $4 million in funding to hire climate-contrarian Bjorn Lomborg

August 28, 2015

Place-Making In Sandy Recovery

Improving resilience to Sandy-struck NY metro communities is a big opportunity for place-making

NY Solar - Information Please

Bounteous information about solar power programs in NY

August 27, 2015

US Politics Today

Best read of the month, big props to Dave Roberts

Solar Power Battle

A bitter conflict among environmentalists rages over industrial-scale solar power plants

August 26, 2015

De-Risk Your Stock Portfolio

It's not too soon, to seek investment information based on ESG - environmental, social and governance data disclosures

California Spends Its Carbon Cash

What does $2.2 billion in carbon cap & trade auction revenues buy in California?

August 25, 2015

The New Utility Economics: PBR

How performance-based regulation will transform electric power utilities by revolutionizing the calculus of profitability by propelling public policy goals

Friendly Persuasion For PVs

How REV, New York's electric regulatory revolution, could calm utility hatred for their rooftop solar panel customers

Hear The President

"We refuse to surrender the hope of a clean energy future to those who fear it and fight it.", Barak Obama

August 24, 2015

The Lesson From Katrina

Put simply, climate mitigation slows the spread of inequality; adaptation speeds it up

Climate Science: Hurricanes

What's been learned about the climate change-hurricane nexus in the decade since Katrina?

August 21, 2015

RGGI Slashes GHG Emissions

Duke University research finds that without RGGI, GHG emissions would have been 24% higher in participating states

Election 2016: Fiorina's Climate Interview

"Everything she said was wrong"

Climate Change - Power Grid Threat

The power gridss in hot, dry regions like the Southwest face major reliability threats from climate change impacts

August 20, 2015

Hawaii: 100 x 45

The island of Hawaii sets a goal of getting 100% renewables on its electric grid by 2045 and will gain real-world experience to share

The Color Of Politics

To voters from solar power CEO Jigar Shaw: Green energy movement is the new red, white & blue

Election 2016: Clinton's Net Metering POV

Attention renewable energy folks! Hillary Clinton has a position on net metering

August 19, 2015

For Latino Voters Climate Matters

Race, Class And Eco-Disasters

Environmental disasters are framed by race, class, gender and social worth, stop calling them "natural" disasters

Community Solar Finds Friends

Utilities might become new BFFs of community solar power installers

August 18, 2015

Media-Citizen Mutual Climate Aid

Lessons from NOLA & NYC for how the media and city-dwellers can collaborate on adapting to climate risks

What Corporate Accounting Needs Now

Megatrends like climate change mean that certain sustainability factors can make or break a business. Under securities law, they are material to an investor & companies can and should be disclosing them

Enery Sector: Reformantion By Transformation

The trajectory of the energy sector affects everything Read this and ponder what's necessary now

August 17, 2015

Science At Work: Peer Reviewing

What 's the peer review process for a recent J. Hansen climate science paper that predicts alarming sea level rise?

Glass Paint Is Way Cool

Glass paint could be the best option for chilling out under a metal roof in the summer

August 14, 2015

Learning To Love LEDs

LED light bulbs are turning out to be a utility's best carbon-cutting friend, along with energy-efficient home appliances

Germs Like It Hot

Infectious diseases like cholera & salmonella will thrive in a hotter world, you won't

August 13, 2015

Climate Tech 101

An intro to waste heat recovery

Philly: The Water App

Philadelphia gamifies water conservation with an app that lets owners add green stormwater infrastructure to their properties

Christie: Follow The Tunnel Money

Why did Governor Christie kill the NJ-NY tunnel project and what did he do with the its funding?

August 12, 2015

El Nino: Then And Now

The 2015 El Nino, a cyclic Pacific region climate disturbance, differs from the 1997 event & why that matters

Imagine That

Infrastructure makes an appearance in 2015 Mayoral races

Too Big For Government Loans

Has the home solar power market outgrown its need for government loan programs?

August 11, 2015

Rx For Mass Transit Woes

Why the US has such bad public transportation and, maybe, how to make it better

Leave The Blanket At Home, Save The Planet

Rx for too-cold summertime office temperature that also boosts the EPA Clean Power

August 10, 2015

Election 2016: The Environment

Will voter choice hinge on a candidate's environmental stance?

Election 2016: OH Gov Clean Energy Freeze Out

Since Ohio Governor John Kasich signed a freeze on the state's renewables and energy efficiency program, what's been the economic impact?

August 08, 2015

Wind: Great Expectations

Just how much of the US electric power supply could be met by wind power?

August 07, 2015

Plug-And-Play Storage Batteries

A California utility issues a request for proposal for next generation grid-scale storage batteries with 'just-in-time' delivery capability

Utility Friends Clean Power Plan

Big power utility NRG gives public support to Obama's Clean Power Plan because it validates the company's own green strategy, but corporate critics remain

Clean Power An Ageent Of Economic Innovation

By having states devise their own carbon cut solutions, Obama's Clean Power Plan aims to unleash economic diversity & innovation

August 06, 2015

Polishing The Chrysler Building

An energy efficiency upgrade of the Chrysler Building spire makes this icon even greater and has a payback of under 2 years

August 05, 2015

The Future Of Climate Change...

...is happening right now

A Bridge Made Of Gas

Some say natural gas is the bridge fuel for slowing climate change until the renewables industry matures. Others say that's crazy

EPA Power Plan Drops Energy Efficiency

With demand side energy efficiency removed as an essential 'building block' of the EPA Clean Power Plan, what are the consequences?

August 04, 2015

Know What You're Talking About

With all eyes focused on cutting carbon emissions, learn where US power plants are sited

Wham Bam - Take That Rupert

Watch Columbia Professor Jeffery Sachs take down media mogul Rupert Murdoch for staying stuck in climate change denial

Bill Gate's Investment Tip

Bill Gates explains why he's investing $1 billion of his own money in clean energy research, but says what governments do matters most of all

August 03, 2015

And The Winners Are...

The Society of Environmental Journalists announces the best articles of 2014-2015

Office AC: Cool, Just Not For You

Not a 40 year old, 155 pound male,? then your office air conditioning wasn't designed for you

The Best Obama Headline Ever

"How Obama’s New Clean Power Plan Might Be Just Enough To Stave Off A Climate Catastrophe"

July 29, 2015

Variable Enegy: Price And Policy Matter

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

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

Doing The Hillary

Yes, the US can meet the solar power goal advocated by Hillary Clinton, but here's what's needed to do it

Legal Eagles: Making Eco-Marks Stick

Similar to trademarks eco-marks must meet certain characteristics to be validated

July 27, 2015

Campaign 2016: Clinton's Energy Vision

Hillary Clinton's energy policy speech offers clean energy & energy efficiency ideas

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 24, 2015

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

The Cold Economy

In a warming world are we finding new ways to keep things cool?

Predicting The Energy Future

McKinsey acknowledges its 2007 energy predictions missed the speed of change & tries again

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

Not So Smart ALEC

Washinton'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

July 21, 2015

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

July 20, 2015

Learning 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

July 17, 2015

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

Learning To Be Walkable

Vienna steps toward taking pedestrians seriously

July 16, 2015

States Show GHG Cuts Doable

A Renewable Energy Gap

What explains the gap between large and small-scale utilities in generating renewable energy?

The Impact Of Energy Benchmarking

As building energy benchmarking laws multiply & mature, what is being learned?

July 15, 2015

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

EV Eye Candy

Sea 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

Investor Confidence In Energy Performance

July 13, 2015

Engineers At Work: Wind Pioneer

Meet Palmer Carlin and get a first-hand history of wind power in the US

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?

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

July 09, 2015

Bean Town Is The New Green Town

Boston is a hotbed of green tech start-ups, check them out

Science At Work: Top Climate Research Questions

The four leading research areas climate scientists want to tackle include improved understanding of climate sensitivity

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

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

July 07, 2015

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

UN: Facing Mass Displacement Risks

A call to UN action for coping with climate-linked risks of mass population displacements

July 05, 2015

Baby, It's Cold Inside

Why is it so cold indoors every summer?

July 02, 2015

Cool Website For For House Hunters

Now London home-hunters & owners are just a click away from data on air pollution exposure

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

July 01, 2015

Liking LEDs More

US consumers start to take a shine to LED bulbs, but misinformation lingers

Compare And Contrast

The evolving energy policies of France and Germany reveal different but possibly converging climate action paths

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

June 30, 2015

Trouble Ahead

Why the Supreme Court decision striking down EPA's air toxic rule could make carbon rule-writing harder

Demand A Recount

Turns out, official numbers on US solar power omit a big piece of the action

June 29, 2015

Supreme Court Toxic Ruling - Meh

Why striking down the EPA mercury emission rule may be a 'pointless' Supreme Court decision

Paying The Price For Climate Inaction

As nations ramp up low-carbon climate actions stranded assets like coal mines will cost countries like Australia dearly

Why Wind Matters

Passing a MA offshore wind bill is necessary for the northeast & here's why

June 26, 2015

Getting Energy Efficient 3/3

Why good policy needs good evidence

Getting Energy Efficient 2/3

If improving building energy performance solves so many problems & is cost effective, how can we prove it?

June 25, 2015

Getting Energy Efficient 1/3

While a report cited in the New York Times that is highly critical of building energy efficiency programs makes some valid points, it misses crucial facts

You Don't What You've Got Til It's Gone

Tips for cutting your water footprint

June 24, 2015

LEED's Latest Roll-Out

What is a LEED Dynamic Plaque & what can it do for owners & occupants in existing buildings?

How To Succeed At Climate Adaptation

When failure is not an option, don't ignore key competing interests when making climate adaptation plans

June 23, 2015

Science At Work: A Fine Distinction

To understand how climate change affects weird weather, scientists distinguish between dynamics & thermodynamcis

Green Enegy Anxiety

Why are some electric utilities hot and bothered about renewable power & energy efficiency insurgency? "It's a Hannah Arendt thing".

June 22, 2015

Carbon Capture Innovation Accelarates Climate Action

Reasons for resins

Solar Innovation Accelerates Climate Action

REV: Next Round Of Fine Print

The NY Public Service Commission issues the next installment of REV, its re-do of the rules of the game for electric power suppliers, an Order Adopting Dynamic Load Management filings with Modifications

June 19, 2015

The Cost Of Water 5/5

Go with the flow, the impact of 8 million toilets on NYC's waterways

Hottest May On Record

NOAA finds "The combined average temperature over global land and ocean surfaces for May 2015 was the highest for May in the 136-year period of record"

Climate Facts - Just A Click Away

A website full of climate change facts & charts from a federal agency always facing chronic budget cuts

June 17, 2015

China: The Sponge City Bet

China is counting on urban infrastructures designs that will soak up rain & support resilient cities during floods and droughts

Microgrids Mean Power To The People

The disbursed distribution of microgrids holds the promise for ending utility monopolization of the power supply

The Cost Of Water 3/5

After decades of planning & protest NYC opens its drinking water filtration plant at a cost of $3.5 billion

June 16, 2015

New Carbon Tax Bill In Senate

What's it all about?

The Cost Of Water 2/5

The biggest, longest underground pipe that brings drinking water to NYC is leaking

Zero x 50

Does a proposal to power the nation with 100% renewables by 2050 pass the laugh test?

June 15, 2015

CA: Net-Zero x 2020

What is California's plan for getting all new homes to use no more energy than than they create by 2020?

Read It Now

Climate Shock, The economic Consequences of A Hotter Planet makes singular contributions to the climate action agenda says Yale economist William Nordhaus

The Cost Of Water 1/5

The best things in life are rarely free, including NYC's unfiltered drinking water

June 12, 2015

Legal Eagles: Using The Clean Air Act To Cut GHGs

Is Section 112 or Section 11(d) of the Clean Air Act the better way to cut GHG emissions?

A Green City Street Is A Resilient City Street

There's even more to gain from greening city streets than summertime shade

Australia: Unstoppable Solar Power

Australians' embrace of rooftop solar panels unfazed by loss of government support. And talk about embrace, a bonus koala story for our readers

June 09, 2015

Detroit: A Climate-Changed Tomorrow

Hard-luck Detroit faces a climate-disrupted future

Frogging On Staten Island

Urban ecologist discovers a new amphibian species on Staten Island, the Atlantic Coast Leopard Frog

North Carolina: Renewable Energy Battleground

The outcome of the fight to protect the North Carolina renewable energy portfolio will be felt outside the state

June 08, 2015

Guide For The Carbon Tax Perplexed

Since modeling a carbon tax is at least as contentious as imposing one, the debate starts here

Carbon Tax - Just Say No

The anti-carbon tax position of a climate activist

This Is Dense

210 years of Manhattan population density in a 2 minute animated map

June 05, 2015

Hybrid Electric Buildings

How AMS, a woman-owned start-up, connected with Tesla on a hybrid electric building deal

From Portland To Washington

Former Portland, OR Mayor Sam Adams takes his climate agenda to Washington, DC

June 04, 2015

The Limits Of Renewable Energy

Replete with charts & graphs, a dollar and cents case for the limits to renewable energy growth

Big Bucks For Big Renewables

To grow utility scale renewable energy projects, New York outlines a $1.5 billion, 10-year plan

June 03, 2015

The Weird-Warm Nexus

Getting clear on the probability link between extreme weather events an global warming

Energy Cluelessness

Since people care about saving energy, why are they clueless about how much they're actually using?

Funding Energy Storage Projects

As part of NY's ambitious make-over of its utility sector, REV funding is on tap to scale up projects or demonstrate how energy storage can help transform the electricity grid

June 02, 2015

The Biggest Disruptor

Even more than pending CO2, emissions regulations the rise of distributed power generation could be the biggest challenge to business as usual in the utility sector

ICYMI -- More Thoughts On Going Passive

Building codes & industry inertia are the greatest obstacles to making passive house design the new normal, so what can be done?

The City Energy Project

10 US cities pioneer a national initiative to improve the energy efficiency of buildings & support innovative and practical solutions to cut pollution, grow local economies and foster a healthier environment

June 01, 2015

Top Cities For EVs

The 10 best US cities for electric car ownership

Clarifying The Climate Denial-Faith Link

What is it about certain religious beliefs that tie in with denying the reality of climate change?

Whitney Plans For Dry Art

Just steps away from the Hudson River, the Whitney Museum builds in flood-proofing features

May 31, 2015

Sending Out An SOS

Melted ice cream, put back in the freezer, is never quite the same. A melted world would be even worse — Save Our Swirled

May 28, 2015

Flash Flood Alley

May 27, 2015

Ridiculously Resilient Ridge

White House science adviser John Holdren says climate change could overwhelm CA — normally jet stream blows west to east strong high pressure system over the northeastern Pacific ocean pushing jet stream north — more intense droughts

May 24, 2015

Now, Where Were We?

Day after Gov. Greg Abbott signed HB 40 into law, CO energy company Vantage told Denton, TX city officials it plans to get back to fracking

May 18, 2015

Philosophers, Probability And...

How to live right in a world of climate disruption

May 16, 2015

Linking Coal Extraction to Climate Change

Rulings by Denver judges require feds to consider carbon impact of coal mines

May 14, 2015

Page From LePage

Maine Governor takes energy agenda to DC — why oh why?

May 12, 2015

Passive House Post Conference Reflections

What about those New York Lasagna buildings?

May 11, 2015

The Biggest Climate Dilemma

What if doing a lot about climate change & clean energy isn't enough?

NYC - Get Over Yourself

Think NYC is an eco-leader among global mega-cities? Think again

Mind The Energy Efficiency Gap

A new monograph examines the apparent reality that some energy-efficiency technologies which would be socially efficient are not adopted

May 08, 2015

Potsdam: Muni Microgrid Leader

Little Potsdam, NY could show its big city cousins how to build a resilient municipal microgrid

May 07, 2015

Another Urban Envriomental Problem ID'ed

A Power Prediction

Microgrids & local power generation are coming to stay

Tesla Battery Skeptics

Not everyone in the solar power business is wowed by the new Tesla home energy storage battery

May 06, 2015

Tesla Battery Review

The new Tesla energy storage battery is greeted with cheers, causing worries for non-llthium-ion device makers

Your Vote Counts

The next President will have robust powers in the Executive branch of government to shape climate policy

Clean Tech Is Women's Work

Burgeoning professional tech opportunities for women appear in the fast-changing energy sector

May 04, 2015

Pssst, Shale Boom Busts

Clean Power Plan's Health Payoff

Harvard University research predicts a clear and compelling public health benefit with adoption of the Obama Clean Power Plan for electric power generators

May 03, 2015

Local, Artisanal

A takedown of popular catch phrases for how to be climate and ethically responsible

May 01, 2015

An Immodest Proposal

There Ought To Be A Law

The President signs a scaled-back energy efficiency bill, but climate action opponents take aim at draft rules to improve freezer & furnace energy performance

Listen To A Passive House

Hate urban noise pollution? Try a NYC Passive House

April 30, 2015

The Carbon Price Is Nice

What British Columbia has done is cut taxes on investment income and employment and raise taxes on pollution, exactly what we should be doing with our tax system

Greening NYC's Affordable Housing

Enterprise Community Partners, a leader in NYC affordable, green housing, urges the Mayor to apply green standards for new inclusionary, multifamily buildings

Newark Bay Clean-Up - Behind The Headlines

News stories on the NJ's bargain-basement Exxon haz-mat settlement didn't focus on the urban communities around Newark Bay; let's remedy that

April 29, 2015

Pope Francis Links Climate/Social Justice

Unlike those who see climate action as an elite pass time, Pope Francis makes the connection between protecting the Earth and advancing social equality

Self-Healing Power Grid

A really smart power grid will be self-healing, able to do quick fixes on service disruptions

April 28, 2015

Science At Work: Solar Fuels

Big wows about the eight solar fuel research projects at the Joint Center for Artificial Photosynthesis

Blogging On Euro-Passive House Conference

Thanks to our friends at BEEx, we can learn about the steep challenge of building retrofitting to Euro-Passive House standards

April 27, 2015

Just The Facts Ma'am

Check out the new Energy Fact Checker website

Nuclar Power Unhappy With Climate Proposal

The nuclear power industry seeks more advantages in the EPA Clean Power rule

Plan For The Doable

What's the value of the de Blasio OneNYC plan, if meeting its goals is beyond NYC's reach?

April 25, 2015

Listen Up

Why renewables can't be stopped, the podcast

April 24, 2015

A Better, Wetter Battery

New Ways To Pay For What Every NYer Needs

Ideas for getting the money needed to maintain NYC's water and vulnerable sewage system without constantly raising rates

Science At Work: Atmospheric Aerosols

What can happen when climate science research gets put through a denialist spin cycle

April 23, 2015

Boston: Mass Transit And Weird Weather

Deep failures in the face of record winter snows drive systemic change for Boston's mass transit

Say So-Long To Grandma's Grid

The US Energy Department sees need for big changes to the nation's power infrastructure

50 States, 50 Paths

State-by-state CO2 emissions rate targets for power plants under the proposed EPA Clean Power Plan & the 4 'building blocks' for meeting them

April 22, 2015

The Fashion Page

Maybe, just maybe sustainable fashion is a trend that will be around after Earth Day

Plant Paradise

Urban vertical farming as a scalable business is about to come of age

Con Ed Solar Gets REV Boost

REV, the emerging re-creation of electric power industry rules for New York, propels Con Ed's solar programs

April 21, 2015

Utility Bill Of Tomorrow

The targeted information on energy bills of the future could transform consumption habits

As NYC Subway Ridership Hits New Highs...

...Capital investment in the system should keep pace

April 20, 2015

Wrong Trending

US GHG emissions rise for a second straight year, but there are some positive signs on energy intensity in the Department of Energy report

Bloomberg Bets On Urban Data Mining

Ex-NYC Mayor Bloomberg keeps the faith with cities & making them better by using good data

Nececessity/Mother Of Smart Water Meters

Drought-stricken California starts to install smart water meters, with San Francisco in the lead

April 17, 2015

Boston Does Deep Green

Affordable, super-energy efficient housing achieves LEED-Platinum in the Roxbury neighborhood of Boston

Science At Work: The Pacific Blob

Explaining the ocean dynamics linked to Pacific hot blobs & the significance for a heating planet

Laughter Is The Cure

How to treat climate change denial disorder

April 16, 2015

Where L.E.S.S. Is More

Ready to step outside your climate politics comfort zone? Consider 'Less Energy, Stuff, & Stimulation'

The Solar Power of Data Visualization

Climate Change: Moved By The Movie

The right narrative can make international bankers understand the impacts of climate change

April 15, 2015

Solar White Knight Charges In

The battle for cheap rooftop solar power in Hawaii gets help from California's biggest PV installer

First Thoughts On pLAn

The Los Angeles sustainable growth plan is much more than a photo-op & should be taken seriously

California Drought Is Everyone's Problem

Why California's drought woes won't stay in California

April 14, 2015

Mind The Gap In Adaption Planning

The communications gapseparating climate scientists from urban planners slows development of sound adaption blueprints

Good News - Cement Re-Invented

Now, cement can be a carbon 'sponge' instead of a major climate culprit

Earthling's Guide To Taxing Carbon

Everything you need to know in a 6 minute video

April 13, 2015

Bike-Sharing Riddle

Make or break financing for urban bike sharing could rest on whether programs are deemed recreation or transportation

The Bloom Boom

What are Bloom fuel cells & why are Fortune 500 firms buying them?

Welcome Climate Feedback

Get familiar with Climate Feedback, an online resource to improve the scientific accuracy of climate change coverage, by presenting feedback from accredited scientists directly alongside original online texts.

April 11, 2015

Applied Hope

For Amory Lovins, a fossil-fuel free future is doable and the choice is ours

April 10, 2015

CO2: See It Here

Obstacles To Energy Smart Office Towers

What are the common roadblocks that slow office building adoption of energy demand response tactics & technologies?

The Next Wave: Biomimic Buildings

Will buildings that capture carbon emissions & rainwater by making use of biomimicry become a major trend?

April 09, 2015

NYC Parks: Love Is Not Enough

Marking NYC Park Commissioner Silver's first year in office, a look at policy & budget trends

Update: Climate Science Deniers

While denying the scientific reality of climate change is waning, attacks on climate policy are fierce as ever

Uproar Over Green Group's Methane Study

The EDF research study on methane leaks resulting from fracking attracts fans & pans

April 08, 2015

Time-Variant Pricing 101

What is time-variant pricing and why is it important for New Yorkers?

Enviro Money Sucked Into NY Budget

Is the $41 million taken from NY's RGGI energy efficiency program and put into the state's general fund SOP or something else?

Green Cities Success Tour

Energy efficiency policies & projects in 67 global cities

April 07, 2015

A Snapshost of Sustainable Atlanta

Launched in 2010, today's picture of Atlanta's sustainability efforts is a work in progress

Salt Lake City's No NYC

When comes to tailpipe emissions low density cities like Salt Lake have rising vehicle pollution, counteracting lower carbon levels in high-dense, mass transit-oriented cities like NY

Climate Action Movement Federation

Taking the long political road to climate mitigation might start with local, visceral passions that can 'federate'

April 06, 2015

Nuclear 2.0

A start-up company POV about next generation small modular nuclear reactors

Think Like An Expert

Turn the page on ideology, self-interest & cognitive biases and benefit from expert judgements

Multi-Scale Climate Polling

Get the public's opinion on climate change at the national, state, congressional district & county scales

April 04, 2015

Be Mindful Of The 5 D's....

...The psychological barriers to climate action and how nimble communicators can outflank them

Consider the e-Bike

Ever think about cities filled with e-bikes? car makers don't

April 03, 2015

California: Canary In The Coal Mine

Concerned over climate's risks to business? Bloomberg, Paulson & Steyer say take a look at California

ARPA-E : 21st Century New Deal

If the Hoover Dam was the New Deal's energy legacy, will ARPA-E be the same for 21st? century clean energy?

Chuck Schumer's Eco-Record

While Senator Schumer is a reliable voter on environmental bills, his lack of leadership could impact green prospects if he becomes the Democratic chief

April 02, 2015

Save Energy At Work

A field experiment in 5 London office buildings highlights the impact and limits of changing behavioral norms to enhance energy efficiency

Greenlighting Urban Carbon Cuts

Better traffic light programming can cut both urban transportation GHG emissions & traffic delays,

For The Birds

Climate expert sticks talons into New Yorker piece by famous writer

April 01, 2015

Not An April Fool's Headline

"Ted Cruz and the GOP have a big climate problem", the Guardian

Better Behavior

Applying the lessons of behavioral economics could improve building energy performance

Climate Change And US Christianity

Up to the minute survey findings regarding climate change views of U.S. Catholics, Evangelical & non-Evangelical Protestants

March 31, 2015

An End To Range Anxiety

New research finds electric cars can go the distance

Idealsim Has Nothing To Do With It

Remember what Mae West said about goodness when naming the climate action that will make a difference

March 30, 2015

Science At Work: Cold Winter Anomaly

A hypothesis about why the northeast winter of 2014-2015 winter was crazy cold, while the rest of the planet set heat records

Lighting By Numbers

Candlelight's romantic but it doesn't compete for energy efficiency with LEDs -do the math

Follow The Carbon Money

Meet the Quebec Province carbon market and find out how it works

March 27, 2015

70x50

Energy industry expert views on what it will take to reach 70% renewable electric power by 2050

NY Gets AGILe

New York will build the world's most up to date smart energy lab, AGILe, where public agencies & private companies can test out new electricity transmission & distribution technologies

Climate Whatchamacallit

The pen is not as mighty as politics when it comes to prevailing on climate action

March 26, 2015

Tea Power To The People

Tea Party leader Debby Dooley is a big supporter of distributed energy who works with the Sierra Club on a Florida rooftop PV ballot initiative

Carbon Stays In The Picture

The IEA predicts by 2040, the world’s energy supply mix divides into four almost-equal parts: oil, gas, coal
and low-carbon sources.

Bright Prospects For NY Solar

Good news about the growth of solar power in NY

March 25, 2015

A Powerful Thought Experiment

What if a 'civic energy sector' ran tomorrow's electric system based on distributed, low carbon energy?

Introduction To The B Corp

Want to do well by doing good? Here's how

An Endangered Species

Meet Bob Inglis a conservative ex-House member & strong supporter of a carbon tax to combat climate change

March 24, 2015

New Congestion Pricing Fan

Manhattan Institute's Nicole Gelinas defines functional mass transit as a NYC necessity & calls congesting pricing a necessary way to fund it

Words To Live By; Danny Schechter, News Dissector

“All I seem to have these days is this keyboard to crank out more condemnations and calls to action, knowing full well, as I do it, that I don’t know what else to do. I am compelled to make media, compelled to do what I can, thinking modestly that perhaps somewhere, in hearts I don’t know, words or images can still stir souls to rise.” Danny Schechter 1942-2015

Austin: Ending Energy Poverty

Highlighting programs that help alleviate energy energy poverty in Austin, TX

March 23, 2015

Rewable Energy, The Market And The Grid

What lessons are being learned at this teachable moment?

Resiliency: Grassroots And Global

If resiliency is the solution to NYC climate change risks, just what does it mean?

Coal Company Shocker

What explains coal companies' public climate-denialist statements and their federal SEC filings which acknowledge climate science?

March 21, 2015

The Law And Obama's Clean Air Plan

Harvard law professors debate the constitutionality of Obama's plan to cut power plant carbon emissions (Hint: EPA’s power plant rule sets carbon intensity targets for each state, which they can achieve using whatever measures they prefer, including by substituting natural gas for coal, using more renewable energy, and investing in energy efficiency)

March 20, 2015

Vanishing Man-Made Wilderness in NYC

Take a virtual tour of Hunter's Point before it's retamed or go visit this weekend!

REV's Climate Implications

The emerging landscape for New York's electric power system has big climate implications to be spelled out in the REV Track 2 document

NYC Council - Climate Activist

NYC climate activists have high hopes for NYC Council climate activism

March 19, 2015

Seize The Day

Will energy efficiency projects make the most of today's investment opportunities?

Buffett: Murky On Climate

World famous businessman Warren Buffet gives mixed signals on climate change

NY Path To Offshore Wind

How to cut the cost offshore wind power costs and make it a renewable energy contender in NY

March 18, 2015

The Brooklyn Strand

See the first draft of a greenway for downtown Brooklyn

Regulatory Evolution

Electric utilities (dinosaurs) seek regulatory protection against upstart renenwable energy providers (mammals), get evolved and click here

Compare Building Rating Systems

Explore this interactive on-line tool to compare building energy/water disclosure data in diverse jurisdictions

March 17, 2015

NYC On Leading Edge At Grid Edge

Is NYC becoming best in class for distributed power & energy storage at the grid edge?

Yes Or No

Do we know how to grow the economy while making steep cuts in carbon emissions?

Solar Optimist For Cities

How utility scale solar installations can power cities

March 16, 2015

Future Utility Models

Everything you want to know about Distributed System Platform Providers (DSPPs) and how it differs from today's utility model. Watch full event video.

How To Decarbonize

Another chapter in the fierce debate over the primacy of regulation v technology advances for making impactful cuts in our energy intensity

Facing Flooding In Florida

Will necessity be the mother of invention for adapting to coastal flooding in Florida

March 12, 2015

Recipe For Urban Parklets

What are the best ingredients for producing successful urban parklets?

Merchants Of Climate Denialism

A who's who list of think tankers, academics & consultants that sought to derail climate documentary Merchants of Doubt

Thought For The Day

You can't 'believe' in climate change, it's scientific fact, not religion

March 11, 2015

A Thought Experiment

What would it take for solar energy to overtake natural gas as the biggest electric power fuel in the US?

Eco-Scoring The City Council

Environmental ratings of NYC Council members, from 100 down to 42

US: 26-28x25

In a lead up to the UN Paris climate negotiations, the US targets a 26-28% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2025 and how it will get there

March 10, 2015

Heat Pumps 101

Interested in locally-sourced renewable energy? check out heat pumps

Science At Work: Weird Winters

Warmer tropical oceans identified as the culprit in cold/wet east coast winters & warm/dry west coast winters, but author stipulates he's not "address[ing] the question of whether the probability or intensity of this pattern might be influenced by global warming."

Measuring Urban IQ

What makes the world's smartest cities smart?

March 09, 2015

Questioning The NY REV

Will New York's Reforming The Energy Vision (REV) policy hinder energy efficiency efforts?

Climate Lethargy Diagnosis

The historic coincidence of an economic oligarchy & a climate crisis blocks channels of change says Naomi Klein

A Call To NYC Sustianability Action

It's time for Mayor de Blasio to build on the momentum of NYC's sustainability plan

March 06, 2015

Getting The Best Solar Deal

How to get better deals on solar panels and installations

March 05, 2015

Science At Work: War And Climate Change

Get a taste of the methodological controversy stirred up by a study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences that inks the Syrian war to climate-change stressors

Signs Of Climate Realignment

The ClearPath Foundation could lead the way for moderates & conservatives who want to take action on climate change

Let's Hear It For Hoboken

Why the UN calls Hoboken, NJ a model for urban flood resiliency

March 04, 2015

Open Patents: Hype? Hope?

Look under the hood of Tesla's EV & Toyota's fuel cell open patent pledges

Sydney: Green Leases For All

How can small-scale office renters get into the green lease arena where everyone's a winner?

Rx For Offshore Wind Woes

What can save the US offshore wind industry?

March 03, 2015

A History Of French Nuclear Power

A German Energiewende POV

Hurdles For Thriftier Energy Users

Why don't utility customers love time-of-day pricing?

Climate Invesment Advice

Institutional investors should put money in green bonds, but give fossil asset disinvesting a miss

NY: What Utilities Can't Do

In a major REV order, New York's Public Service Commission draws a bright line between utilities & ownership of renewable energy assets and to dig even deeper on distributed energy click here

March 02, 2015

Climate: Shock And Tax

If ending our fossil fuel addiction will be hard, what does that imply for taxing carbon?

Science At Work: The Faux Pause

Climate scientist Michael Mann explains what's wrong with denialists' claims that the world isn't heating up

Boston: Living With Water

Design finalists in the Boston resiliency design competition

February 28, 2015

Just A a Thought

Dinosaurs are driving us to extinction

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

February 25, 2015

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


February 24, 2015

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?

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

February 23, 2015

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

Obama's Climate Leader-In-Chief

EPA Chief Gina McCarthy has one of the toughest jobs in Washington, climate protection

February 20, 2015

Black Swan Of Climate Change

Like all good risk managers, when it comes to climate change, focus on what we don't know

Future Past

Help build the future of NYC's past, contribute to the Space/Time Directory

February 19, 2015

Staten 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

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

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

Big Data: Urban Mobility Potential

Can big data relieve urban gridlock and help planners design more mobile cities?

NYC Climate Change Report

"Building the Knowledge Base for Climate Resiliency: New York City Panel on Climate Change 2015 Report", download it here

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

Voluntarism Is Not Enough

When it comes to curbing our carbon appetite, voluntary business actions are estimable but not enough

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?

February 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

February 12, 2015

Science At Work: Weather Prediction

With extreme weather on the rise scientists & meteorologists embrace advanced computing power to devise more accurate forecasts & avert disasters

A Teachable Moment

City leaders should closely study extreme weather events and get better prepared for climate change impacts - or else!

February 11, 2015

Rx For Utility Biz Blues

An independent solar power company offers business advice to utilities

Tomorrow's Power Utility

Do power utilities have a future?

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

The Next Great Climate Debate

Green Career Advice

Want to launch or advance your green career? Useful advice here

Rating The Holder Years

How does the environmental track record stack up for Attorney General Eric Holder?

February 09, 2015

CA Adds 550 MW Of Solar Power

California gets another mega-scale solar power plant

Act Global, Build Local

How design adapted to local weather conditions could cut the need for AC

February 06, 2015

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

Energy Storage Gets Sexy

Utility executives pick energy storage as today's most important emerging technology

February 05, 2015

Washington DC: Benchmarking Champ

Building energy benchmarking reporting reveals privately-owned, commercial buildings in Washington DC are superior energy performers

He's A Believer

Climate scientist Prof. David Victor makes the optimist's case for the outcome of upcoming Paris climate talks

Be A Hero With Zero

How the GSA, the biggest landlord in the US, can go net zero carbon emissions

February 04, 2015

Boston: Watefront Transit

Now that new transportation options have helped transform Boston's waterfront, what's next for transportation planning?

Cut Carbon - Recycle

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

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

21st Century Infrastructure:Think Different

Cities start to build infrastructure projects for a more chaotic climate

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

January 30, 2015

REITs Right For Energy Efficiency

Here's why real estate trusts offer good opportunities to grow building energy efficiency

Dear Mayor De Blasio

Put climate justice into action, an agenda labor & eco-community activists call Climate Works for All

How To Share The Sun

Community net metering could be the way for made-in-the-shade New Yorkers to join the solar power revolution

January 29, 2015

Denmark: Catching The Wind

Solar Flare-Ups In AZ

The tense relationship between Arizona power utilities & independent solar supply companies gets tenser

The Big Poltiical Chill

With US political polarization & personal animosity at record highs, no wonder federal climate policy action remains in deep freeze

January 28, 2015

Science At Work: We're In Hot Water

Plastic's Not Fantastic

NYC's ban on styrofoam & efforts to impose a fee on plastic bags won't make this stuff disappear.... yet

The Media Beat: Climate On TV

There's both good & bad news about TV broadcast news coverage of climate change

January 26, 2015

The Case Against Nuclear Power

If nuclear power is neither clean nor cheap Obama must stop supporting it as a climate-friendly fuel

Legal Eagles The Power To Transmit Less

Will a federal rule struck down by an appeals court, FERC Order 745, which found that the federal agency responsible for regulating demand response lacked authority, be reviewed by the US Supreme Court?

The Opposite Of Nostalgia

Central Park in the 1970's

January 23, 2015

Solarizing The Southwest

Follow the sun & build in the desert

The Philosophy Of Power

As state utility regulators start grappling with deep rewrites of the rules, deep differences emerge

Stop Wasting Money

Start energy benchmarking your building & gain peer-to-peer insights

January 22, 2015

RE 100 Update

A campaign launched during Climate Week 2014 to get corporate commitment for 100% renewable power gears up

If You Couldn't Make It To Davos...

...Your can see the new Al Gore climate video here

Science At Work: 2014 Records and Trends

What statistics reveals about 2014's record heat & larger climate trends (read on, you don't have to be a math-maven!)

January 21, 2015

Net-Zero Dips Toe In Mainstream

US home builders see net-zero energy as the next big thing, but what about purchasers?

People Like Their Mayors

Mayors get more love than other electeds, but less than small business owners or recent graduates

(Dismal) Science At Work: Climate Costs

How conventional economic calculations lowball the costs of climate change

January 20, 2015

Solar At The Industrial Scale

Why mega-scale solar power farms are key to a decarbonized energy future

Carbon Bubble

UN climate chief warns that fossil fuel investments are overvalued & now at risk of losing money

January 16, 2015

Climate Change Is Risky Business

Business leaders see risks rise with record-breaking heat & climate changes

Clean, Cheap, Champ

It can't be said too often efficiency is our cheapest energy source

Climate Activists: Pencils Poised

What's on the short list for climate activists in 2015?

January 15, 2015

Once-In-A-Generation Opportunity

Plunging oil prices create the political space to end fossil-fuel subsidies & forge new energy policies, act now!

Green Bonds Grow Up

Growing transparency & shared standards drive growth in the green bond market

Science At Work: Sea Level Rise

What first looked like good news about slower sea level rise turned out to be really bad news

January 14, 2015

Cities With Big Clean Energy Goals

Which ten cities have 100% clean energy goals & what are their paths?

Debating The Rate Of Change

Will Moore's Law apply to the capacity & cost of technology to store solar power?

Not The Same Old Grid

Why no one thinks the power grid of tomorrow will look like the past

January 13, 2015

Washington's Climate Agenda

Washington State's ambitions agenda

Walk Safer, Walk More

Drivers bear the greatest responsibility for making city streets safe for pedestrians & encouraging more healthy walking

January 12, 2015

How To Get to 50x30

Experts see no technical barriers in meeting California's goal of 50% renewable energy in 15 years, but challenges remain

Renewables Energy Snapshot

Political Economy 2.0

Stimulate economic growth with a quantitative program tailored to green projects

January 10, 2015

Science At Work: Arctic Warming

What are the implications for understanding extreme weather of a warming Arctic?

January 09, 2015

Energy Storage Market Prediction

Commercial & industrial buildings are ready to make the solar energy storage market take off

Green Product Labeling

Honesty is the best policy and good for branding & marketing too

Science At Work: Sea Level Rise

Understanding the inputs to sea level rise makes climate science stronger

January 08, 2015

LES: Green Grass Roots Go Wireless

Grass roots activists in the Two Bridges neighborhood use local wi-fi to advance energy & communications resilience

Great Energy Code Expectations

NYC's newest Energy Conservation Code should increase building efficiency 10-30%

January 07, 2015

Get On Board With Transit Shed Maps

How To Get To Zero

The to-do list for making net-zero carbon buildings the new normal by 2030

Charting A Hotter Planet

Overwhelmed with the politics of climate change? then look at the data charts for rising global temperature trends

January 06, 2015

Gas Tax Hike

Is now the time?

Cheer Up

Energy insiders see industry/customer/regulator convergence & cooperation coming in 2015

Follow The Carbon Fee Trail

As carbon emissions caps fall & permit prices rise, NY funds new emissions energy & renewable energy programs

January 05, 2015

Let's Get To Zero

Explore a database of net-zero buildings in the US

Ripples Form NY Frack Ban

The impact of Governor Cuomo's fracking ban start to appear

Larry Summers: Carpe Carbon Tax Diem

Plunging oil prices make it a good time for a carbon tax says economist Larry Summers

January 03, 2015

Travel By Pod

Weigh in on the feasibility of urban personal transportation pod systems -- really!

January 02, 2015

The Way We Live In Cities Now

See how we're living in big cities by density, age, mobility access & more

Where The Action Is

In 2015, expect the epicenter of climate action at the state, regional & municipal level

December 31, 2014

Bethesda: Greening A Suburban Downtown

Eco-Districts could lead the way in the greening plan for downtown Bethesda, MD

9 Reasons To Cheer 2014

Climate, resource protection & capital markets make progress that will matter in 2015

The Year's Most Important Energy Numbers

10 to remember

December 30, 2014

2014 Energy Trends...

...and their impact on climate change

Germany: Learning From Renewable Energy Policy

The bold Energiewende program offers good renewable governance lessons and not just for German

Enviro Awareness On the Rise

Rejoice and end the year with hopeful news

December 29, 2014

Dimmer Lights/Brighter City

Why NYC won't lose its luster if a City Council bill passes to switch off 40,000 lights in buildings closed for the night

Demystifying Grid Reliability

True or false? the only reliable power grid is centralized & runs on fossil fuels

14 Faves In 14

An astute energy-beat journalist's 14 favorite energy stories of the year

December 26, 2014

Rx For NY-Metro Rail

First, make operational improvements in the existing NY metro rail system, second, make plans for new projects, with some recommendations too

December 24, 2014

Electrifying Holiday Cheer

New England upends the SOPs for renewable energy & pricing

Energy Infrastructure: Data Galore

If you've got the time, the federal Office of Energy Projects has the Nov. 2014 infrastructure news

2014: A Good Year For PACE

Overcoming earlier adversity PACE, a mechanism to fund building energy upgrades, has a billion dollar year & more program-friendly state legislation is on tap for 2015

December 23, 2014

Picture Of The Year

Climate 2014: Wins And Losses

Grassroots grow, Congress doesn't

Science At Work: Measuring Heat

Getting the right temperature metric plays a big role in identifying & predicting climate change

December 22, 2014

NYC Tops The List...

... for US cities at risk of more power outages due to fiercer hurricanes

10 Steps To Make 80x50 A Reality

10 specific proposals to cut NYC's carbon footprint, grow good jobs & be fairer to all

Year In Review: Green Bonds 2014

With a growing green bond market in 2014 it's time to ask -- something new or just rebranding?

December 19, 2014

30 Climate Change Indicators

The 3rd edition of an EPA report to help the public understand observed long-term trends related to the causes and effects of climate change

Morphing The Power Company

A distribution services platform will be the model for tomorrow's power utility with REV reshaping NY's regulatory system

Seattle: The Big Goof

What could possibly go wrong with Seattle's mega road tunnel project?

December 18, 2014

City World

Map of an urbanizing planet

Science At Work: Hot Pacific, Hot Planet

Unprecedented Pacific Ocean warming drives rising global temperatures

December 17, 2014

Bad Plan Predicts Phantom Trips

A standard city planning tool recommends building more roads than needed due to 'phantom' car trips in the model

What A Difference A Year Makes

Champion building performers that cut energy use 15% in one year & how they did it

Never At A Loss For Words

December 16, 2014

Revisit 2014 Energy Predictions

Bloomberg NEF energy maven Michael Liebreich revisits and rates his 2014 global energy sector predictions

Nuclear Energy Revival

Is there a new day coming for nuclear power in the US?

Low Awareness Of Climate-Health Risk Link

Americans are unaware of the health consequences linked to climate change according to Yale public perception study

December 15, 2014

110 Years Of Electricity

Trend timelines of the US electric power system

Blowing Past The 2 Degree Limit

Given the likelihood the planet will heat up beyond the 2 degree C no-going-back threshold, what's at stake?

PSC: Accelerating Energy Innovation

New York's Public Service Commission paves the way for innovate energy demonstration projects as part of is ambitious Reforming the Energy Vision policy

December 12, 2014

Resource Guide For Energy Efficiency

Data from midwest states supports energy efficiency policies

Energy From Everything That Moves

Even subway rats could become a source of energy in this scenario

Urban Microgrids: Learn By Trying

Learn how Hoboken,NJ & Potsdam, NY are trying to develop DOE-sponsored microgrids to provide weird-weatherproof power

December 11, 2014

Words Matter

Senator James Inhofe is a climate denier not a climate skeptic & that's not just sematics

Get More From The Sun

Can emerging technologies give solar power a market adoption edge?

Green Finance 101

Introduction to green bonds

December 10, 2014

China-US-Lima

Will the outcome of the international Lima climate meetings be shaped by the China-US carbon agreement?

How To Make History

The story behind the US-China climate action deal

Guides For NY Utility 2.0

New York's massive effort to reinvent itts utility regulations draws on UK experience

December 09, 2014

Explore NYC Green Buildings

Click around this map and see what's happening now

The White House Climate Guy

Can the Podesta climate action strategy outlast the Obama Administration?

Building A Better Window

Keeping the outside out and the inside in, a window tech time-line

December 08, 2014

A Plan To

Move NY with a new tolling strategy to decongest NYC traffic & improve things for drivers

Fear Of Batteries

Nothing scares your electric company more than Tesla car batteries

80x50: Beware Distractions

Constant attention must be paid to get NYC to its legal goal of cutting GHG's 80% by 2050

December 05, 2014

Why Google Abandoned Renewables Research

The debate is on over why Google walks shuts down renewable energy R & D

Science At Work: Climate Statistics

A climate statistics refresher clarifies global temperature data

Innovation: Spawn Yes, Cluster No

Learn the secrets of innovative industry leadership from California & Minnesota

December 04, 2014

The Green Bond Path

What could green bonds do to finance a clean energy revolution?

Connect The Dots

The energy-water/-land use nexus explained

December 03, 2014

The Lima Climate Summit

An international meeting that matters, here's why

Hiding In Plain Sight

Track down NYC's privately-owned public spaces

Solar Ivy

A Brooklyn company takes bio-mimicry for building products to a whole new level

December 02, 2014

A New Way To Be A Treehugger

Show Us The Money

The Supreme Court review of rules limiting mercury emissions from power plants hinges on whether the EPA had to take price of compliance into consideration

The PV Tilt

True or false? the most efficient efficient solar panels tilt west

December 01, 2014

Rethinking Reliable Sewage Treatment

Why an aging sewage treatment system built before awareness of climate change faces a double whammy

Growing Old Gets Risker

Climate change poses heightened morality risks to the elderly

Designer Labels

What kind of label information boosts consumer purchase of energy efficient appliances?

November 27, 2014

Rewriting The News

Words matter when reporting on big, controversial EPA rules

November 26, 2014

The Sports Section: Eco-Messaging

61% of Americans follow pro sports, so what better arena to get their attention about going green!

Short Code Is Good Code

Picture This

Always filthy, sometimes gorgeous Brooklyn's Gowanus Canal

November 25, 2014

Market Doubt On Energy Efficiency

Why are building energy efficiency investments a hard sell for the NY Green Bank?

Urban Bike Sharing

What makes a successful urban bike-sharing program?

NY: The REV Lab

Since states are the labs of national energy policy, what's NY learning about green energy markets as the REV evolves

November 24, 2014

Mapping Ocean Acidification

Look where atmospheric carbon dioxide winds up & what this will mean

Disinvesting In Our Future

American refusal to modernize its infrastructure has dire implications for a sustainable economy & ideas for investing billions in New York

Human Sustainability

Architectural design fad or fact?

November 22, 2014

Maximizing Solar Power

Orientation, tilt & tracking the the key variables in maximizing the output of photovoltaic panels

November 21, 2014

Energy Storage Tech - From Heat To Power

Solar Dawning

See the rise of solar power

How Astroturfing Works

Greenpeace bares the inner workings of a PR campaign for the XL Pipeline

November 20, 2014

Clean Energy Investing in 55 Nations

Calculate the investment climate & policies for clean energy investments in 55 emerging markets

A Different Kind Of City Island

If You Build It, They Will Walk

Healthy community advocates call for built environments that encourage walking, but how to prove the link?

November 19, 2014

Cities: Earth's Great Hope

Consider this: city-living can save the planet & here's how

Needed: Tomorrow's Tech

What if todays energy technologies can't cut GHG emissions enough to prevent catastrophic warming?

Gridmarket

Explore a web platform that makes implementing energy storage projects easier for building owners & operators

November 18, 2014

The Carbon Tax/Infrastructure Nexus

The infrastructure cities build now will shape the impact of any future carbon tax regime

Make Snow With Sun

How a Maine ski resort will add to its snow pack by using solar power while cutting energy use 70%

The Heat Beat

November 17, 2014

Hope Is Happening

Seven climate positive things happening right now

Resiliency Task Force To-Do List

Obama's climate preparedness task force releases its recommendations

Home Heating History

The home radiator, a 19th century luxury item

November 14, 2014

China, Coal, Climate

Krugman says it all

A Sign Of Our Times

How To Install An Oculus

Watch workers install the sky-reflecting Oculus in the Fulton Street transit center

November 13, 2014

Cutting GHGs: The Long Game

Why it's necessary for countries to have a GHG cutting strategies that extend beyond 2020

Now's The Time For Microgrids

What are the forces raising microgrids' prospects?

US-China Climate Deal - Klein Opines

Climate activist/author Naomi Klein provides first impressions of the US-China climate agreement

November 12, 2014

Legal Eagles: Real Estate Weighs In On REV

The Real Estate Board of NY wants the State REV to improve the economics of distributed generation by cutting Con Ed's standby tariff for property owners

Reading Between the Diplomatic Lines

Growing faith in renewable energy is implicit in the US-China agreement on carbon emissions

Loading The Carbon Dice

Billions in subsidies to find new fossil fuels, not so much for renewable energy

November 11, 2014

Easier Benchmarking

Innovations are emerging in energy benchmarking to streamline the process for multifamily buildings

Science At Work: Ocean Acidification

How acidification might alter climate-relevant functions of the oceans’ uppermost layer

A Little Climate LOL

ICYMI Watch Bill Nye, the 'science guy" on Last Week Tonight

November 10, 2014

We're All Quitoxtes Now: Cap And Dividend

Despite dim, dim prospects for federal climate action, it's worth considering good policy alternatives

LEDs Get Some Love

LEDs are lighting a revolution in energy efficient illumination

November 08, 2014

This Changes Everything

A review of the new Naomi Klein book

November 07, 2014

Delaying The Solar Boom

Given glowing prospects for low cost solar power, why isn't there a bigger US growth spurt?

Drivers Of Urban Sustainability

An interview with Warren Karlenzig, author of How Green is Your City

Street Harassment Is/Isn't Like Climate Change

Find out here

November 06, 2014

Election 2014: Infastructure Outcomes

A look at federal, state and local election results for water, energy & public transport issues

Germany: Renewables/Smart Grid Test

Producing 500% more renewable energy than it needs a small Bavarian town is the test bed for how to integrate this energy into the power grid

New Business Model For Big Utility

NRG changes the standard utility business model with a strategic move into residential solar power & more

November 05, 2014

Needed: Solar Economists

The tools for reliably calculating the value of solar power are not yet available

The Sports Section: Sustainability Ambassadors

Pro sports would make ideal ambassadors for global sustainability, but what are the odds?

Co-opting Rooftop Solar

Since fossil-fueled utilities couldn't pull the plug on distributed solar power firms, they're co-opting the business model

November 04, 2014

Chicago: Making Energy Efficiency Pay

How can rental building owners make energy efficiency investments pay off?

Modern Times

Six new technologies for cutting your carbon footprint

ID'ing The Greenest Generation

Fact or fiction? Millennials are the greenest, clean economy generation ever

November 03, 2014

Climate's Election Role

One San Diego CA race for Congress offers a snapshot of how climate change could play out in future campaigns

UN Climate Report Mumbles

For all the urgency of its call to action, the new UN Climate Panel report mumbles and is missing a clear statement of research and budget priorities

Microgrids For The End Of The Line

Rockaway knows firsthand just how flood & storm vulnerable its conventional electric power supply system is, making microgrids an intriguing alternative

November 01, 2014

NY's Leading Energy Edge

Profiles of 9 New York energy storage equipment makers getting $22 million in state funding

October 31, 2014

Worth Quoting

"The most fateful time in a law’s life is not the fight to get it passed but the implementation afterward. I think activists and advocates sometimes forget this and tune out after the victory party" Dave Robers/Grist

Solar Worries

Are problems at the industrial-scale Ivanpah solar power plant start-up snafus or is low output a sign of something worse?

Storage Innovation For Renewables

Because wind & solar don't happen 24/7, innovations in energy storage technology are key to growing reliance on renewables

October 30, 2014

The Newest Generation Gap

Under 35's really favor renewable energy, over 65's big fossil fuel fans finds U. Texas poll

Fossil Fuel Not Throwing Shade

Even with low fossil fuel prices, the solar power market is rising

Denialst Tool: Fomenting Doubt

Borrowing from the tobacco wars, climate change deniers start by sowing doubts about the science, but it's anti-regulation politics that steer the enterprise

October 29, 2014

Sandy 2 Years After: Storm Surge Science

Sandy's devastating storm surge sheds light on climate change impacts & how to build a safer future, especially in coastal areas

Sandy 2 Years After: Public Confidence

Survey of 70 New Yorkers finds 70% don't feel safe from the impact of future storms & floods

Sandy 2 Years After: Don't Rely On The Red Cross

The Red Cross response to Sandy was deeply flawed reports Pro Publica

October 24, 2014

Clashing Solar Scenarios

Are utilities warming to PV power to grow it or to kill it off?

Grid Heads - Plug In Here

Standford University launches a journal dedicated to rethinking the power grid, lots to learn

October 23, 2014

Climate Bonds For Risky Business

to to make climate polluters pay

More Heat Than Light

Claims that energy efficient lighting in the developing world will only lead to more energy use are misleading

EPA Carbon Rule And Renewable Energy

The EPA could be way underestimating growth projections for clean energy in its carbon emissions rule proposal

October 22, 2014

Food For Thought: Tomorrow's Infrastructure

75% of 2050's infrastructure has not been invented yet, think of the sustainable city opportunities!

Science At Work: Cheaper Solar Cells

By using less silicon or lower grade silicon the price of next generation solar cells could drop sharply

Eluding The Utility Death Spiral

What should utilities do to avoid the dreaded death spiral? Instead of viewing ratepayers as passive sources of cost recovery, utilities ought to view them as, y’know, customers writes Dave Roberts

October 21, 2014

Public Opinion, Persuasion And Policy

Does public opinion matter when making public policy on climate change?

Build A Bigger BART

Here's how Bay Area Rapid Transit will expand around San Francisco Bay

World's Worst Climate Villains

What does it take to be such bad guys?

October 20, 2014

Where Science And Policy Don't Meet

Although rising ocean temperatures are a sign of global warming, setting lower temperature targets makes bad climate policy

October 17, 2014

Q/A With SolarCity CEO

What's the SolarCity business model for getting to 40% solar power market penetration by 2040?

The Limits Of Climate Economics

Why economists can't predict the costs of cutting carbon & protecting our climate -- and why that must not delay taking action

October 16, 2014

Don't Say CC In Florida

A climate hawk's big buck campaign fund attacks Florida's climate-denier Governor without using the words "climate change"

Cheap Solar Power Makes Greener Tea

Cheap, utility-scale solar power coming to Georgia as a result of an environmental-Tea Party meeting of the minds

We Built New York All Wrong

Threatened by rising sea levels, New York City's low lying residential areas and infrastructure need new ways to be made survivable

October 15, 2014

All About Passive House

Got 90 seconds?

Climate-Friendly, Not Utopian

Evidence is mounting for how to grow the US economy in a climate-friendly fashion

The High Performance Bullitt

October 14, 2014

Hot And Hotter

Scientists report April-September 2014 was the hottest April-September on record

Julia Roberts Is Mother Nature

Watch this

Nobel Prize Winner On Climate Negotiations

Jean Tirole, the 2014 Nobel Prize winner in Economics, analyzes how to strategically advance international climate agreements by confronting the free-rider problem

October 11, 2014

Tomorrow's Fuel Sippers

Today's EPA research should translate into tomorrow's more fuel efficient vehicles

October 10, 2014

Global Climate Talks Clue

Could this Peruvian Minister's comment be a clue about where the US is headed?

Antarctica: Icing Up (Part 2)

Here's more, it's complicated & not the last word

The Red Hot 2 Degree Debate

If over-shoooting the 2 degree C global temperature rise as the point-of-no-return is inevitable, what should climate policy makers do?

October 09, 2014

Green From 9-5

Nine high performance office buildings that make working better

Cogen - Believers And Others

Despite the many advantages of cogenerating heat & power, not all doubters have been won over

October 08, 2014

Banking On Energy Storage

Why are Citigroup, HSBC & UBS so bullish on energy storage technologies?

Calling All Microgrids

What can solar microgrid advocates learn from the cell phone revolution?

Stomping On FERC

Want to do something evil (cripple energy demand reduction programs)? Wrap it inside something boring (a federal appellate decision striking down FERC Order 745). This is important, just click on the link and read patiently

October 07, 2014

US: Not In Top 10

Carbon Pricing: Pitfalls And Promises

Experience with pricing carbon suggests cutting costs of renewable energy is also needed for climate action

Saved From The Death Spiral

How electric cars could reboot the utility sector

October 06, 2014

Contending For Climate Dominance

Compare contrast the Klein & McKibben climate narrative that of Gore & Stern

Science At Work: Climate Sensitivity

How much warming is produced by a given amount of GHG added to the atmosphere?

Imagine - From Spofford To Sustainable Housing

Majora Cater imagines transforming a now-shuttered Bronx youth detention center into sustainable, affordable housing

October 03, 2014

Plug-Load Energy Slurpers

As building systems like HVAC & lights get more energy efficient, the amount of energy used by gear plugged into outlets becomes clear

Cheaper Off The Grid

HSBC predicts German homes with solar panels and battery storage could get their electricity cheaper than from the grid by the end of the decade

Enough With The Messaging

Forget finding the right message for conservative climate-deniers, they won't be converted

October 02, 2014

Science At Work: The Hot Cold Nexus

Are cold winters linked to global warming? is a hot research topic

Climate Refugees

It's time for international law experts to devise a legal status for climate-induced displaced persons

We Have Met The Enemy...

October 01, 2014

Net Zero The Next Building Frontier

Will net-zero carbon emissions become the new standard in the commercial building market?

Science At Work: Urban Heat's A Killer

Research details the distribution of risk factors for heat-linked urban mortality

Where Manhattan Floods

September 30, 2014

The Electric Power Revolution, From A...

...to Zibelman

Science At Work: Heat And Drought

The extreme heat and climate change link has strong scientific backing, but the drought connection is still a work in progress

Start Counting On The Sun

The authoritative International Energy Agency sees the future of global electric power filled with sunlight

September 29, 2014

Laugh While Your Cry

Give Climate Change The Business

What's the significance of growing corporate presence in the climate change movement?

Vote Now, Vote Often

Vote for your favorite crowd-sourced MIT climate-change solution projects

September 26, 2014

Energy Star's Great Leap Forward

The EPA software program for scoring & rating energy performance, Energy Star, is now available for apartment buildings

Get Moving On Urban Connectivty

Tomorrow's most sustainable cities will be linked up via transport networks that communicate

September 25, 2014

Micro-CHPs Could Be Tasty

Tiny combined heat/power technology could challenge batteries as the perfect solar panel partner for for off-grid living

EPA Head Talks About Climate

EPA chief Gina McCarthy spells out the official climate policy

Flood Wall Street, Not Occupy Wall Street

The Flood Wall Street demonstration suggests a new era of policing protests in the De Blasio administration

September 24, 2014

It Can't Be Said Too Often

Climate change will be solved by cities or not at all

September 23, 2014

Distributed Power In The Empire State

The primer on distributed energy resources in NY & how they compare to other states

Keys To Utility 2.0

If NY's new model for regulating energy aims at maximizing system efficiency, we'll all need to do our part

Healthcare Shouldn't Make You Sick

Greening Health Care, the book review

September 20, 2014

The Cost Of Cutting Carbon

Why EPA's proposed carbon emissions rules won't drive 840,000 Americans into poverty

September 19, 2014

Solar Deals, NY Style

Two solar questions What incentives will Governor Cuomo offer Tesla to build a PV factory in Buffalo? Should he?

Diagnosing A PV Plant's Demise

What explains the failure of a Chinese-owned solar panel business in Arizona?

Monopolizing The Sun

Fears that Duke Energy might monopolize North Carolina's emerging renewables sector cloud its future

September 18, 2014

Urban Dwelling

By 2050, 70% of humanity will live in cities, what should we be doing now?

September 17, 2014

REVing Up

Industry & public comments due September 22 on the latest outline of New York's Reforming The Energy Vision (REV) proposal

DERMS: An Energy Acronym To Remember

Distributed Energy Resource Management Systems could be the sweet spot for a centralized/distributed renewable energy future

Carbon Tax: Running With A Great Idea

Is a national carbon tax just for idealists?

September 16, 2014

Higher Solar Education

Learn how the University of California will get 60% of its power from solar sources as part of its Net Zero Carbon campaign

September 15, 2014

March 24, 1900

Starting construction on the NYC subway system was something to celebrate --still is!

Boise Bike Lanes: Gone In A Month

What explains the outcome of a one-month bike lanes pilot project in Boise Idaho?

German Renewables - Just The Facts Ma'am

Energiewende charts & data galore

September 13, 2014

Driving Energy Performance Investment

Advice from five real estate pros about what will drive investment in energy efficiency

Better Than Your Average Hairdryer

On-Grid Stats Of The Week

Let's start with zero for new coal and move on from there

September 12, 2014

World Falls Far Short On Cutting Carbon

Expect the world to get 4 o centigrade hotter at current levels of decreasing carbon intensity

Live With It

From now on we will live in a global climate that we changed, so let's consider what that will mean writes Andy Revkin

Whole Foods Is Ready For Anything

With its microgrid installation the Brooklyn branch of Whole Foods can keep the power and heat on when the grid goes down

September 11, 2014

California's Different

Solar panels face south in most of the US, but not in California

Natural Gas - Not A Bridge

Natural gas could be an 'exit ramp' to a zero-carbon future says national environmental organization

A Grid Without Energy Storage...

..is like a factory without a warehouse, it's time to build smarter

September 10, 2014

The World's Best Fuel

If investing in energy efficiency is so great, why is it so undervalued?

Renewnable Energy Fans Friend Obama

The President's domestic carbon control plan could add momentum for an international climate agreement and boost demands for renewable power

For The Birds

Reality check: climate change could wipe out 50% of North American birds, not solar panels or wind turbines

September 08, 2014

Death Of Venice

What corruption & political dysfunction look like in one of the most flood prone cities on Earth [NYRB $ub]

September 05, 2014

What If....

...Challenges to the EPA carbon rule proposal succeed?

The Business Side Of Climate Change

Bespoke Energy

Will customers' demands custom tailor the utility business model?

September 04, 2014

"Ruin Is Forever"

Best header ever for an essay on the precautionary principle

Uber Grid

What if the electric power grid underwent an Uber-like revolution?

September 03, 2014

A Global Apollo Project

Since battling climate change is a defining 21 century challenge, how much should nations spend to create cheap renewable energy supplies?

MI: Solar Disconnect

While Michigan is a hotbed of solar tech innovation state markets for solar power languish

It's Raining Extremely

More extreme rain events are a NY reality and both climate action & incorporating resiliency design into our built environments are needed now

September 02, 2014

Science At Work: Heath Impacts Of Traffic Congestion

Air pollution from urban traffic congestion elevates serious health risks; this research links traffic flow data with specific pollutants

Sustainability - Sippers And Slurpers

When it comes to corporate sustainability actions sipping is not enough

August 29, 2014

Energy Behavior Change 101

Start with attention-grabbing media messages

NY Energy Innovators

Missed the 4th Annual On Energy Forum? Here's the video

August 28, 2014

Benchmarking Data Mining

What could utilities & energy efficiency program staff learn from building energy benchmarking data?

Wouldn't It Be Nice...

... if global power plant construction & CO2 emissions were declining? They're not

The Premise Behind A Carbon Tax

For Harvard economist Dale Jorgenson a carbon tax is the most efficient way to cut carbon emissions. Why is that?

August 27, 2014

What The World Needs Now

Shut down all coal-burning power plants ASAP

Paris Climate Talks: What To Expect

While the upcoming Paris climate treaty meeting might be a triumph of hope over experience, despair is premature

Hot Off The REV Press

No time to read hundreds of pages of NY's Reforming the Energy Vision staff reports?" Read this and see what's to gain with a shift to distributed energy resources

August 26, 2014

3 Million Places To Waste Energy

The bulk of today's 3 million data centers, are energy guzzlers but they can do better

Demand Destruction

Defining demand destruction, how it differs from energy efficiency & why that's important

Lead With The Facts

A call for ramping up media attention on climate change facts & the dangers we already are facing

August 25, 2014

Big As The Path To Extinction

Will traditional utility companies go extinct in the face of distributed power creation & storage assets?

August 23, 2014

Triple-Glazed Windows

Are they right for U?

August 22, 2014

Riding The Green Line

The back story on the new Minneapolis-St Paul intercity light rail line

Commuting Doesn't Have To Suck

Make your day better, walk, bike or use mass transit to get to work

Grim GHG Outlook

Upcoming UN talks have low prospects for cutting enough GHG emissions by 2100 to alter bad climate outcomes

August 21, 2014

Charting Solar Progress

Public Spaces On Resilient Waterfronts

Urban watefront access does not have to be lost to storm and flood risks

Uncle Sam Wants You

Will the US military campaign for energy efficiency impact on civilian climate attitudes & national security?

August 20, 2014

Natural Gas - Just Another Fossil Fuel

True or false? natural gas is a bridge to a low-carbon fuel future

Microgrids For NY

Rather than threatening NY's power utilities, customers' microgrid subscriptions can rejuvenate them

Rise:NYC - The Short List

See who's made the final cut in the Rise:NYC Competition to identify/deploy new technologies and solutions that drive business recovery and resilience by better protecting us from the impacts of future storms, sea level rise and other effects of climate change.

August 19, 2014

Malaysia: Time Is Now For Low-Carbon Future

Making the case for Malaysia to go low-carbon & climate-friendly

Something New Under The Sun

Innovations in solar project finance are warming up big-ticket investors

Getting REV'ed Up

Don't miss this new blog about New York's Reforming the Energy Vision, because it's no longer grandma's energy system

August 18, 2014

Science At Work: Warmer Water To Shift Rainfall

A poleward shift of heavy rainfall is projected to result from hotter oceans

Passive House - The Slide Show

A house that's 90% more efficient than yours looks like this

Bringing It All Back Home

Could investing in domestic infrastructure upgrades be the key to bringing corporate tax revenues home?

August 15, 2014

The Talk-To-Action Gap

Why everyone talks about climate action but so little gets done

August 14, 2014

Not All LEDs Are Created Equal

How to choose the right LED lights

Stockpickers For The Apocalypse

There's a method to the madness of picking stocks that bet against seven climate & resource apocalypses

A Carbon Price Thought Experiment

Stop US corporate inversions by cutting corporate taxes & raising carbon levies. Hmmm?

August 13, 2014

Getting Active On Passive Housing

Whether for affordable or market-rate buildings, New York is getting serious about leading with Passive House design

Energy Efficiency - Looking Up

Four factors driving an energy efficiency renaissance

Micro Nano Grids

How to make buildings the masters & power grids the servants

August 12, 2014

Consumers Report On Teslas

The highly-rated Tesla EV shows some flaws after 10,000 miles of driving

Science At Work: Not Your Grandma's Arctic

A rapidly warming Arctic is filled with surprises for scientists

This Can't Be Good

Rising mercury levels in the ocean linked with the burning of fossil fuels

August 11, 2014

Less Solar States

Why some sunny states like Florida aren't solar power stars

Top Ten Solar States

With California as the #1 solar state, find out who the other top nine are

New Tack For Eco-Progress

The Nature Conservancy tries out a high-tech persuasion to get China to share its environmental data

August 08, 2014

Your Local Dead-Zone

In Praise Of Cheap Subway Fares

3 reasons why NYC should continue to subsidize the price of subway & bus rides

A Reset For Climate Normal

For people born since 1985, an altered climate is experienced as normal

August 07, 2014

Offshore Wind Update

Momentum builds for US off-shore wind power projects

Take a 4 Minute Vacation

Stunning time lapse video of Sequoia/Kings Canyon National Park

Brooklyn Navy Yard Goes Green

How Superstorm Sandy pivoted the Brooklyn Navy Yard and its business tenants toward sustainability

August 06, 2014

Higher Ed: Grow Endowments, Go Green

Invest in campus energy efficiency, conserve the endowment fund

An Inconvenient Marriage

Can cities get rail project funding without supporting highway funding?

An Icon For Our Times

Do something now!

August 05, 2014

IMF: Price Carbon

The IMF makes it clear, 'we must make sure that energy tax systems around the world properly reflect environmental side effects'

Coal Industry's Biggest Headache

Hint: it's not the EPA

GOP Climate Policy Blows Smoke

August 04, 2014

Assesing Corporate Sustainability

While McKinsey finds executives buy into sustainability, programmatic reputation, execution, and accountability remain underdeveloped

Taking Out The Trash

New York still lacks an acceptable waste management strategy & why that matters

Geoengineering: Gee Whiz Or OMG

What is geoengineering and why should climate & energy policy makers want to know?

August 01, 2014

Utility Ranking On Efficiency & Renwables

Russia: Energy Efficiency, Not

Amended 19 times since 2009, key problems still plague Russia's energy efficiency law

July 31, 2014

Talkin' To Me And You

What are the right words for engaging people in climate action?

An Electrifying Prediction

'We’re not just reducing demand for electricity—we’re destroying it.'

Unpaved Path To A Carbon Price

No consensus yet among carbon pricing advocates

July 30, 2014

Utility Regulators' Climate Role

State energy utility regulators can play a key role in cutting the nation's carbon footprint

Carbon Tax: Part 3

Why political decisions on what to do with a carbon tax revenue are so important

Actionable Fiction

Can books or movies about climate change move people's climate change dial?

July 29, 2014

Deep Decarbonization

Why Jeffrey Sachs believes in the prospect for decarbonizing the world's economies

Not Your Grandma's Utility

Utilities seek new opportunities in response to lower energy deamnd & invest in edgy fuel cell projects

Making Corporate Sustainabilty Work

McKinsey finds that corporations must make sustainability integral to their strategy to capture its full value

July 28, 2014

Shrinking Apple's Carbon Footprint

Apple's solar farmspower its data centers & will soon help make device components in the US

Securing A Liveable Future

Watch Ed Mazria, founder of Architecture 2030, present his blueprint for a carbon-free and just built environment by 2050

Moving Electrons To EVs

Are electric vehicles a huge, but overlooked, economic opportunity for power utilities?

July 25, 2014

Mass Transit Payments - KISS

A single payment system will attract more riders to multi-modal mass transit

Science At Work: Climate Impact Of Global Chimney

Research begins on the climate implications of how atmospheric temperature and gases get circulated from the Earth's surface to the upper atmosphere

July 24, 2014

Carbon Tax: More Than Economics Part 2

Deciding how carbon tax revenues should be used will be as important as the rate they're set at

ID'ing A Smart City

Smart city promises deliver when citizens become makers and crowd-source manufacturing for the needs of their neighborhood

When Failure Is Not An Option

Lessons learned from the failure of today's climate movements

July 23, 2014

Global Economies: Scoring Energy Efficiency

Germany & Italy score high, the US scores low on energy efficient economies, surprised?

Managing A Power Revolution

Does the future of renewable energy lie in new management modalities or new technology?

Needy Urban Infratructure

Getting New York's mass transit, water supply & other infrastructure systems into a state of good repair won't be cheap & dedicated funding is a must

July 22, 2014

Anti-Science Stance Is Unbalanced

Routinely citing climate deniers is not journalism, it's just wrong

Solar Finance Lessons

Can energy efficiency upgrades be financed like third-party rooftop solar projects?

Carbon Tax: More Than Economics

Taxation is always a political decision, never just economics

July 21, 2014

Sustainable Hockey

The National Hockey League scores big with its sustainability report

Legal Eagles: Demand Response Ruling

While a federal appeals court shot down FERC Order 745 that gave robust market value to demand response energy saving, all is not lost

Light-Rail Likers

Denver, Los Angeles, Phoenix & Salt Lake City all get taxpayer approval to build light rail systems

July 18, 2014

Take Back The Asphalt

Paint the pavement to make urban neighborhoods safer & more beautiful

10 Renewable Power Surprises

Surprise #1, "this stuff is really cheap",

July 17, 2014

Building Fads To Avoid

Smart building mechanical systems cannot compensate for dumb building envelopes

Cities: Make Data Matter

For the first time, cities have a standardized matrix for gathering & making sense of performance data

Consider The Flush Toilet

Seemed like a good idea at at he time

July 16, 2014

Science At Work: Dating The Anthopocene

Humans have a long history of altering ecosystems but exactly how & when?

Honey For Clean Energy Bees

What factors attract clean energy start ups to locate in your state?

Legal Eagles: Patent Law For The Public Good

Amend US patent law and help save the planet

July 15, 2014

The Path To More Solar Power

Cut rooftop installation costs

Just Do It

Are you electrifying? Take the energy industry pop quiz and find out

A Crisis Is A Terrible Thing To Waste

Superstorm Sandy's devastation has made a compelling case for more distributed power

July 14, 2014

Solar Decathlon Winners

Italy wins the gold at the 2014 Solar Decathlon design competition, France rates silver & Holland gets the bronze

Price That Carbon

Democrats & Republicans agree, we must put a price on carbon, but exactly how?

Green Securitiziation: CT's Pathfinding For PACE

The Connecticut Green Bank pioneers on securitizing PACE bonds for energy efficiency projects in commercial buildings

July 10, 2014

Science At Work: Carbon In The Ocean

While research finds acidification of top ocean waters to be underway, climate change may slow CO2 impacts down deep

Summer In The City -- 2100

Future summertimes in 1001 cities

Trends With Benefits

Feel the attraction of microgrids

July 09, 2014

Deep Decarbonization

Shoulda, woulda, coulda

EPA Steps On Up Climate Adaptation

The EPA's 2014 policy pronouncement on climate adaptation urges creation of a strong social infrastructure to cope with the inevitable

Cleveland: Sustainable GOP

Think the Republican Party chose Cleveland for the 2016 convention to get close with its climate action plan?

July 08, 2014

New York Rates A Green B-

New York State's 2014 environmental legislation get a B- from the League of Conservation Voters

Dystopia

What would the future be like if global fossil energy use soars as some gloaters predict?

Kickstart Fusion

How do you crowdsource nuclear fusion?

July 04, 2014

Save The Planet With Food Scraps

How compost made from urban food waste, when spread on grasslands, can be a super-sponge for soaking up CO2

July 03, 2014

It Is A Risky Business

Listen up, why CEO's Republicans & Democrats alike are calling for investment grade climate action now

Microgrids Come Of Age

First it was Connecticut, now it's Maryland that's trending microgrid

July 02, 2014

Saying So Long

What will the Earth be like after the climate departs from the conditions we've ever known?

Let's Look At The Record

By spotlighting three policy areas — climate resiliency, infrastructure & housing — what can be learned about Mayor de Blasio's sustainability and resilience track record during his first six months in office?

Needed: Big Biz Climate Pivot

With the reality of climate change becoming a mianstream business leader reality, what will they do about it?

July 01, 2014

US Military: Cut It And Clean It Up

The US military strategy for deploying energy efficiency and renewable power

Philadelphia: Where Green Collides WIth Cars

Why haven't Philadelphia's green plans made a dent in auto use?

New, Improved, Faster Too

Explore this revamped building rating website and learn more about building energy benchmarking policies

June 30, 2014

Grid Growth Trend

Industry forecasters see a boom in demand for nanogrid and microgrid systems in the US over the coming 3-10 years, with the military & storm-battered states leading the way

Watch The Sun Rise

Look who's buying into solar power

Rebuild It Better

Climate scientist Klaus Jacobs weighs in on the Big U, the winner of the post-Sandy federal design competition

June 27, 2014

Microgrids Make New Friends

Why are states and local communities taking notice of the microgrid option?

Don't Burn It Up - Write It Down

Leave fossil fuels in the ground, even the President says so

There Is No Sanity Claus

Resolved: There is no 'Good' Anthropocene Era

June 26, 2014

Tree Trouble In Town

NYC's Million Tree program plantings have die-off rates as high as 21% in some neighborhoods

How To End Fossil-Fuel Subsidies

A new class of bonds could be the policy tool strong enough to forge political conditions for reform

Rx For Unhappy Utility Customers

Studying utility customer complaints reveals three ways to make them happier

June 25, 2014

Disruptive Technology -- The Real Deal

Make no mistake profound changes are coming to the electric power grid & here's why

Wanted: Subway CBTC

What is 'communications-based train control' and why should it be installed in every NYC subway line?

US: Nucelar Power Forecast

Cloudy with thunderstorms possible

June 24, 2014

ICYMI: Starting A Clean Climate Revolution

Step 1, watch this YouTube clip

Climate Scorecard For The House

A new way to rate Democrats' climate voting & leadership in Congress

30x30 - A Climate Catastrophe

By the EPA's own projections the Clean Power Plan would cut coal burning a mere 30% by 2030

June 23, 2014

Live S.T.E.A.M

The 1936 steam plant on Roosevelt Island could become NYC's newest museum, the S.T.E.A.M. (an acronym for Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math) Plant.

Blown Away By Texas Wind Power

For a deep-Red state Texas does great wind power and it just keeps growing

Cities That Walk The Walk

Ranking the 30 most walkable big metro areas in the US

June 21, 2014

EPA Carbon Rule: Underwhelming Ambition

The numeric goals of EPA's Clean Power Plan are not much of a stretch

June 20, 2014

Republican Climate Believers Sighted

Really -- watch the Daily Show

Mayors Can Make Carbon History

Five ways cities can help states prepare to meet their federal carbon-cutting goals

Legal Eagles: EPA's Pro-Nuke Provision

EPA's proposed rule for cutting carbon emissions from power plants includes support for keeping existing nuclear power plants on line

June 18, 2014

Interactive Power Map

Find your way around the energy sources & power plant landscape of the US

Cornell's Zero Carbon Campaign

Cornell University is on a daring clean-tech edge in its quest for carbon neutrality

Gore's Good News

Read Al Gore's optimistic climate piece in Rolling Stone

June 17, 2014

How Cities Can Help States Cut Carbon

Urban building energy efficiency standards can play a big role in meeting federally-mandated state carbon emissions cuts

June 16, 2014

Legal Eagles: Climate Insurance Retreat

Insurance company lawsuit are withdrawn that use a novel theory of responsibility where due to "increasing rainfall, the Defendants’ unsafe maintenance of their infrastructure caused or contributed to flooding"

Learning From Experience

What does a 5 US city survey find about design, use and public support?

Wind Power: Good But Not Perfect

How should the wind industry respond to persistent, if hard-to-nail-down, complaints about negative health impacts?

June 13, 2014

So Sue Me

What to expect starting June 2015 in the way of lawsuits to stop Obama's carbon cut rules

Cosmos: The Climate Story

Watch Neil de Grasse Tyson now

June 12, 2014

Hudson Yards: 1st Quantified Community

Wired to capture reams of data to improve building performance Hudson Yards will be the nation's first quantified community (Midtown East rezoners - pay attention!)

Science At Work: Temperature Trends

True or false: global warming means more temperature variability?

Science At Work: Green Magnetism

How magnetic cooling could be an energy efficient refrigeration technology

June 11, 2014

Sustainable L.A: Circa 1986

An unrealized design for the redevelopment of Pershing Square in Los Angeles

Sustainability Ed.

Survey the field of advanced education in sustainability

Starting The Big U

NYC gets the first down payment of $335 million to build a U-shaped seawall to protect lower Manhattan from future floods & storm surges

June 10, 2014

Don't Despair

Seven reasons to be a climate action optimist

The Start Of Something Big

Why California's energy storage law could be the tipping point for renewable power

The Green Party Guy

Howie Hawkins is the Green Party candidate running to become NY's next Governor

Anatomy Of Renewable Investing

Why Warren Buffett is ready to double his $15 billion renewable energy nvestments

June 09, 2014

Obama Climate Interview

Pricing carbon is good, cynicism is bad says President Obama

The Geo-Politics Of Fracking

Thinking globally about the US natural gas fracking boom

Solar Steam

Solar power in Australia passes a critical test by producing enough steam to generate thermal power

From Fossil Investor To Climate Activist

Follow Tom Steyer's on-going journey from fossil fuel investor to big-time climate activist

June 07, 2014

Now Share This

NY Shared Clean Energy Bill
Shared Clean Energy Bill wending its way through New York Assembly and Senate simultaneously — this session of the legislature ends on June 19 — will the bill make it to the Governor's desk?

June 05, 2014

Blame It On The Sun

Over the next 10 years electric utilities could see more change than in the last century. Solar is disrupting their afternoon peak-load model

June 04, 2014

The Great Coal Gap

Lower-than-expected Chinese coal demand could result in stranded assets and wasted capital. Carbon Tracker releases report

June 03, 2014

We're Not Talkin Hockey

EPA Ruling Exempts VT

Vermonters interested in Energy efficiency from the cost perspective

June 02, 2014

Think Local

Is coastal community Salem, MA ready for a Superstorm? Salem News Tom Dalton reports about alarming stats and maps produced by Stephen Young, a professor at Salem State University and his students.

June 01, 2014

What Lies Ahead

May 30, 2014

Autonomous Cars

An important debate to have

May 29, 2014

Glug, Glug

Vogtle nuclear reactors — request withdrawal permit from Georgia EPD for 74mgd from the Savannah River under consideration

May 28, 2014

Lien In

SRS platform enables industry-first CT Green Bank PACE portfolio sale

May 27, 2014

Consider Silent Spring

Caroline Lucas who wrote the introduction to the 50th Anniversary edition of Silent Spring in conversation with Fanny Armstrong film maker behind The Age of Stupid — but it took Margaret Atwood to make Carson a saint

May 25, 2014

Rising Currents

imaging NYC resilience 3 years prior to Sandy's onslaught

May 23, 2014

Smaller Cities Are Grid Smarter

What Chattanooga TN can teach Gotham about making smarter energy systems

Good News, For Now

While NOAA predicts a tame 2014 US hurricane season that doesn't give a pass to coastal cities for future climate-related devastation

The Soft Path To Tomorrow's Grid

New software, not more hardware, could be the best path toward tomorrow's power grid

May 22, 2014

Re-Imaging The Bus Stop

7 ideas to improve waiting for the bus

Make A Better City Block

Start with duct tape

A Call To Climate Arms

Alarmed about climate change? Come to NYC this September & demand action!

May 21, 2014

Austin TX: Better Living With Data

For 700 detail-oriented homeowners in Austin, TX, smart meters let them follow their electric consumption every minute

Empowering Distributed Energy

Distributed grid architecture will be needed to support distributed energy says Con Ed

What One Foot Means

With a one foot sea level rise here's what the NY metro area would look like

May 20, 2014

Y Saving Energy Is Hard To Do

A Washington YMCA is a real world example of why making a building more energy efficient is harder than 'pushing on an open door'

Green Building: Lessons Learned

David Gottfried, a founding father of the green building movement, reflects on LEED & on the future

Grandpa's Grid Is Not OK

A podcast interview with a microgrid CEO who's been in the business since before distributed power was cool

May 19, 2014

Climate Plan A, Plan B...

What will protect US coastal cities from climate chaos since the nation lacks a culture of planning?

Start Smart, Get Smarter

Learning how to building & market smart housing is a work in progress

For Urban Resilience

Get acquainted with these four urban resilience innovators

May 16, 2014

The Dust Bowl Is Back

Think the Oklahoma Dust Bowl was over long ago? Think again

Up Next

Compare & contrast the energy future foreseen by Tesla & GE

Nesting

How much energy is being saved by those sleek, smart Nest Labs gizmos?

NYC Superlatives

Take a virtual tour of NYC's biggest, smallest, oldest, etc.

May 15, 2014

Concentrating The Solar Market

How financial opportunities are altering the solar power installation landscape

If Climate Science Predictions Come True - Part 2

We could be living on borrowed time

May 14, 2014

If Climate Science Predictions Come True - Part 1

Densitaria And Posturbia

Where are US cities and the political economy headed?

Office Building Energy By The Numbers

Dive into the details of the electricity appetite of commercial buildings to find what drives it

May 13, 2014

Here Comes Mega-Solar

Built to create 290 MW of electricity, this Arizona solar power plant is big news

Learning From Open Data

Based upon NYC's long-running government open data practices, what's been learned?

May 12, 2014

It'll Cost Ya

Modeling the economic damages resulting from climate change

El Nino 101

2014 could be a big year for a havoc-wreaking El Nino

May 10, 2014

Corporate Sustainability: Listen Up

Learn how to judge the effectiveness of corporate sustainability goals

May 09, 2014

The Daily Commute

Who's walking or biking to work according to US Census data?

Less Air Pollution Could Mean More Income

A Columbia University public health study links air pollution to IQ and predicts cleaner air could boost NYC kids' future income by $215 million

The Silence Of Conservatives

Why don't conservatives offer innovative market ideas to protect the climate & support renewable energy?

May 08, 2014

ITC 101

What is the Investment Tax Credit (ITC) and why do solar power companies care?

14 Green Lease Leaders

Who's leading the way on energy efficient, high performance commercial building?

Federal Green Banking

States have created green banks, so when will there be a federal green bank?

Best Way To Get To Net Zero

The best least-cost path leading to net-zero energy buildings is to start with energy efficiency

May 07, 2014

Cosmos Does Climate Change

Popular science tv series explains how our species is causing climate change

Coastal Zone Climate Risks

Coastal lifelines, such as water supply and energy infrastructure and evacuation routes, are increasingly vulnerable to higher sea levels and storm surges, inland flooding, erosion, and other climate-related changes warns the US National Climate Assessment

See It Now

Overview in 15 charts of the US National Climate Assessment AND more charts about this 'new normal'

May 06, 2014

Hot Tech Trends For A Hot World

Today's clean tech trends to watch for living in a climate-altered world

Outflanking Political Doubt, Maybe

In the face of a Congressional climate legislation blockade & mixed public support, the EPA will roll out its carbon emissions rules, Stay tuned.

Without A Doubt

There's no denying the US is already widely impacted by climate change

May 05, 2014

Build A Better Bulb

Replacing the incandescent bulbis still a work in progress

Coming Up In Congress

Votes on building energy efficiency & the Keystone Pipeline are on this week's Senate's agenda

May 03, 2014

Power That Adds Up

Microgrids + renewables = resilient energy supplies

The Future Is DG

A leading accounting firm urges utilities to plan for distributed generation & not resist it

May 02, 2014

Coming Soon

A technology project analyzing how to shift energy around during peak load periods is coming to the MTA for enhancing resilience while cutting utility costs

Patterns Of Climate Change

Climate scientist Gavin Schmidt explains how to see the big picture

May 01, 2014

Poll Finds Climate Polarization

Americans' views on the fact of climate change are becoming more polarized finds a new Gallup poll

Weak Wave Power

Why, despite its virtues, is wave power development lagging?

California Storage

History is in the making as California's energy storage procurement requirement starts rolling out

April 30, 2014

For Better Climate Health

Using a medical analogy to describe and treat climate change could lead to more public buy-in

Fake Quote Alert

A mindful reader is on the alert for fake climate claim quotes & their echo chamber

Join The Climate CoLab Contest

Got a great idea for how to grow green building demand? Here's a contest for you.

April 29, 2014

Cli-Fi Isn't Sci-Fi

Climate finance 'cli-fi' is the leading edge for renewable or low-carbon energy project funding

Reforming The Energy Vision

Major utility regulatory reform with distributed resource planning is coming to NY

A Google Query

What's driving Google's (and not just Google) green energy drive?

April 28, 2014

Coal And Nukes And Carbon

The carbon impact of retiring coal-fired power plants will be outweighed by shutting down nuclear power plants

EPA: African-Americans Needed

An engaged African-American community is necessary for climate action says the EPA

Texas PACE-Setting

This Texas toolbox could scale up PACE for commercial buildings in a hurry

April 25, 2014

Obama's Climate

With less than 3 years left in office, will Obama move the climate action dial?

Green City Index

What cities are top performers & why

The Great Feedstock Shift

Instead of burning hydrocarbons use them as feedstock for new materials & products

April 23, 2014

Where The Boys Are

What's with the male bias in media coverage on climate change?

April 22, 2014

Breaking Through The Heat Cap

The idea that global temperature rise can be kept below 2°C looks increasingly delusional

California Beamin'

With more than 100,00 solar roofs California utility calls for a 'sustainable' energy policy

OK's OK With Taxing Solar Power...

... but Jigar Shah explains why it's not OK for you

April 21, 2014

Microgrids 101

Psst want to buy a microgrid? Here are some basics

Climate Action: The Political Path

Advocate for climate action idea that are politically feasible and bid farewell to brilliant ones that aren't

Rebuilding After Sandy: One Community's Story

Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn finds it really does take a village to rebuild

April 19, 2014

Solar Power: Not Either/Or

Get over the idea that rooftop solar power and utilities must be at war

Climate Report: Emissions Trends

While the latest IPCC report finds global GHG emissions continuing to rise the meaning of trends within countries needs to be understood in the context of development & trade

April 18, 2014

Follow The Parks Money

Does Mayor De Blasio's proposed budget for NYC parks advance his equity agenda?

Inhale Data, Exhale Ideas

From building energy use data bright ideas about citywide efficiency can arise

The City Energy Project

How cities are upping their energy efficiency game

April 17, 2014

The Engine Of Climate Action

Here's a thought, climate action will come from the top down, not the grass roots up

Finding The Right Supply-Demand Mix

When it comes to energy transitions making the right supply-demand sequence can be tough

Science At Work: Statiscal Proof

Statistical analysis of temperature data since 1500 rules out natural fluctuations as the cause of a hotter world

April 16, 2014

Holes In Grid Security Vex Feds

Improving electric grid security is a challenge for domestic security authorities

Bikeshare: Compare And Contrast

One bikeshare tourist checks out the NY, Montreal & Boston scenes

Clean Tech Will Rise

McKinsey & Co. predicts clean tech will be part of the rising tide of the new industrial revolution

April 15, 2014

Demand Reduction: US v Germany

What area of decarbonized energy policy does the US outstrip Germany?

When A Subway Is More Than A Subway

Philadelphia subways will earn more revenue for the city by storing more of the power they create and selling it to the electric utility

On-Purpose Blackouts

How vulnerable is the US power grid to attackers & hackers and what's the solution?

April 14, 2014

Mega-Beijing

Consider the dimensions of a potential amalgamation of Beijing and nearby regional centers

30-Years Of Light Rail Results

Have urban light rail systems met their planning goals?

Lone Star Wind Power

Why the boom in Texas wind power keeps booming

April 11, 2014

Science At Work - Impacts Of Arctic Warming

Is rapid Arctic warming driving weird weather in lower latitudes?

From Slurping To Sipping

Focusing on real estate portfolios is a critical path for making energy-efficient buildings the new normal

Investing In The Anthropocene

How the logic of financial investment is transformed in a carbon & resource constrained world

April 10, 2014

Stop Wasting Time

Tax carbon, don't tax renewable power, make building codes and power plants more energy efficient, NOW

Use The Future As A Reference

What the Dutch can teach us about designing storm and flood-resilient cities

World's First Chief Resilience Officer

Meet Patrick Otellini of San Francisco

April 09, 2014

Green Power In The Green Mountain State

Vermont's solar net metering program succeeds without strife - what's the secret?

Science At Work: Climate Sensitivity

Climate scientists work feverishly to predict the relationship between temperature changes and GHG levels in the atmosphere

MA: A Green Bond First

Massachusetts is the first state in the US to issue $100 million in bonds to fund a range of environmental projects

April 08, 2014

Investor Faces Climate Change

Interview with a corporate investor who weighs the risks of climate change for the bottom line

New Energy Pioneers

What do the 10 winners of the Bloomberg New Energy Pioneers award do?

Evidence, Persuasion And Politics

It turns out that more evidence alone doesn't change people's minds on politically-charged subjects like climate change

April 07, 2014

Clean Up Fracking

Can the methane leaks & fugitive emissions from hydrofracking that threaten to accelerate climate change be tamed?

Mass Transit: City v State

While cities are finding new enthusiasm for mass transit state governments aren't

Normalizing Solar Financing

Scaling up solar power use requires scaling up conventional approaches to home financing

April 04, 2014

Energy Software IPO

What does the NY Stock Exchange launch of energy software company Opower say about the future of this high tech sector?

Costs Of Climate Change

While current economic models for calculating the costs of climate change are not perfect estimates for the social cost of carbon are useful for policy-making

Standardize, Simplify, Succeed

The key to scaling up the number of energy-retrofitted NYC homes is standardization & simplification according to a Pratt Center interim report

April 03, 2014

Concentrate On Urban Sprawl

The newest index comparing sprawl patterns around US cities

When Money Isn't Enough

What can Mad Men teach us about getting people to buy into climate-friendly choices?

April 02, 2014

Be Prepared

When it comes to climate change impacts, is there any way to be really prepared?

Taking The Heat On Climate Change

We have met the enemy, it's us & it's time to do something about that

States Are Energy Resilience Labs

Connecticut and Massachusetts roll out different models of resilient distributed power systems

April 01, 2014

Survival Handbook

Think of the new IPCC report as an adaptation guide for a life in a climate-changed world

Tomorrow's Power Supply

Face fundamental changes in our power supply system with five ideas for reinventing it better

Fashion For A Hotter Planet

An interview with Catherine Young, a climate change designer-explorer

March 31, 2014

Climate Change In Context

Consider the IPCC's climate impact projections in the context of global inequality, but don't entirely despair

Houston - We Have Problem

There is no Amazon, Apple, Facebook or Google in the US energy industry and here's why this is a problem

March 30, 2014

Turning Over A New Leaf

The unfinished epic of bringing a new clean energy invention to market

March 29, 2014

Meet Michael Mann

Climate scientist Michael Mann is the man on the front lines of the carbon wars

March 28, 2014

Science At Work: Ocean Acidification

Here's a new website about the science of ocean acidification, because what happens in the water doesn't stay there

In Praise Of Glass Houses

A short picture history of glass houses and a reminder that we don't know how to occupy them eco-responsibly

More Power To Benchmarking

Urban energy benchmarking laws hold the promise of improving building energy code compliance, finds IMT report

March 27, 2014

Science At Work - Warming Noise v Signals

Michael Mann researches the differences between regular, long term temperature fluctuations in the northern hemisphere and climate change signals (Note: Abstract is free, but full paper is not)

Five Questions For Climate Science Educators

Five answers about why the new AAAS climate science public outreach campaign could succeed

Energy Efficiency: The Two-Penny Deal

Using data for 45 state energy efficiency programs utilities spend two cents per kilowatt-hour (kWh) of power saved & that translates into huge lifetime conservation gains

March 26, 2014

Hyperbolic Coral Reef

OK, this hand-crochet wonder has just about nothing to to with urban sustainable systems, but don't miss it

A Guide For The Energy Perplexed

Here's a primer on renewable & fossil energy to help you navigate today's debates

Idea Ownership

Who are the five biggest holders of smart grid patents and what assets are involved?

March 25, 2014

The Global Carbon Budget

The global carbon budget in graphic form and ways not to bust it

The Valley of Death Problem

The cautionary tale of one bio-fuel energy start up

Look Who's Buying Green Bonds

The growth spurt in green bonds attracts new classes of investors

March 24, 2014

The Bad Astronomy Blogger Says

Weighing the utility of debating climate deniers, 'once you step off the narrow path of reality, all unreality is equally plausible'

Manhatta 1921

Watch this silent film gem! and look at all that smoke & haze

March 22, 2014

Rx For Utility Death Spiral

Utilities can avoid the peril of losing customers & revenue by getting into the rooftop solar business says former DOE chief David Chu

Science At Work: Follow The Heat

Why ocean temperatures are the best available way to track the world as it heats up

March 21, 2014

Call for EU-Wide Grid

To realize the full potential of renewable energy Greenpeace calls for a 'supergrid' to link EU nations

Don't Be A Drip

Water is the word's greatest liquid asset and these 10 wasteful ways have got to go

Smarter Cities

Today's trendy talk about urban teched-up smart cities can forget to figure out what people really need

March 20, 2014

Resolved: US Universities Should Disinvest From Fossi Fuels

YEA, Bob Massie and NAY, Robert Stavins

Designing Urban Resilience

Architects, developers & the USEPA explore practical visions for 21 century coastal cities like NY

Cost Of Regulation - Routinely Overestimated

US utilities have a long history of overestimating the costs of environmental regulation

March 19, 2014

How To Fund Energy Upgrades

PACE financing for commercial buildings, the 90 second summary

A New Kind Of Battery Recycling

When an electric vehicle dies there could be a new life for its battery

March 18, 2014

UK: Uni Building So Green It's Passive

A new building at Bradford University will be the first UK educational facility to meet PassivHaus standards

LEED Labels As Market Movers

Analysis of project-specific LEED points suggests developers see market value in earning a higher rating

Update On Solar Panel Industry

How big is today's solar panel-making industry and what are its cost trends?

March 17, 2014

Grid Operator - Bring It On

PJM, the nation's largest power grid operator, is confident of its ability to transmit renewable energy

City Sharing Boosts Climate Actions

C40 is a global climate action urban network whose members have nearly doubled the number of GHG reduction and resilience programs

March 15, 2014

Rnewables Need A Geo-Strategy

With the issue of US natural gas exports in the headlines, the Energy Gang asks why there's no geo-strategic talk about renewable power

Ask Better Questions

Did the way the Gallup Poll asked questions about what's worrying Americans undercut detecting their climate concerns?

How To Find Money

Now, owners of small to mid-sized commercial buildings can access funds for energy performance upgrades

March 14, 2014

LED Math

How much money could you save every month by switching your home lighting to LED bulbs?

San Diego's Super Microgrid

Right on the leading edge of microgrid tech right in UC, San Diego

March 13, 2014

Climate-Proofing The Grid

What will be involved in complying with the PSC order to climate-proof NY's electric power grid?

Big Data For Taxis

How can mapping a year's worth of NYC taxi trips help make industry practices more efficient?

Become A Tenant Star

Prospects are bright for federal legislation creating a Tenant Star Program to help commercial leaseholders improve their energy efficiency & their bottom line

March 12, 2014

Green Tech 101: Heat Pumps

What's the difference between air-source and ground-source heat pumps?

Don't Go Down NY's Track

New York's State-run MTA is not a good model for Chicago's mass transit overhaul

Talking Climate Persuasion

Never use the words "Earth" or "planet" to get across an effective climate-action message

March 11, 2014

Pay Now Or Pay Later

Deferring investments in upgrading NYC's aged infrastructure will mean big, expensive headaches later on, according to the Center for an Urban Future

What If...

If master science-explainer Carl Sagan were alive today, could he put an end to climate-change denialism?

You Can't Win It If You're Not In It

Join the MIT CoLab contest for empowering ideas for the public & communities to build awareness and demand for green buildings

March 10, 2014

I'm Melting, I'm Melting

The Arctic Sea ice death spiral

NY-NJ Disaster Planning

Thinking about future climate change-related risks must become part of federally-funded post-Sandy rebuilding in NY & NJ

Upgrading Multi-Family Building Energy Efficiency Loans

The feds announce a program to make it easier & cheaper to get loans for energy efficiency upgrades in multi-family residential buildings

March 07, 2014

Warming Pause - Don't Count On It

Abundant science research accounting for an apparent pause in global warming all adds up to climate change is happening

The Daylight Savings Debate

Does daylight savings time waste energy, increase public safety or just make people cranky?

The Future Is Coming

Audrey Zibelman, Director of NY's electric utility regulating and rate setting agency, articulated the need to identify critical factors for driving change in energy development and transmission at an NYU Law School conference. She also spotlighted how clean energy will force the industry to develop in ways not currently anticipated.

March 06, 2014

Climate Shills, Skeptics and Hobbyists

Words matter and it's time to retire the phrase 'climate denialist'

Energy Storage - The Fine Print

Requests for Proposals to acquire energy storage equipment are a way to discover its current value to utilities & regulators

March 05, 2014

Utilities: Deflecting The Grim Reaper

What can a power utility do when facing a 'death spiral' brought on by the trend toward decentralization?

What Could Be Lost

Sea level rise will inundate more UNESCO world heritage sites than just the State of Liberty & the Sydney Opera House

The Open Source Grid

Working with smart grid gurus, Duke Energy wants to create an internet of power system components with open source adapters to make instantaneous grid balancing decisions

March 04, 2014

Scaling Up Renwable Power

Achieving 30% integration of renewable into a nation's power grid will require a 3-part transformation of the current system

Results-Based Utility Regulation

Making the case for forward-looking utility regulations based on achieving policy goals, investor security & consumer value

Envisioning A 21 Century Power Supply

Explore America's Power Plan, a resource rich site with a wide-angle vision for developing a sustainable power supply system

March 01, 2014

The Economics Of Grid Defection

The end of the century-old electric power utility model may be closer than you think

Energy Efficiency: Grow Asset Value

Real estate industry leaders devise a 7-step process for increasing asset value through energy efficiency retrofits

February 28, 2014

California Disruptors

Elon Musk & Lyndon Rive are optimistic about the end of the electric utility era as we know it

Energy Scavenging

What? Yes!

Legal Eagle Explains Con Ed Settlement For You

A recently resolved Con Edison rate case has major implications for making NY's chief power utility a climate-innovative & resilient operation

February 27, 2014

Tomorrow's Power Grid

Solar + energy storage tech = "real, near, and present" threat to the way utilities do business as customers unplug from the grid

February 26, 2014

Rezoning NYC

From up-zoning to down-zoning, what happened in the Bloomberg years and what was its impact on housing prices and community character?

One Price For Carbon

Economists make the case for setting a single binding minimum carbon price

Be Prepared

NY's power utilities will be preparing themselves to withstand climate change impacts as part of a recent rate case settlement

February 25, 2014

Meet The City Energy Project

The City Energy Project is a national initiative to grow healthier, more prosperous US cities by improving the energy efficiency of buildings & check out what member city Chicago's doing

Clean Energy: Anti-Poverty Agent

Committing to clean energy policies should be a US economic development tool able to address insufficient energy access for the global poor in an environmentally responsible way

RGGI Carbon Market Invests in Energy Efficiency

73% of RGGI investments went to energy efficiency programs in 2012 for the 9 participating states

February 24, 2014

Fusion Power: Science Fiction Fact

Scientists have cracked the code for generating power from nuclear fusion, but what then?

Cert Granted: Supreme Court Carbon Case

A primer for the Supreme Court hearing on the source of EPA's ability to make carbon emissions rules

Rating Ratings

How much trust do sustainability experts put on corporate sustainability ratings?

February 21, 2014

Microbes To The Rescue

Fracking could become more climate-friendly with methane-eating microbes being researched by the National Renewable Energy Lab

A Guide For The Perplexed

What you need to know now when buying light bulbs

When Principles Collide

Will a law suit seeking public disclosure of e-mails of a famous climate scientist succeed on the principle of freedom of information, when another law-suit attacking his probity failed?

February 20, 2014

Vanishing Arctic Ice

Old ice, new ice, it's all melting away in the Arctic

Fracking's Known Unknowns

Tracking & managing the vast volume of contaminated water produced by hydrofracking could be the biggest problem facing the industry and the public

The Green Rift

True or False: stopping the Keystone XL pipeline would be a climate action victory?

February 19, 2014

Making The Invisible Visible

Imagine if you could see the Big Apple's annual GHG emissions, ICYMI

What A REC

Renewable Energy Credits (RECs) are EPA-sanctioned corporate greenwashing critic claims

Power Tool For Corporate Climate Disclosure

New York State's Martin Act could be an effective mechanism for putting corporate climate change risks on record

February 18, 2014

Get Practical: Energy Efficient Window Coverings

Advice and on-line resources to pick energy efficient window awnings, shades & films

Science At Work: Pacific Trade Winds

Science seeks answers to an apparent slowing of higher annual air temperatures in the impact of Pacific Ocean trade winds

Climate Change In Cities

While the next UCCRN report is being written, watch the video

February 17, 2014

NJ: Explaining Solar Sucess

What explains New Jersey's status as the second biggest solar state in the US?

TV: Climate Change Meets The Press

Fact checking the Meet the Press climate face-off on between Bill Nye and Marsha Blackburn

February 15, 2014

Going, Going....

Climate change will wipe out up to half of the world's species within a century and Elizabeth Kolbert faces this calamity in her new book The Sixth Extinction and an interview with the author

An Internet of Energy

What's new at ARPA-E, the federal incubator for the best & brightest in energy innovation?

February 14, 2014

Mighty Mini Mechanical City

The Emergent City, a gallery-size mechanical metropolis running on London's vibrations & sounds

Science At Work: Weird Weather/Climate Science

Mining mountains of data will advance a grasp of extreme weather events for climate science

The Post-Incandescent Era

How to live - happily - with LEDs

February 13, 2014

Efficient Investment

Compare the ROIs for energy efficiency v the Stock Market, all in one infographic

Solar Power: Where The Costs Are

While the cost of utility-scale solar power plummets, soft costs of installation, permitting, & inspection remain high

Surprise

Call it climate change, call it climate chaos, but the National Academy of Sciences warns expect abrupt changes

February 12, 2014

Book Report: The World We Made

Better than sci-fi, a look a sustainable world from the POV of 2050

Life After Nuclear Shutdown

California works on an energy plan to address the retirement of the 2,200 MW San Onofre nuclear power plant

Carbon Tax Knight-In-Shining Armour

Who is Charles Komanoff and why is he fighting for a federal carbon tax?

February 11, 2014

Guerilla Subway Signs

Someone's been posting way-finding signs in NYC subways, but it's not the MTA

Close The Clean Energy Investment Gap

Insurance companies & pension fund investors can make sound choices by putting their money in clean energy infrastructure projects

Meet Kate Gordon

From the Apollo Alliance and the Center for American Progress, now at Next Generation to lead the "Risky Business" initiative, Kate Gordon is the climate & energy action dynamo to watch

February 07, 2014

Urban Potential

Cities, with their wealth, their greater sustainability, and their democratic values and organization, are the natural pillars for building a high-road economy and society. That’s their promise. Here's how to make it happen

Useful Knowledge For Greener Education

616 universities & colleges submitted 1,998 Greenhouse Gas Inventories to the ACUPPC in 2013

February 06, 2014

Radiator Wrangling

For everyone living in apartment buildings heated with steam, there's hope for taming your radiator

Enviros Err In XL Pipeline Focus

Environmental gadflies Nordhaus & Shellenberger claim the movement cannot stop the Keystone XL Pipeline because there is no global alternative to oil for transportation fuel now

February 05, 2014

Storage Power

What do California & the Marine Corps have in common when it comes to the energy revolution?

Polling On Climate And Enegy

A Sierra Club public opinion survey on climate & energy suggests support won't be toxic in 2014's elections

Well Known Carbon Paradox

It's well known: a carbon tax is the most direct way to cut climate-harming emissions & prospects for federal carbon tax are bleak

February 04, 2014

Solar Thermal Power - Just Add Water

Awkward timing for opening the world's largest solar thermal power plant during California's mega-drought, forcing operators to seek other cooling measures to cut water use

Green Bonds 101

Green bonds, an emerging tool to finance low-carbon energy tech & infrastructure projects, with standardized protocols on the way

Bringing It All Back Home

To mobilize climate action, climate impacts must be understood as local, relevant & familiar

February 03, 2014

Carbon Neutrality On An East River Island

Roosevelt Island's new Cornell NYCTech will have buildings designed to be carbon neutral

Enough With The High Lines

Not all disused urban space should be converted to greenery. Why's that?

A Love Letter To L.A.

What s Los Angeles gott that your city doesn't?

February 01, 2014

Manhattan 2409: See It Now

Interact with Mannahatta 2409 to envision the future city

January 31, 2014

High Performance Homes Take A Winter Test

Winter 2014 tests the ability of super-insulated homes to keep folks warm in the Northeast

Benchmarking In Philly

Philadelphia releases its first report on energy benchmarking in over 250 municipal buildings

Causes Of Climate Change

One stop, one chart

January 30, 2014

This Won't Hurt A Bit

The Intermittent Energy Revolution

A former TV factory now houses a start up, low-cost battery maker that could make solar & other intermittent renewable power the new normal

De Blasio's Ciimate and Resilience Opportunities

Mayor de Blasio has the opportunity to overcome errors in the Bloomberg climate resilience plan, especially when it come to locating sustainable affordable housing & infrastructure

January 29, 2014

Menu Of SOTU's Energy And Climate Comments

Obama plays Jekyll & Hyde; or President promises a strong climate agenda; or restrained address left much unsaid; or his administration is ready to get down to business on climate change; and "climate change is a fact"

Science For You: Wind Chill

Good news! you are not as cold as you feel

How Knoweldge Can Save Money

Based on benchmarking data, Seattle projects potential energy savings worth $90 million a year

January 28, 2014

Take The Guesswork Out Of Green Home-Buying

How energy efficiency information can make buying a high-performance home easier

Get A Horse Smart Phone

Smart phones are the new power tool of community environmental activists

Distributed Power: If Is Not The Question

The future of distributed power generation and its interface with utility owners & grid operators is is all about how, not if

January 27, 2014

Executive Climate Action Menu

Innovative energy-efficiency policies that could be implemented by the Obama administration through executive rather than Congressional action

31,000 Carbon Footprints

Interact with this map of the average household carbon footprints in 31,000 US zips codes. Mine is 33.5 metric tons of CO2e

Climate Journalism

Andy Revkin weighs traditional climate beat reporting against blogging

New Role For Wind Power

Contrary to conventional wisdom wind power can serve as a lucrative energy backup & improve grid reliability

January 24, 2014

Davos: Risk Of Climate Complacency

A survey of what keeps Davos-going CEO's up at night reveals a complacency about business-linked climate risks

Something New Under The Sun

IBM invents a new kind of solar power generating system

The Obama Tapes

Scroll down for the President's views on the climate & prospects for action in an interview by David Remnick

January 23, 2014

Amplifying El Nino

What to expect when an El Nino-heated year meets rising global temperatures

High Performance Optimists

10 predictions for major trends in high performance building

Green Mortgages: A Work In Progress

Here's how the tried-and true property mortgage is starting to be reconfigured for energy efficient building finance

January 22, 2014

Climate Change - Threat Multiplier

In the language of risk assessment, climate change is a threat multiplier

Sustainability: The Eye-Brain Link

Can public art installations be a powerful medium for urban sustainability messaging?

IP As Key To Fossil Fuel Era

Since intellectual property law is the legal bastion protecting the fossil fuel industry, it's a key arena for climate action challenge

January 21, 2014

Climate Scientsts Face FOILs

Climate scientists at public universities & colleges learn to deal with opponents' demands for their emails

Sunny Side Up

Seven heart-warming stories of solar power successes

Banksy's Writing On the Wall

January 19, 2014

The Trillion Campaign

Climate investment activists announce a campaign to direct $1 trillion in clean energy investments over the coming 3 decades

January 18, 2014

Accounting For Carbon

The right SEC accounting rules are key to cutting carbon emissions says ex-Treasury chief Robert Rubin

Beyond Fossil Fuel

Ideas for institutional investors on converting fossil-fuel corporations to something else

January 17, 2014

Solar Securitization

Everything you want to know about solar securitization, but were afraid to ask

Shrink That Footprint

Start here with finding the size of your carbon footprint by zip code & take it from there

Good Time For Lighting Controls

Opportunities abound in lighting controls

January 16, 2014

BlindSpot Think Tank

'Like Archimedes, we must shift the axis of planetary paradigms' Something to think about

Microgrids - Scaling Up

India confronts the challenge of providing electricity to millions via microgrids

Science At Work: Climate Variability

The debate still rages over whether & how much heat wave are getting weirder

January 15, 2014

Some Like It Cold

Fox and other climate-denialist media outlets air anti-warming stories on cold days

Downtrend In Clean Energy Investments

What explains another down year for global clean energy investing?

The Frontiers of Sustainability

What to do about a pattern of corporate disconnects between praising sustainability and doing something about it?

January 14, 2014

How To Talk About Sustainability

Serve up bite-sized bits, not a laundry list, when seeking new sustainability converts

LEED's Energy Performance

There's room for improvement & more specifics in LEED reporting on the energy performance of rated buildings

Green Mortgages Get A Hand

The NYC Energy Efficiency Corp. has two programs to support mortgages for energy efficient buildings

January 13, 2014

Benchmarking Matters

Energy benchmarking makes the top-10 list of innovative energy impacts in 2013

Smart Meters Make Smart Grids

Smart electric meters could enable voltage control on the power grid and cut system stress

Climate Psychology

Why do people mistake hot or cold weather for climate change?

January 12, 2014

Economists' SOS For Climate Action

Review of Climate Casino prize-winning economist William Nordhaus & other reads

January 10, 2014

Greening The Building Appraisal

Recommendations for how to value new and retrofit green features in a building appraisal

Targeting Energy Makeovers

What makes car dealerships, supermarket chains & college campuses good candidates for deep energy retrofits?

Map Your Footprint

Interact with a map that shows US carbon footprints at the zip code level

January 09, 2014

Up With Urban Clean Tech

Meet new urban tech clean tech start up firms

Talking Transition

With the City Hall transition complete, time to revisit the NYC sustainability Talking Transition event and move ahead

Happy Bithday CA Cap/Trade

There's much to celebrate on the first birthday of the California carbon cap & trade market

January 08, 2014

Climate News NOT Growing

A review of recent reports that 2013 saw rebounding media coverage of climate change concludes there was no growth after all

The Bright Side

Need a climate/energy pick-me-up? Read on

January 07, 2014

City v Suburb

The smaller carbon footprint of urbanites is canceled out by suburbanites' big residential footprints

Science At Work: The Polar Vortex

What made the polar vortex weak and why North Americans are so cold today

PlaNYC 2013

What progress did NYC make in keeping its PlaNYC promises?

January 06, 2014

Caifornia In Retrograde

What explains California's dismal energy efficiency track record and how can it be turned around?

For Energy Efficiency Investing - KISS

Here's the place to start for investors who will turn to energy efficiency if the process & the metrics can be standardized

A Lot To Chew Over

What does the New York Times long-form story on genetically modified foods and their liberal opponents say about climate deniers, science and the media?

January 05, 2014

Get Happy

Social connectedness - commuting time + access to green spaces = >happiness for urbanites

January 04, 2014

Solar Trends

Trends to watch in solar power v utility power tango

January 03, 2014

Science At Work: Antarctic Warming

Why sea ice increases even as the Antarctic warms

Weather Porn

What's replaced traditional forecasting in today's weather reports & why?

Redefining Governors Island

Eyeliners are an innovative contour feature of the Governors Island open space development

January 02, 2014

New Rules For Resilience

How NYC's new zoning rules make buildings safe from flood damage while ensuring low-rise neighborhoods stay that way

Climate Negotiation Rx From A Climate Negotiator

A leading UK climate treaty negotiator focuses on redirecting national energy policies in a low carbon direction

Take The Challenge

NYC's brand new Carbon Challenge Handbook for Co-ops & Condos

January 01, 2014

NY Green Bank Goals

The critical goal of the NY Green Bank could be turning a profit, thus using government support to build a self-sustaining clean energy engine

December 31, 2013

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

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

How To Become An Earth Angel

Learn to get on with nature before nature learns to get on without us

December 30, 2013

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?

The Good, The Dumb, The Hilarious

Energy saving tips that run the gamut from love 'em to laughable

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

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

Solar-Power Payback

How long does it take to recoup the costs of installing rooftop solar panels?

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

December 23, 2013

Dim Forecast For Utilities

Why is the outlook negative for the financial health of the global utility sector in 2014?

How To Make A Buck On Energy Efficiency

ICYMI, regulators must decouple power production from profits to ramp up utility engagement with energy efficiency

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

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

Smart Power Leadership Forum

What are some of 2013's sharpest energy insights?

Blogging Buildings

Five worth-reading building innovation blogs from 2013

Securitizing Tomorrow

How securitization can be the tool to standardize & streamline project funding for energy efficient building

December 18, 2013

Enveloping Energy Efficiency

What the right building envelope can do to advance energy efficiency

Singapore: Green Star Rising

With 1,534 green certified new buildings and 215 pre-existing ones, Singapore has become Asia's high performance leader

Actions Speak Louder Than Words

Bill McKibben's take-down of the President's climate-friendly words

December 17, 2013

Wait No More

Ain't it the truth!

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

Miracle Drug Discovery

Medical science finds walking is good for almost whatever ails you, another reason to value pedestrian-friendly city streets

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?

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

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

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

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

December 11, 2013

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?

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

December 10, 2013

Renewables: US Lead Or Lose

Will the US abandon its forward position on the renewable energy to nations with greener development politics?

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

December 09, 2013

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

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

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?

December 06, 2013

Metropolitan Life Lessons

Why have cities become the new centers of innovation?

What Gotham's GHGs Look Like

Check out this award-winning animated infographic of NYC's greenhouse gas emissions

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

Some Cheers For LEED

Energy performance data on LEED buildings has some good news but raises hard questions too

December 05, 2013

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

Let's Decarbonize

Environmentalists & economists roll out an global-scale economic plan to end our carbon addiction

December 04, 2013

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

Yield Co: The Next Big Thing

What is a "yield co" and why are renewable energy investors exited?

December 03, 2013

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?

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

Answers To The Energy Enigma

50 top experts tackle the toughest energy system challenges of the era

The Well-Insulated House

Putting numbers on what home insulation can mean to you in kWh/m2a

November 30, 2013

News From The Philly Navy Yard

Economic growth & smart, sustainable energy innovations are full-speed-ahead at the Philadelphia Navy Yard

November 29, 2013

Climate Denier's Camouflage

The Heartland Institute's climate denial mass-mailing to schools goes out of it way to look like a climate science report

Energy For Home Heating

How much fuel does your home burn and how does it compare to homes elsewhere?

Science At Work: Methane

New studies of methane emissions from US gas/ooil drilling & Arctic temperature-linked releases

November 28, 2013

The Resilience Relay Race

Five resilience recommendations for Mayor de Blasio

26 Energy Star States

Mapping the 26 states with Energy Star action programs

November 27, 2013

Maintain Energy Efficiency Momentum

Three suggestions for keeping buildings energy efficient after the ribbon-cutting

Science At Work: Draw Your Own Conclusions

20 tips for laypersons to use when interpreting scientific claims with policy implications

Carbon Tax: More From Fewer

A new wrinkle on the carbon tax concept is to charge higher taxes from a limited pool of large emitters

November 26, 2013

The Electicity Internet

Distributed power + smart interconnectivity = electricity internet but is there enough demand to make it happen

Oakland: A Tale Of Two Cities

What will it take to bring clean fuel and energy efficiency to every Oakland, CA neighborhood?

The Great Park Rip-Off

The ways NYC privately finances public parks are great deals for developers, but there are better options for the public

November 25, 2013

Science At Work: The Pause That Isn't

ICYMI -- data demonstrates there is no pause in planetary warming

Federal Friend Of Renewables

FERC, the federal agency with jurisdiction over transmission lines, issues rules to advance renewable energy storage projects

A Millennial's Call To Climate Action

Climate action and preparedness require the kind of grassroots action Millennials can mobilize

November 23, 2013

LEDs Could Light Up Your Life

Smart LED bulb networks morph from exotic to everyday

Go Gridless, Go Africa

Off-grid tech entrepreneurs start to bring renewable electricity to parts of Africa lacking access to conventional power supplies

LEED 4: Cheers And Jeers

The new LEED, version 4 attracts both cheers and jeers and here's more

November 22, 2013

Bloomberg's Climate Legacy And Energy Future

Part 5

New Ways To invest In The Planet

What are climate bonds and how have they evolved?

A Killer Fungus Among Us

The saga of a killer fungus starting in Vancouver Island, Canada, previously seen only in non-lethal forms in the tropics

November 21, 2013

Bloomberg's Climate Legacy And Energy Future

Part 4

Science At Work: Climate And Cyclones

Explaining the the specific links between the incidence and severity of cyclones/hurricanes and a changing climate is a work in progress

Risk And Resilence

The insurance industry can be a major player to upgrade urban resilience to weird weather events

November 20, 2013

The 2030 Palette

The 2030 Palette provides a free interactive online platform with ideas & actions for low-carbon and resilient built environments

Bloomberg's Climate Legacy And Energy Future

Part 3

November 19, 2013

Bloomberg's Climate Legacy & NY's Future

Must Read, Part 2

November 18, 2013

Science At Work: Statistical Modeling

Read this, it's good for you, like eating your spinach

Bloomberg's Climate Legacy And NY's Future

Part One

iGreen, iClean

Unknown to many, Apple is an industry pioneer operating on renewable power

November 15, 2013

The Saga of Solar Mamas

Around the world women are lighting the way for brining solar power to their communities

What Makes LEED Grow

LEED-certified buildings have grown from 0 to 6,000 since 2000 and here's how

Chu's Washington Takeaway

Obama's first Department of Energy Secretary David Chu reflects on his years in Washington

November 14, 2013

Mothers Of Invention: Data Centers As Power Plants

Known as energy hogs, researchers seek to integrate fuel cell power input and energy efficient data output

The Chinese Puzzle

How do Chinese leaders plan to propel economic growth while solving its pressing environmental problems?

Guess Who's Going Solar

Tea Party supporters in Georgia and Arizona are trending pro-solar and anti-nuclear power

November 13, 2013

See Your Soot

A before & after fuel upgrades data visualization of fine particle air pollution in NYC

Mothers of Invention: Solar Energy Autonomy

A solar powered generator that uses the grid as Plan B, is marketed by NRG, an electric utility

November 12, 2013

Standardizing Solar Contracts

Doing business gets easier when solar power contracts are standardized

Abadoned NY

Once upon a time, there was a local subway station, now only intrepid photographers get in

November 11, 2013

Anthropocene Era: The Future Is Here

The 21st century so far, Bagdad, New Orleans, NYC, all kinds of shock and awe

New Power Needs New Financing

For renewable energy to become the new normal, financial innovation is a must

Take Me To Your LED-er

More reasons to love LED light bulbs and take some home with you

PV: Rising Euro-Power

The use and value of solar power in Europe is on the rise

November 09, 2013

Euro Utility Transformation

The European power industry is on the verge of a fundamental renewables-driven transformation

Challenges For US Power Industry

What are the three biggest challenges facing the current business model for US power utilities?

November 08, 2013

Smart Cities, Open Technolgies

Tomorrow's smartest cities will have open source technologies accessible for all & dominated by no one

Science At Work: Summetime

Whether a European summer is scorching or stormy has a lot to do with storm behavior

Listen Up On Renewable Supports

What could replace the production tax credit to grow the US wind power industry? And that's not all

November 07, 2013

Science At Work: Melting Permafrost

Methane from melting arctic permafrost will be a big climate-change accelerant

Better Buildings Need Better Metrics

To measure office tower energy efficiency, an economic intensity index must be added to the equation

Energy Efficiency By The Numbers

AEE's annual state-by-state energy efficiency ratings offers some surprises

November 06, 2013

Note To Mayor-Elect

While candidate de Blasio didn't say much about climate change, Mayor de Blasio will have to spend a lot of time doing something about it

Coastal Cities' New Normal

Active options for coastal cities facing a certain future of weird wet weather

Seattle: Super Green Code

Seattle's building code for new commercial construction & renovation let's a project's design team figure out how to meet stringent energy requirements and then checks on actual performance

November 05, 2013

Become Your Own Utility

Say goodbye to old-fashioned utilities with DIY electric power

Location Location, Location

What's the secret to siting more powerful wind turbines?

New Path To Smart Buildings

Expect smart building energy systems to shrink in number while growing functionality

November 04, 2013

Rating The Low-Carbon Investment Climate

Bloomberg NEF announces a new metric for rating nations on their ability to foster clinate-friendly investments

Solar Power Rises

Why solar power can scale-up enough to be a game changer

November 03, 2013

Nuke Power Debate: Round Nth Degree

Among environmentalists the the battle over nuclear powe rages on

November 02, 2013

Microgrids - Looking For Users

Psst! Wanna buy a mcirogrid?

November 01, 2013

Science At Work: Oceans As Heat Sinks

New research & reactions on the relationship between oceans' ability to soak up CO2, a hotter planet & measurement baselines

Modeling A Green Bond Market

The definition and scope of green bonds is a work-in-progress

Green Tech Incubator Hatches Miracle

Ancient miracles turned water into wine; today, a building's water system can make electricity, thanks to a NYC green tech incubator graduate

October 31, 2013

High Performing Urban Infographic

How's your city doing when it comes to going green?

Brazil: 10x21

Brazil aims to get 10% of its electricity from wind power by 2021

Coastal Rebuilding Is Doomed

A geologist makes the case that coastal rebuilding post-Sandy will fail because it ignores climate realities

October 30, 2013

Tokyo: Flood Protection

Tour Tokyo's enormous underground flood protection system

Green Home Label Could Go Extinct

Is a steep requirements upgrade to earn an Energy Star label for new homes producing a sharp decline in program participation?

Social Movement Could Save The Planet

Naomi Klein applauds a report that asks "Is the Earth F*cked?: Dynamical Futility of Global Environmental Management and Possibilities for Sustainability via Direct Action Activism"

October 29, 2013

High Performance Building, Test Bed For Tomorrow

Today's cutting edge, net-zero energy buildings are test beds for tomorrow's building, energy & wastewater codes

The Political Pull Of Climate Change

Climate change impacts are being felt by Americans, whatever their political orientation, and the Republican Party resists climate action at its peril

Smart Cities - Meh

Beware the hype around "smart cities" since it relies on buggy, brittle technology & incomplete data sets

October 28, 2013

Science At Work: Super Rooftop Savings

Scientists are developing a heat & cooling technology for commercial buildings so energy efficient, it could save 41% over current HVAC costs

Sustaibility-Driven Innovation

Corporate research finds corporate leadership on sustainability spurs value-adding innovation

One Year After: More Local Input

The Bloomberg Administration will solicit more community board input for the recovey of Sandy-savaged neighborhoods

October 25, 2013

Learn More, Click Less

The California Carbon Dashboard is one place to go to learn many things

Resiliency: Progress So Far

A progress report on NYC's growing resilience to weird weather damage & what's on the to-do list

New Model Solar Finance

A Maryland PV & storage project develops an innovative financial plan, using existing technology

October 24, 2013

One Year After: Hoboken

Why Hoboken, NJ is still drying out a year after Sandy soaked it while considering how to avoid a replay

Science At Work: The Tricky Business of Prediction

Climate science is certain sea levels will rise, but how much & how fast is hard to say

October 23, 2013

The Ballad Of Sandy and The Subways

Think Gravity is scary? Go underground to survey NYC subways' flood-risk status

It's The Cultural Context, Stupid

The cultural context of risk-cognition is fingered as the culprit in climate denialism. OK

Put It There

In the wake of Sandy questions surfaced about why key urban infrastructure was built in such vulnerable places, here are some answers

October 22, 2013

24 Hours Of Reality

Discover the cost of carbon to you, me & everyone

Accounting For Carbon

The Association of Chartered Certified Accountants cautions investors over corporations that value fossil fuels which can't be drilled

Middle Class Solar

True or False: Solar Power is just for the green elite?

October 21, 2013

Munis And Micros

Now is the time for municipalities to kick-start the microgrid model of robust 21st century urban power supplies

Fracking Outcomes: The Take Away

Why the fracking-fueled shale gas boom won't be the bridge to a low carbon future

Legal Low-Down On Supreme Court Carbon Case

What is the key legal issue in the Supreme Court review of EPA's authority to regulate CO2?

October 19, 2013

Invest In Tomorrow Today

NREL makes the case that utilities are well-placed to access low cost capital for investing in solar power & energy storage

After The Carbon Age

Los Angeles emerged during the Carbon Age, what's needed now to move into the Era of Sustainability?

Graphic Power Shift

Maps and charts show what the decentralized power-supply revolution is all about

October 18, 2013

Getting Around Town

A brief history of the long reign of the car in urban America, with a surprising new twist

Everything You Need To Know About...

The California energy storage rule for renewable power

Good Code, Good Building

Better energy codes make for better, less costly to run commercial buildings

October 17, 2013

A Green Ribbon For Boston

The story of Boston's climate action plan 'In a nation that has become accustomed to political polarization, gridlock, and government dysfunction, the story of Boston’s efforts to activate a wide-ranging and powerful network to work toward a common goal deserves a wide audience'

Think Power Utility, Think Rotary Phone

Elon Musk is part of an insurgency that is making today's utility industry go the way of the rotary phone

October 16, 2013

China's Mandatory Green Credit Rules

A comment on China's new mandatory environmental review guidelines for evaluating green project financing

After Sandy: Microgrids

Since a self-contained microgrid kept the lights & heat on at NYU when Con Ed was wiped out by Sandy, what's the takeaway?

Waiting For Godot FEMA

Still waiting for FEMA to rethink the federal flood insurance program, in the wake of rising seas & storm damage

October 15, 2013

Science At Work: Sea Level Rise

Dive into the fast-evolving science of sea level rise to see what's coming

Start With Sustainable Neighborhoods

Sustainable neighborhoods are the building blocks of sustainable cities & metro areas

Micro-Greens

Urban open-space activists use an on-line tool to find small sites ideal for multiple green uses

October 14, 2013

Solar Potential

A radiation map based on satellite data of global regions with the greatest solar power potential

Citizen's Choice

Vote here for the city project demonstrating the most climate action leadership potential

Soft Solutions For Storm-Proofing Cities

Robust natural systems are crucial for protecting coastal cities from storms and sea-surges

October 12, 2013

Utilities Face Existential Threat

Renewable energy poses an 'existential threat' to European utilities stuck on conventional fuel & business models

October 11, 2013

Cities Can't Duck The Climate Challenge

Really useful knowledge for greener cities with game theory supporting the logic of local action

Three Cheers For RE-188

The organizations that sets international buildings code standards adopts RE-188, guidelines to make it easier for home builders to go energy efficient

Victim And Villain

If today's energy supply system is both victim & villain of climate change impacts, what is to be done?

October 10, 2013

Science At Work: Understanding IPCC-Speak

What a difference a few words make in the new IPCC report

Green Economy Needs Green Financing

Ten ideas for revving-up green finance mechanisms to advance climate solutions in the economy

Save Energy With Data

Interact with this infographic of every state's energy use profile & get ideas for doing better

October 09, 2013

Conservatives Split Over Energy Policy

What can solve the deep divide among ruling UK Conservatives over energy policy?

The Way Things Work: Power Plants

Cool & ample water plays a critical role in the operation of the power plants but the rules for pricing the power are just as key

An Animated History Of The High-Rise

See it here!

October 08, 2013

8 Cheers For Energy Efficiency

8 great energy efficiency achievements & 1 not-there-yet

The 'Pause' That Isn't

What explains the rise of the rising temperature 'pause' myth?

Rethinking The Grid

Imagine a metro power supply that's regional, distributed & resilient

October 07, 2013

A Movement Die-Off

Sustainability - who cares?

Stockholm: Getting Around Town

Stockholm's multi-modal transit system is designed to make easy connections

MTA Plans Ahead

The MTA, responsible for planning & operating the nation's biggest mass transit system, lays out 20 years of project & budget projections

October 05, 2013

Learning To Be Bill McKibben

A must-read review of Bill McKibben's new book Oil and Honey: The Education of an Unlikely Activist

October 04, 2013

Energy Efficiency Grows Biz

A study of 6 utility energy efficiency programs in Wisconsin tracked the uptake in work for 46 midwest manufacturers

Cities As Levers

How can cities act as potent levers to move climate action forward?

Iceland: Renwable Exports

Iceland begins to use its geothermal assets to produce and export renewable energy resources

October 03, 2013

Mind Those Black Elephants

When it comes to climate chaos, black elephants are "major events which are treated in politics or business as extremely unlikely, or even impossible… but are known to many to be entirely possible, maybe even likely"

Walmart, IKEA: The Energy Tipping Point

With Walmart selling low-price LEDs & IKEA offering rooftop solar panel kits, renewable energy is going mass market

Parking Parklets

How cities can convert street parking into bite-sized urban oases

October 02, 2013

Energy Disclosure: Challenges Ahead

With the growing popularity of building energy benchmarking laws comes insight and awareness of data and action challenges ahead

Renewable Power: Price Is Right

A major electric utility plans to buy solar and wind power because it's price-competitive with natural gas

Make Money With Efficiency

Energy efficiency service providers, ESCOs, are doing well by doing good

October 01, 2013

US Military Re-Powers

Government funded solar projects that will change the energy supply for the US military

Build It Better

NY architects & planners report on new ideas for building a better New York using lessons learned from Sandy

Watch The Climate Change

Using IPCC data, watch this video of 21st Century climate changing

September 30, 2013

Rail v Rapid Bus

Should urban mass transit systems invest in bus rapid transit or rail?

IPCC Expiration Date

A glimpse into the fraught nature of IPCC framing and decision-making raises questions about what scientists should do now

Corporate Calls On Climate Report

Corporate reactions to the IPCC climate report are sector-specific

September 27, 2013

Cast Your Ballot

Vote for your choice of the city with the most innovative climate leadership program

The Heat Is On

Take a deeper dive into the IPCC Climate report and renewed calls to face up to reality

Blowin' In The Wind

Forecasting the future of US off-shore wind power is still is hard to do

September 26, 2013

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

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

Science At Work - Warming Oceans

What do rising ocean temperatures reveal about how climate chance happens?

September 24, 2013

NYC Solar Map

See where sunshine is put to work creating power on NYC rooftops

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

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

Carbon Cuts Not Guaranteed

Continuing the trend in lower carbon emissions & gains in clean fuels will take sustained energy

September 21, 2013

Lessons From Virtual Energy Audits

Five take aways from virtual energy audits of 60 million square feet of building space

September 20, 2013

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

September 17, 2013

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?

Climate, Energy And Syria

Weigh on on whether climate change impacts and energy markets are adding to the Syrian tragedy

September 13, 2013

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?

Microgridding

What's generating the buzz about microgrids as an alternative to the old-time electric power grid?

September 12, 2013

Doing Well and Doing Good

Top corporate financial performers are also climate action leaders

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

A HEMS

HEMS, the Home Energy Management Systems market, is evolving fast

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

September 10, 2013

Big Green Denialists

Naomi Klein calls big environmental organizations the obstacle to potent grass-roots activism

Labors Of A Climate Sisyphus

Undoing the damage of climate deniers is unending

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

September 09, 2013

Unsustainable Behavior

We underestimate climate change impacts while underfunding the innovations needed to face its challenges

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

Tallying Tesla's Green

Measuring the climate friendliness of Tesla autos depends on the electric power supply they use

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

Navy Links Micro Grids

First-of-a-kind US Navy project in San Diego creates secure, centrally managed microgrid

August 29, 2013

The President's PV

Some specs on the (re)installed solar panels atop the White House

Cap Carbon With RGGI Rules

If the federal government wants a way to cap carbon emissions the northeast states' RGGI program is where to start

August 28, 2013

Urban Green: Look Local

The greening of northern European urban power supplies might offer lessons for US cities & check out Euro smart grid developments

ICYMI - Climate Talk On The Radio

NPR interviews a leading climate no-action scientist and a leading climate-action scientist, they don't agree but they don't debate

Science At Work: Grid Alert

Does spacial analysis make the case that the US power grid is inherently unstable?

August 27, 2013

Beyond Natural Gas

Wind, geothermal & solar power in western states could be cost-competitive with natural gas to create and deliver electric to consumers starting in 2025

Send Money

To make energy efficient buildings the new normal requires lots of money, so how to get big financial firms engaged?

Climate Chaos - Insurance Industry On The Case

The insurance industry is wrapping its arms around today's weird weather and not just waiting to see what tomorrow may bring

August 26, 2013

Al Jazeera America Covers The Climate

Newly-launched news network Al Jazeera America starts out with climate change coverage

Green Bonds Sale A Sell Out

Massachusetts' first $100 million green bond sale had more buyers than bonds, outpacing the rest of the state offering

That's No Refrigerator In Your Pocket

A take-down of last week's hyped story claiming cell phones use more power than refrigerators

Energy Efficient Applianes Cost Less

Despite regulators' fears that energy efficiency would raise appliances prices, their cost actually dropped

August 23, 2013

Smart Buildings 101

Get educated about the value of smart buildings

Wade Into Tormorow

Coastal cities, wake up, see the waters rising and rethink edges, infrastructure & barriers

Doomed To Obsolescence

Invented in the same era, Edison's light bulb & today's power grid are goners

August 22, 2013

Scientists At Work: Higher, Warmer, Faster

New research predicts high elevation regions will heat up more in winter than lower altitude areas

Waterfront Planning After Sandy

The East River Blueway Plan strives to provide access to the water and protection from it

Sandy's Wake Up Call For All Mayors

For Mike Bloomberg, Superstorm Sandy is the alert to mayors everywhere that cities must take the lead in defensive climate action

August 21, 2013

The Power Of Pricing

Time-of-day pricing is key to integrating solar power into smart grid systems

Become An Educated Renter

Now renters in Philadelphia can learn how much energy a building uses before making a leasing decisions

Building Market Transformation

Is the market for energy efficient building moving forward or marking time?

August 20, 2013

Climate Policy Polling

Gather some data on public opinion poll results about climate and energy policies

Climate Messaging Questioned

Is here-and-now messaging to mobilize climate action paying off?

Sandy Recovery Report

Federal guidance for post-Sandy protective rebuilding, with implications for the remaining $40 billion is disaster relief

August 19, 2013

NY and CA Solar Access Stars

Learn from the states in the lead on cutting both red tape and costs for installing solar power

Working With Energy Efficiency

Promoting energy efficiency is a successful route to growing manufacturing jobs & boosting global competitiveness

August 16, 2013

Nuclear 'Just-So' Story

This year's pro-nuclear documentary film, Pandora's Promise, is still a lightening rod

This Cloud Slurps Energy

Using 10% of the world's electricity and facing demands for 24/7 reliability, can the world’s Information-Communications-Technologies (ICT) system, be made climate-friendly?

Baselining NY Building Energy Use

Measuring the energy performance of New York public buildings today is the first step to improving their energy performance tomorrow

August 15, 2013

Electric Companies - Mall Or Be Mauled

What's an energy mall and why is it more sustainable business model than today's electric power utilities?

The Green Roof Test

What's the best kind of green roof for abating sewage treatment system overflows?

A House Without A Furnace Is Like...

In the US, passive houses have it all, except market share

August 14, 2013

Energy Infrastructure Barely Passes

The electric power grid and fossil fuel systems get a D on an engineering report card for the nation's infrastructure

Nuclear Renaissance — Not

Don't hold your breath for the revitalization of the nuclear power industry, former NRC Commissioner cautions

Connected By Carbon

The way we live now — with smart phones, wi-fi & cloud storage — is creating a mega carbon footprint

August 13, 2013

Affordable Energy Efficiency

Will tougher Energy Star standards for windows and other energy efficiency improvements make them too expensive for many home-owners?

A New Corporate Culture

'Don't go it alone' is the message for today's sustainability-oriented businesses

The Next Blackout

While the power grid's a lot stronger now than before the last big blackout, it's vulnerable to extreme weather and few changes in grid operations

August 12, 2013

China: Wind Power Update

Will China upgrade its electric power grid for making good use of wind energy?

Higher Ed Going For Gold

Explore the design of the New School's soon-to-open multi-function building that's going for LEED Gold

Highline Graffiti

Something old, something new it's all metropolitan

August 09, 2013

TGIF: Listen Up

Enjoy this essay on how sound and silence add to place-making

Another Century Of Fossil Fuels

Think the 21st Century will see the dawn of the post-carbon era? Think again

The Great LEED Debate

A full frontal attack on LEEDs ability to lead to energy efficient buildings and the debate it stirred up. Here's more

Don't Count On Wasted Energy

Exergy, a measure of energy actually used, is a better way to think about policy and economic productivity

August 08, 2013

Clean Energy Success Story

How one well-connected lobbying group tried to roll back renewable energy portfolio standards and failed

Blue-Green Uneasy Alliance

Strategic alliances between US labor and environmentalists are a sometime thing

Food Scraps: The Final Recycling Frontier

NYC can save $85 million a year as it shifts from landfilling food waste to composting it, other cities do the same

August 07, 2013

Change The Channel

Conservative media like Fox News erodes its audience's trust in the science of climate change, according to research published in Public Understanding of Science

Methane Measurement Maze

Think measuring methane leaks is straightforward? Think again

Leave It In The Ground Here

True or False? More renewable & next generation nuclear power cannot cut total carbon emissions as long as the US rate of extracting fossil fuels rises

August 06, 2013

Global Energy Infographic

Map the world in terms of what fuels its power plants

US: Energy Innovator Also-Ran

Arnold Schwarzenegger fears that the US economy is losing the global energy innovation race

Details Details

Check out the design of a super energy efficient home in Utah and ask, "What's in a label?"

August 05, 2013

'Help My House'

On-bill financing is key to a South Carolina program to upgrade energy efficiency in affordable homes and save occupants $300 a year

Eco-Consumer Surveys 2.0

What can be done to upgrade consumer surveys on energy efficiency and renewable power?

For Your Consideration

Five ideas for a more sustainable (in every sense) NYC

August 02, 2013

German Green Glow Dims

Great hopes for German leadership on how to end our fossil fuel addiction are fading

Hot Rocks

Could fracking create enhanced geothermal systems to amp up the world's zero-carbon energy supply?

August 01, 2013

Words Fail Me

Scientists' picture of Earth temperatures today and the blistering speed of change by 2100

Blackouts

Installing and linking 1,000 high-tech monitors on the US electric power grid could eliminate future blackouts

First Look At 2nd Avenue Subway

Come on down and see the birth of NYC's newest subway line

July 31, 2013

The Heat's Still On

Don't take comfort in reports that global heating is on "pause"

Science At Work: Climate And Methane Leaks

Another round in the great fracking debate, which is worse CO2 or CH4?

First Sandy, Now Sand

Check out this sand castle in the canyons of Lower Manhattan

July 30, 2013

What If.....

What if it's more energy efficient buildings and vehicles & less energy demand - not natural gas - that explains the drop in US carbon emissions from 2011 to 2012?

Greening Historic Rowhouses

The manual for greening NYC's historic rowhouses, presented at the 2013 Passive House conference

Climate Advocacy By A 90-Something

Former Republican Secretary of State George Schultz reflects on a history of Republican energy and climate policy and supports action now

July 29, 2013

LEDs: A Gateway Drug

Consider Paris to see how conversion to energy efficient LED lights can be the first step toward a smart urban energy grid

Aim For Carbon Revenues

While many climate policies focus on putting a price on carbon emissions, others target creating carbon revenues

Climate Risks For Liquid Assets

Welcome Watermark, a new blog about water and climate change challenges

July 26, 2013

Race, Class and Heatwaves

A look at how to beat the heat — or not — in neighborhoods like South Williamsburg

Amazon's A Green Laggard

Amazon isn't making the energy efficiency drives of other on-line giants

The Macro And The Micro

What's is store for the relationship between macro-utilties and micro-trends?

July 25, 2013

Climate Action Predictions

Can the President's executive branch-only path to effective climate action succeed?

Zoning Isn't City Planning

A New York Times critic decries the Mayor's proposed mid-town rezoning and readers weigh in

Climate Scientist Sues

After attacks on the honesty of his research by climate change deniers, scientist Michael Mann starts a defamation suit that advances in court

July 24, 2013

Lovins: Things Are (Mostly) Looking Up

Energy guru Amory Lovins sees momentum growing for energy efficiency, renewables & distributed power

Generating Resilience

Advice from the pros on how to keep urban buildings inhabitable after storms, floods and blackouts

Red-Hot Renewables Debate

ICYMI, the latest round in the fierce dispute over if, when and how renewables can zero-out fossil fuels

July 23, 2013

The Solar 12

Lessons worth learning from the twelve states with the most installed solar power

Investing In Your Future

The financial sector, particularly institutional investors, must re-allocate investments to cut global GHG emissions at a pace and scale that matter

Fun Facts About East Coast Wind Power

See if there's wind power on the way in your Atlantic state

July 22, 2013

NYC Dodges Disaster

Looking for buildable space in NYC? Here's an early 20th century proposal to fill in the Hudson River and more!

Social Science At Work: Benchmarking

Research on targeted transparency policy could enhance the impact of building energy benchmarking laws

California's Not Dreaming

California has a 40 year track record to show the other 49 state how to get energy efficient

July 20, 2013

Storing Sunlight

Is dawn breaking for the solar power storage industry?

July 19, 2013

So Long Snow And Ice

The hottest climate news of 2013 is the rapid melt of northern snow and Arctic sea ice

Energy Efficiency: Not A Done Deal

Why achieving scale remains an elusive goal for the building energy efficiency market

Two Green Peas In A POD

Distributed power and renewable energy go together for greening data centers

July 18, 2013

Two Kinds Of Power Shift

The rise of IT-enabled distributed electric & heat power production could raise the power of cities

Urban Heat Islands

Why you might be feeling a little hotter

Cost Is The Killer

Are old nuclear plants too costly to repair and keep in operation, while new ones are too expensive to build?

July 17, 2013

Feds Walk-The-Walk On Energy Efficiency

A review of federal energy efficiency policy shows it's more than talk

Shifting Power Supplies

Leaders & laggards from 2005-2012 in shifting power supplies by US electric utilities

LEDs Come Of Age

With prices dropping and light quality improving LED bulbs are ready for prime time

July 16, 2013

State Energy Snapshots

New York State's energy snapshot is just one of 51 on this AEE web portal

Saved By Oysters

Oysters, sand dunes, wetlands and other 'soft' coastal natural resources can protect vulnerable US coastlines for free

July 15, 2013

Conventional Climate Economics Challenged

A new study undermines some givens of climate economics

Why Chicago Should Benchmark

NRDC makes the case for why Chicago should join the ranks of cities with building benchmarking laws

July 13, 2013

Storm Brewing Over Hurricane Science

A new round of controversy erupts among climate scientists over predicted changes in the frequency & severity of hurricanes

July 12, 2013

Promoting Greener B Schools

Seven practical ideas for integrating sustainability & a climate curriculum into MBA programs

July 11, 2013

The Zombie Apocalypse

Behind the scare headlines lie numerous reasons for developing microgrids

Breaking The Emissions-Economic Growth Link

Cities are living labs for linking economic growth to energy efficiency instead of burning more fuel

Demystifying Energy Futures

The short version of why future global energy predictions are all over the map and why that matters

July 10, 2013

More Good News - Sandy Success Stories

20 cases of planning and design that worked well in the face of Superstorm Sandy

Good News -- At Last

Utility-run energy efficiency programs get more funding and generate energy efficiency, while coal-burning decreases

Power From The Desert Sun

Dust and distance are hurdles to making solar power from desert sites a new normal

July 09, 2013

Science At Work - Hurricanes

New research predicts more GHG emissions will lead to more and fiercer hurricanes in this century

Science At Work - Sea Ice

Uproar over getting the facts right about the melting of Arctic sea ice

Build A Better LED

Research on new materials to build more lovable LED light bulbs

July 08, 2013

Cute Energy Saving Clips

Sometimes it pays to watch YouTube

Cutting Carbon: Tall Order For China

Consider the challenges on China's path from pilot to national carbon reduction programs

Meet Ethical Electric

Get acquainted with a new breed of electric power utility

July 06, 2013

Listen Up - The Message Matters

Want to move people with your climate message? Start here

Climate Change - The Novels

Novels using climate change as the plot device don't register as a science fiction

July 05, 2013

Big Solar - Big Questions

Can we count on the development of mega-scale solar power projects?

Science St Work - Tracking The Jet Stream

Wiggles an wobbles in the jet stream over North America have a big impact on the weather

How Cities Can Help Distribute The Power

Making cities centers of distributed, district energy will require forward-thinking government policies

July 03, 2013

Distributed Energy 101

Developmet and financing basics for urban distributed energy systems

Science At Work - Tap Water From The Sea

While desalinization is a standard technology, an energy efficient way to get drinking water from the ocean is brand new

For Computer Gamers

Long summer weekend ahead, time to play a computer game about sustainable energy resources

July 02, 2013

Grading Energy Efficiency

Is America getting more energy efficient? Here's a detailed report card

The Devil's In the Details

Key to meeting a building's energy efficiency goals is attention to detail during construction and in facility operations

Looking Ahead With Numbers

With predictions of US carbon emissions rising 2013-2020, consider the numbers and projections of what's needed to meet Obama's carbon reduction goal

July 01, 2013

New Uses For Old Infrastructure

Ideas for reusing old bits of Boston's infrastructure for 21 century urban needs

Energy Efficiency Save Lives

One Marine was killed or wounded for every 50 fuel and water truck convoys in Afghanistan, and one in 17 of the convoys was disrupted by an improvised explosive device — that's unacceptable. Now, the USMC leads the way on innovative and energy-efficient gear

June 28, 2013

Twilight Of The Power Grid

The solar power revolution is on the verge of blowing up the electricity business


Congestion Pricing

A new toll-swap proposal would toll East River bridges, cut tariffs on the other City-owned bridges & tunnels, and add a congestion fee south of 60th Street

The Weather Channel Watch

While the Weather Channel was the only broadcast TV to carry Obama's climate speech, climate threats to people and the planet keep rising

June 27, 2013

Climate Change: The Political Problem

Will expert predictions of world energy use and carbon trends crash into political roadblocks?

Concentrate On The Coal Belt

Cut US air pollution by focusing clean energy growth in areas of the US now relying on coal-burning power plants

June 26, 2013

How Cities Grow

Remote sensing data reveal that the world's cities are growing upward and outward, but the driving forces vary

Latin America: Low Use Of Renewable Resources

From Mexico to Chile, Latin America is blessed with renewable power capability but lacks the policies to make the most of them

June 25, 2013

New Opportunities In A Nation Of Cities

In praise of the function and economic opportunities of linking US cities with a high speed rail network

Upgrading Appliance Efficiency

What's on DOE's to-do list for improving energy efficiency standards of electrical appliances and equipment?

Reinventing Los Angeles

Founded in1781, Los Angeles, defined by both density and sprawl, is reinventing itself again

June 24, 2013

EU: Energy Makeovers Could Be Key

The EU examines if building energy retrofit policy could be the key to meeting its carbon reduction goals

June 21, 2013

New Yorkers For Ferries

MWA launches a campaign to bring more ferry service to NYC

Science At Work - Cities

Learn why cities are a “special kind of social reactor", which evolve according to a small set of basic principles and feedback loops

June 20, 2013

Wag The Dog

A canine meme useful for explaining climate change to doubters

Not Everything's For Eating

A call for NYC's urban farmers to protect space for wildflowers and other inedible plants

Measuring Brownfield Redevelopment

What are the environmental findings of a life-cycle analysis of a brownfield redevelopment in Chicago?

June 18, 2013

Making Sense Of Good News

What explains the steady decline in carbon emissions since 2005?

Addiction Without End

A rebuttal to the study proclaiming the feasibility of ending NY's fossil fuel addiction with recommendations for a more incremental path (Don't just read the blog, read the study)

Save Energy When Saving Files

Cloud computing is a more energy efficient way to save and store electronic files

June 17, 2013

Innovation And The City

Introducing bright Ideas for a more equitable and sustainable urban future

To-Do List For The Next Mayor

Make CitiBike a part of a tax-free mass transit program

June 16, 2013

Obama's Unused Climate Tool

NEPA could be a powerful tool to cut GHGs from federal projects if only the President would act

June 15, 2013

Pandora's Promise - Not A Film Review

Dave Roberts explains why he doesn't write about nuclear power

Meet MEETS

What is a metered energy efficiency transaction structure and why should energy efficiency fans care?

June 14, 2013

Asia Loves US Clean Tech

What is driving Asian investment leadership for new clean tech in the US?

Microgrids: The Slide Show

Missed the Energy Storage & Microgrids Forum: Building A Better Grid? Catch up with the slide show

Show Us The Process

Vermont crafts a new process for public input into the siting of new energy-generating facilities

June 13, 2013

Seattle: Metering Enrgy Efficiency

A Seattle utility and foundation pilot meters to measure and sell real time energy savings in commercial buildings

Extra, Extra: Building Resilience In NYC

Urban Green Council serves up a menu of ways to make NYC more resilient and able to withstand a climate-challenged future

NYC Flood Zone Maps

Zoom in on maps of the NYC neighborhoods most vulnerable to flooding

June 12, 2013

A New Way To See NYC

Map the NYC photos taken by tourists and then will someone please overlay it on the new FEMA flood zone map

Their Feets' Too Big

Who are the top 100 carbon emitters in the US?

Bloomberg Looks Ahead

Dive deep or skim Mayor Bloomberg's plan for making NYC more resilient in an era of climate chaos and weird weather

June 11, 2013

Greening The Tax Code

What's the Master Limited Partnerships Parity Act and should renewable energy advocates support it?

June 10, 2013

Hubba Hubba

An update on developments at the Philadelphia Energy Efficient Buildings Hub

Wouldn't It Be Nice

Envision the rebuilt Penn Station as a mid-Manhattan green oasis for mass transit users

BRT: Getting To Yes In Chicago

How to convince Chicago bus rapid transit, which means removing a lane of traffic and parking, is the right thing?

June 07, 2013

Film Review: Pandora's Promise

Pandora's Promise is a documentary about climate-activists who convert into nuclear power fans

Solar Summit 2013

Missed this year's NYC Solar Summit? Catch up here

What Energy Efficiency Needs

The movement for upgrading building energy performance needs better performance modeling to attract funding and gain credibility

June 06, 2013

Turning Green With Social Pressure

Behavioral science holds the keys to saving energy

Meet The The Sulfur Battery

The new lithium-sulfur battery could be a better bet than lithium-ion technology, with 4 times the energy density

Save The Planet In Your Basement

Energy storage batteries equipped with IT can fit into urban basements and kick in on hot summer days, but upfront cost is a barrier

June 05, 2013

Now Carbon Costs More

The Obama Administration recalculates the social cost of carbon and that's no small thing

NYC: Not So Storm-Proofed

With another hurricane season looming, it's fair to ask, "Is NYC prepared for another Sandy?"

June 03, 2013

Money's Not The Problem

For he emerging energy efficiency industry the key is connecting the opportunities to the money

No Either/Or For Big Greens

Seven big US environmental groups unite over demands for Presidential climate action and opposition to the Keystone XL pipeline project

Climate Cap: More Or Nothing At All

Climate negotiators must devise a higher cap on global temperatures, because the old limit of 2 degrees C is not achievable

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

CHP For NYC

The benefits and the myriad hurdles to developing energy efficient combined heat & power systems in NYC

May 30, 2013

The Action's At The Edge Of The Grid

It's not going to be your grandma's infrastructure for much longer

Hey NYC - Convert To Clean Heat

Just do it!

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

One-Stop Solar Shopping

Now homeowners can access the PV service provider information they need to get what they want

M2M For Greener Buildings

Machine-to-machine, a/k/a the internet of things, could be crucial for smarter, more energy efficient buildings

Urban Trend Glossary

100 trending terms for talking about cities

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"

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

May 24, 2013

HIMBY

For those who wish to refer to the transcript, go there.



One Word - Plastics

Could plastic plants save the planet?

What 400 PPM Means For US Labor

Green and blue or green v blue?

May 23, 2013

DOE's All About Energy Efficiency

Energy efficiency is a top priority for Ernest Moniz, the new Energy Department Secretary

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

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

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?

Getting To Yes On Energy Efficiency

What's to be done about the barriers to engaging building owners & occupants to improve on energy efficiency?

All Of The Above

What should be US energy policy in the 21st Century?

May 21, 2013

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?

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

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

May 18, 2013

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

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

Hanford, Washington, home to decades worth of high-level, government radioactive waste, inches along

Pristine Nature, Not

While there are laws of nature, but there may no longer be nature untouched by human impact

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

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

May 15, 2013

Fingerpointing Over PATH Pricetag

Construction costs of the new mass transit Hub at the World Trade Center creates sticker shock

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

Climate Resilience: Compare And Contrast

How the NY Stock Exchange survived Sandy and why NJ Transit didn't

Facts To Act On

Take your pick from this menu of US energy facts and then do something to change them

Pipeline Furor In The Apple

Is the NYC battle over the Spectra natural gas pipeline over?

May 13, 2013

Philadelphia Loves Benchmarking

Good reasons for property owners to cheer on the Philadelphia building energy benchmarking law

NASA Gets Greener Than Platinum

The new NASA sustainability base is designed to outperform LEED Platinum standards

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

Sustainable, Resilient, Livable

Examine three trendy urban planning terms and find what's of use to your city

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

Mobility Is More Than Cars

Caltrans, the California Transportation Department, embraces GHG reduction & climate change adaptation as core to its mobility mission

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

Distribute The Power

Five reasons why combined heat and power systems could become a new normal

May 07, 2013

Science At Work - GHGs

Totaling up carbon and other greenhouse gases provides a better understanding of our climate risks

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

May 06, 2013

MIT's City Lab

Could pre-auto European cities be the template for 21st century cellular urban design asks the MIT City Lab?

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

California: Planning Impasse

No resolution in sight between urban climate impact planners and no-growth advocates in California

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

Bank Passes On Energy Efficiency

JP Morgan Chase steers clear of energy efficiency project financing

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

Asleep At The Climate Wheel

Despite devastating heat, drought & floods, research finds Australian business is drowsy on climate action

April 30, 2013

Four Lessons From Sandy

What worked, what didn't and what needs doing, not just talking, now

Green Marketing 101

Effective marketing terms for energy saving products are as polarized as our politics

EVs In The Big Apple

Scaling up numbers of electric vehicles on New York City streets is not just about the resident drivers, commuters & visitors will play a big part

April 29, 2013

UK: Your Foot's Too Big

Concern grows that official claims about the UK's shrinking carbon footprint are an accounting mirage

The Energy Biz Today

Trends in today's fossil energy and alt-energy business by Bllomberg New Energy's Michael Leibreich

April 28, 2013

Carbon Market Optimist

The reported demise of the EU carbon emissions trading market might be premature

April 27, 2013

Rx For Climate Fears

Fearing devastating climate chaos obliterates our ability to take affirmative action, (but it doesn't mean kumbayah on cures).

April 26, 2013

Code Compliance Counts

What's lost if a state passes an energy code but flunks on compliance?

Meet Methane Hydrate

What does methane hydrate, frozen natural gas found at the bottom on the ocean, have to to with our global climate and energy future?

Science At Work: Super Solar

Scientists invent a solar cell that makes two electrons from one photon of sunlight

April 25, 2013

Carbon Tax: The Graduate Seminar

Questions and answers on the Carbon Tax Center proposal

Paint It White

At current rates of painting NYC rooftops white, it could take a 1000 years to paint them all

Corporate Climate Risk-Management

Which firms and business sectors practice climate risk management and why?

April 24, 2013

Boosting Infrastructure Investment

What is discouraging more public private investment partnerships to upgrade US infrastructure and what's the solution?

April 23, 2013

Follow The Money

Energy investment patterns indicate there's a change going on

Less Wiggle Room

Emission of GHGs besides carbon dioxide narrows the planet's climate action agenda

Tomorrow's Cities: Fragile Or Anti-Fragile

Today, cities are starting to grapple with growing resilient on many fronts & at multiple scales

April 22, 2013

Save The Planet At Home

Six easy ways to cut your energy use at home

Two Horses of The Apocalypse

Resource scarcity and climate change are the twin drivers of 21st century conflict

Green Consumerism - Meh

A close look at eco-attitudes in polls of US consumers is neither inspiring nor credible

April 20, 2013

Linked By Water

Fresh ideas for expanding ferry service in NYC

Build A Better Energy Mousetrap

What to expect in the next generation of big energy technology breakthroughs

April 19, 2013

The Tennis Wars

Tempers flare over plans to expand the Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows Park and what the quid pro quo might be

50 States With Solar Jobs

Solar jobs, state by state information

April 18, 2013

Sun Power Leaders

Which US utilities are leaders in solar power and are they in your state?

Science At Work - Modeling The Heat

What lies behind the headlines that the world is unlikely to get as hot as some climate science models projected?

Why the Fisker EV Flopped

Technical and design failures, not its DOE loan, doomed the Fisker electric car

April 17, 2013

The Social Science of Pipeline Politics

Can psychology and sociology explain the dynamics between the opponents and supporters of the Keystone XL pipeline project

Carbon Market Failure

With EU carbon emissions markets on life support, can they be made to work elsewhere?

Full Disclosure

For anyone who thinks there are benefits to be gained from building energy benchmarking laws, read this

April 16, 2013

Climate Politics 101

Climate action in Washington will advance only when the political price of opposition kicks in

Not Easy Being CHP

Combined heat & power systems face strong headwinds, despite their many advantages

Climate Policy: Work In Progress

What's working and what's not in climate action policy around the world? In US, ferment at the state and local levels

April 15, 2013

The End Is Near, Or Not

Will US power utilities adapt to the changes coming from distributed generation and how will consumers be affected?

New Ways To Pay The Piper

Chicago's Infrastructure Trust raises private capital for city infrastructure, while keeping ownership in public hands - first project $101 million for upgrading muni building energy efficiency

April 13, 2013

Making Sense Of Microgrids

What are microgrids and who wants them?

Anthropocene 101

Get acquainted with concepts of the Anthropocene Era

April 12, 2013

Help Wanted

Columbia University has an opening for a senior research scholar on global energy policy

Hot Enough Or Not

What lies behind an apparent slow down in the pace of global warming and what lies ahead?

Smart Power Generation

Explore this interactive, fully-loaded, graphic website

April 11, 2013

Same Data, Different Conclusions

Attention climate activists: behavioral economics wonders why people can draw opposing conclusions when presented with the same 'balanced news'

Leaves Do It, Trees Do It

What is artificial photosynthesis and could it be the ultimate renewable energy revolution?

Another Solar Revolution

How could solar power bring down the fossil-fueled utility business?

April 10, 2013

A More Stormproof Mayor

Mayoral candidates offer ideas for making NYC more resilient in the face of more weird weather

Weird Weather And You

Since 2007, weird weather disasters have put 80% of Americans in harm's way

Monopolies Are So 20th Century

Why the electric power industry could soon resemble the telecom sector, very different and more resilient

April 09, 2013

Earth Day At 43

What went wrong with the environmental movement & can it be fixed?

Benchmarking: It's Happening

Building performance benchmarking laws are becoming the new normal

Pivot Points For Energy Efficiency Choices

Seek the pivot points where an informed consumer will opt for energy efficiency

April 08, 2013

So-Long Suburbia

With signs that US suburbanization is in decline, what's the new frontier?

Yes We Can, No We Can't

A fight erupts over prospects for New York's conversion to an all-renewables power supply by 2030

PACE Bonds For Solar Power

Commercial properties can finance PV installations and other energy efficient equipment with PACE bonds

April 05, 2013

Natural Gas Takes A Bow

With US energy-related carbon emissions at their lowest since 1994, the EIA credits natural gas replacing coal

NYC Biz Mulls Sandy

New York City business parlays on changes needed in the wake of Sandy's devastation

Peak Oil, Again

The latest round in the long-running peak oil debate

April 04, 2013

Decarbonize The Cloud

Spiraling demand for data centers and the energy they use create the need for energy efficiency innovations to make the cloud more climate friendly

Stop The Leaks

Can methane leaks, among the worst climate impacts of natural gas production, be fixed?

Urban Gardening 101

Tips on growing an urban garden from a NYC can-do guy

April 03, 2013

Build A Better Battery

The race is on to build a battery up to the job of storing on-grid renewable power for use when it's needed

The New Home Economics

Ten tips for saving money and saving energy at home

Resilience From The People

The Sandy Regional Assembly drafts a post-Sandy plan for a more resilient New York metro area

April 02, 2013

Australia: Solar-Powered Solar Power

Plummeting installation costs help make Australia a global solar power

How Hot Causes Cold

Why does melting arctic ice, caused by a hotter temperatures, lead to cold spring weather?

The Whys Of High Gas Prices

Why is it cheaper for gulf coast oil refiners to send gas to Brazil than to NY?

April 01, 2013

Missing Opportunities

US offshore wind power potential remains largely untapped

Walk New York

Co-op City, another site to satisfy the irresistible urge to explore more of NYC

March 31, 2013

Science At Work: The Big Heat Record

Even with statistical caveats, the last century of an 11,300 year global temperature record is trending sharply hotter. For more discussion, click here

March 29, 2013

White Paper: The Limits Of Incentive Pricing

Climate policy ideas for decentralized times and the limits of pricing incentives

Carbon Tax Cartoons

Are you laughing yet?

March 28, 2013

Apps For Urban Energy Efficiency

Los Angeles maps the energy efficiency of its buildings so performance comparisons are easy to see

Energy Efficiency And Investor Confidence

Robust energy efficiency performance risk models are key to creating investor confidence in a project

March 27, 2013

Customers Don't Sprint For Green

Sprint finds its customers are not demanding eco-friendly telecom products and wonders why

March 26, 2013

The Urban Race Against Time

How should cities design and build the future, while maintaining and modernizing critical infrastructure systems?

Climate And Public Opinion

Media coverage is not the only force that shapes public views on climate change

Science At Work - Over The Edge

Push an egg toward the end of a table, not much happens. Then it goes off the edge, breaks, and can't be restored to what it was. Does climate change work this way?

March 25, 2013

Things Are Looking Up

Grist sees reasons for optimism on the clean energy and climate action front

Energy Efficiency: Developers BFF

Developers who support the Mayor's midtown rezoning proposal make energy efficient building their new best friend

No Friend In Court

The President's failure to appoint a single DC circuit appellate court judge could spell trouble for his climate action agenda

March 23, 2013

Apple's Green Core

What are the technical & fuel components of Apple's 100% renewable energy-powered data centers?

March 22, 2013

Wrong Measures, Big Problem

Why is using 'energy intensity' as a measure of efficiency and climate progress so misleading?

The Lowdown On Backup Batteries

Are backup batteries a good investment for homeowners with solar panels?

Property Rights For Greens

The property rights movement could be a sturdy platform for conservatives who advocate for climate action

March 21, 2013

How To Save A Trillion Dollars

With more information on the energy use of home appliances and energy use, consumers can make choices that will save them $1 trillion over the next fifteen years

Google Goes Green

Google uses data to make the case for investing in a future powered by renewables and making its operations energy efficient

Sustainabiity In The Anthropocene

Scientists reconsider how to conceptualize sustainability in a era when every natural system is affected by human activity

March 20, 2013

Spring In Brooklyn

Now that it's spring, get the Brooklyn Bridge Park 2013 official plant guide

Put A Price On Carbon

Even for fracking fans, the key to long-term carbon cuts is pricing carbon

What 'All Of The Above' Isn't

President Obama's 'all of the above' energy policy lacks a compleeing sense of urgency

March 19, 2013

From Place To Process

It's time for urban studies to evolve into urbanization science

Do Better With Data

A project to standardize urban performance data allows to cities to compare, contrast and innovate

March 18, 2013

The Perfect Wave Generator

The right technology to harness the vast power of offshore waves could be here

Nuclear Power: Yes, No, Don't Know

The latest findings on nuclear power may not resolve things for you

Livable Leadership

What are Copenhagen, Hamburg, Oslo & Stockholm doing to make cities more livable?

March 16, 2013

Visual Explanations

Seven charts display White House thinking about climate change

March 15, 2013

Backpedaling On Carbon

Will the Obama administration delay regulating CO2 emissions from new power plants by rewriting its regulatory proposal?

Fracking: Measuring Methane

The fiery debate over methane leaks from fracking sites could be resolved with a study that will gather data from both drilling & natural gas powered vehicles

Extra, Extra - Carbon Market News

Get the latest on RGGI carbon permit sales and upcoming cuts to the permit pool

March 14, 2013

Sun Shines For Solar Industry

The state of the US solar industry is good

The Future Phoenix

Phoenix, AZ, a city of 4.3 people stands in the noon-day sun of climate change impacts

Carbon Tax: Design Your Own

Some Q and A for the draft outline of a federal carbon tax bill that asks for public input through April 21

March 13, 2013

Re-Opening Pandora's Box

Pandora's Promise is a documentary about environmental advocates for nuclear power

NOLA: Make It Right

Why has Make It Right failed to get people to buy new homes in the Katrina-devastated part of New Orleans? It's complicated

Carbon Tax Is Not Enough

Although Australia has a carbon tax, it also needs large-scale building energy efficiency for effective climate action

March 12, 2013

Science At Work - Climate Sensitivity

Predicting how much temperatures will rise as CO2 levels in the air increase is a subject of intense scruity

Pricing Carbon

Democrats in Congress reignite efforts to put a price on carbon emissions

Where Or When

Many seek energy sources and technologies to combat climate change, but no aha moments yet

March 11, 2013

Federal Green Buildings: The Fine Print

What are the rules and guidelines that govern the greening of federal buildings?

Power Grid, Creaky And Costly

The network of wires sending electricity around the US is unreliable and expensive

Please Explain

How can US energy use drop to 1999 levels while its population increases?

March 09, 2013

40x35

A proposal for cutting the GHG emissions of the world's seventeen major economies 40% by 2035 by way of zero-carbon electricity

Investors' Hot Trend

Some investors seek to profit from a hotter world

March 08, 2013

Science At Work - Hotter Faster

New research suggests over the last 100 years the planet has gotten hotter, faster than than the previous 10,000 years

Why A Better Place Isn't

An almost post mortem on the failure of electric car company Better Place

LEEDing After Sandy

LEED could contribute to building for a weird weather world by adding storm-proofing points to its menu of green development options. Here's how

March 07, 2013

Advocacy Around A Wicked Problem

A scholar examines Bill McKibben's trajectory from journalist to public intellectual on climate change. Here's a summary

High Performance Building - Here To Stay

How to explain why green building growth has risen every year since 2008

Mind The Disclosure Gap

Why haven't corporate carbon emissions disclosure standards made more impact on investors?

March 06, 2013

How Cities Use Energy

An interview with the author of Zero Carbon Cities

Science At Work - The Artificial Leaf

Work advances on the artificial leaf, a device to transform sunlight into storeable fuel

Storm Clouds For PV Industry

The risk of bankruptcy for China's biggest PV maker could harm the solar industry everywhere

The Case For Crowdfunding

An advocate lays out the case for launching renewable energy projects, especially in developing countries, with crowdfunding

March 05, 2013

Remoblilizing Cities

Getting around cities by car is so 20th Century

Geothermal Energy, Not

Why are geothermal energy business prospects still in the doldrums?

When Less Is More

The role of negawatts & the Rosenfeld Effect in sustainable energy policy

March 04, 2013

Science At Work - Better Batteries

When science invents a better battery, EVs and renewable power can become the new normal

Meet The Energy Chief

Ernest Moniz is tapped to become the new head of the federal Department of Energy

The Arab Climate Connection

Political upheavals in the mid-east have many causes and rising bread prices linked to climate disruptions in wheat growing counties is an added stress

March 01, 2013

Bill McKibben, Founder of 350.org

Profiling Bill McKibben, America's top grass-roots climate activist

Who's Doing What In Clean Tech Investing

As in every aspect of life, clean tech investing has its demons and angel

Climate Action Tipping Point

With its 500 mile coastline and without a relocation option, Sandy has become a climate action tipping point for NYC

February 28, 2013

All Tomorows' Flood Protection

Tune in to a multi-sided discussion of the Dutch style harbor barrier idea to protect New Yorkers from all tomorrows' floods

Save Water, Grow Jobs

Here's how water conservation projects can be a good way to grow green jobs

Science At Work - Weird Weather

New research finds climate-induced slo-mo airflows explain weird weather events in the US and Europe

Imagination Seizes Power

Some people just have the best ideas about carbonfree energy

February 27, 2013

Chu's Energy Bequest

What will be the most lasting energy initiatives from Steven Chu's tenure at DOE?

Climate Learning Opportunities

Someday, politicians in the Capitol will learn climate action lessons from the advance work done in California

Climate On GAO High-Risk List

The GAO adds climate change and weather satellites to its list of things that put federal installations at high risk

February 26, 2013

The Tideline Project

This video was made two years prior to Superstorm Sandy

Fossilist Financial Bias

Finding the pro-fossil fuel biases in the financial system

February 25, 2013

3D For PV

A revolution in 3D printing could transform solar panel industry

The Trend In Current - Decentralization

Why distributed, decentralized power supplies could become the new normal

Take The J Train

Here's why the subway is a great way to explore NYC

February 23, 2013

Out Of Oil

Bill McKibben makes his case for the oil disinvestment movement

The Long March

The environmental movement has energy, what it needs is power

Not The Next Big Thing

Climate policy reliant on energy tech innovation won't be our silver bullet

February 22, 2013

Going Dutch

How is Holland using natural systems to face threats in the 21st century?

Oops, There Goes The Permafrost

Scientists fear a major, methane-releasing meltdown of the Earth's permafrost is on the way

Learning From Keystone

Win. lose or draw, what are the organizing lessons from the battle over importing Canadian tar sand oil?

February 21, 2013

Sandy's Silver Lining

Smart grid advocates spotlight rebuilding lessons to be learned from Superstorm Sandy

February 20, 2013

Rx For Vulnerable Port Cities

Urban planners & port authorities rethink what's needed to keep their cities safe and their assets operational as weird weather encroaches

Climate Uproar

Few things are as controversial as climate action agendas where they cross with fossil fuel projects

Get Ready For The 17th Century

Climate scientists foresee an America without New Orleans and coastal cities like Boston retreating to their 17th Century footprint

February 19, 2013

What An Energy Czar Can Do

Richard Kauffman, New York's new Chair of Energy Policy & Finance speaks about the rise of distributed power and the role of a green bank

Smart Fenestration

Today, laboratory researchers are developing first generation high performance windows

February 18, 2013

Global Cities: Killing Streets

As global city traffic grows, solutions to soaring pedestrian fatalities are needed

February 17, 2013

Soft Solutions

Creating or restoring soft edge ecosystems can play a big part in flood-proofing Manhattan

February 15, 2013

90x50 In The Big Apple

The Urban Green Council spells out how NYC can cut its carbon footprint 90% by the year 2050

Real World For Virtual Power

What is a virtual power plant and who is investing?

February 14, 2013

The Energy Waste Problem

We don't have an energy supply problem, we have an energy waste problem and here's how to solve it

Climate Tipping Point

Experts ask how much time is left before climate damage from burning fossil fuels is irreversible?

Shifting The Conservative Climate

Former Congressman Bob Inglis is a man on a mission to convince conservatives that climate action is the right thing to do

February 13, 2013

Energy Efficiency: Learn By Doing

Lessons learned by the founder of a New York green buildings energy retrofit program launched in 1996

Meeting Obama's 50x30 Goal

Ideas for attaining the President's SOTU call for buildings to cut energy use 50% over the next two decades

Microsoft Prices Carbon

Click here to find out how Microsoft put its own price on carbon on its path to carbon neutrality

February 12, 2013

Be My Infrastructure Valentine

Time to give the urban infrastructure the love and attention it needs - and we need

You've Come A Long Way Baby Sustainables

Women at the forefront of urban sustainability share what they've learned by doing

What My Administration Is Going To Do

Speculation on what Obama will say about climate action in his State-of-the-Union speech and what his administration can do

February 11, 2013

Rooftop Wind, Maybe Not

Wind power is wonderful, but wind turbines on roofs or in building structures, maybe not so great

The Lukewarmer Fallacy

Lukewarmers aren't worried about the evidence of climate change, they should be

China and US: Renewable Benefits

The US and China have good reasons to cooperate on developing clean energy industries, but are good reasons enough to make deals?

February 08, 2013

Nothing Cheap About Climate Chaos

The costs to cities of storms, droughts and other weird weather are immense

God Created Transit

No doubt about it

February 07, 2013

Let There Be Daylighting

With sophisticated daylighting controls and underfloor ventilation the New York Times building is a proving ground for energy efficiency

Smarter, Safter After Sandy

How can we cut economic losses and taxpayer exposure in a post-Sandy weird weather world?

Science At Work - Understanding Sensitivity

At the leading edge of climate research, calculating how much temperatures will rise given stipulated levels of atmospheric CO2

February 06, 2013

Nuclear Off-Ramp On Energy Highway

Will Governor Cuomo's Energy Highway plan mean the end for the Indian Point nuclear power plant?

Get It REIT

A Pennsylvania-based real-estate investment trust (REIT) benchmarks the energy performance of 129 properties

What Can Data Do

With soaring data-gathering capacity, can big data tell us about whether we are succeeding or how to plan for tomorrow?

February 05, 2013

What Henry Wants

Congressman Henry Waxman forms a Bicameral Task Force on Climate Change and has a to-do-list for Congress and the President

Investing In Eco-Goals

Disinvestment & deep-green investment are two trendy ways to protect the climate and still make money

Clearing China's Urban Smog

Desmogging the air in Chinese cities requires effective fuel regulations for cars and trucks

February 04, 2013

Climate: Changing The Conversation

The path to climate progress can't rely on the old regulatory tool kit

Connect To FERC

Federal regulators consider revising rules for small power generators seeking connection to the grid (not for the faint-hearted)

Hotter v HOTTER

Become sensitive to the critical climate debate, how hot will it get?

February 01, 2013

California's A Green Guinea Pig

AB 32 is California's field experiment in what a state can do to protect the climate

Another Reason To Love Delaware

Delaware's the state with the biggest drop in CO2 emissions from 1994-2010

Crappy Diem

Colbert flays today's do-nothing climate fatalists and makes you laugh too

January 31, 2013

Science At Work - Chlllin' With Lasers

Tomorrow's cooling systems could replace ozone layer-eating chemicals with lasers

Embrace The New

The bad boys of the environmental movement, Michael & Ted, blame energy 'tribalists" for occluding policy and practical progress

Lessons And Limits From Jamaica Bay

Soft natural and engineered features of Jamaica Bay helped protect it from Sandy's wrath, but can they be be used elsewhere on NYC's shoreline?

January 30, 2013

Top Sustainability Stories Of 2013

Dust off your crystal ball and gaze at this list of the year's big sustainability developments

2012 Solar Power Predictions In 2013

An industry observer reflects on the solar power predictions she made last year

Deep In The Heart Of Renewables

Prices and output for solar & wind power are competitive with natural gas in Texas

January 29, 2013

Smart Grid, Grok That

By mimicking the human brain, a new device could make the electric grid smart

Energy Sector Shortchanges Innovation

Despite the challenges of climate chaos & decarbonization, the energy industry ranks low on R&D spending

January 28, 2013

Update On Commercial PACE Loans

While banned in the housing sector, PACE loan programs for energy efficiency upgrades in commercial buildings are on the books in 28 states

January 26, 2013

Brooklyn Builder Goes Passive

Get comfortable with the near-passive house plans for a Wisconsin cabin done by a Brooklyn designer

Power Water

What is the hydroelectric potential of New York City's drinking water supply?

Boulder Power: A New Era

What lies ahead for the Boulder Colorado go-it-alone electric power utility and its renewables goals?

January 25, 2013

The Metrics Of Power Forecasting

Every two years California regulators predict how much electricity the state will need and the role of energy efficiency, but are they using the right metrics?

Sustainable Urban Systems

Get introduced to the latest research on sustainable urban systems that applies industrial ecology to the development of cities

Better Batteries, Not Yet

If better batteries are the silver bullet for clean power, why haven't they been invented?

January 24, 2013

Be Prepared

A peek into how corporations and insurers are growing their climate resilience

Science At Work - Melting Glaciers

New work on ancient Greenland glaciers and current observations add to climate worries

$9.5 Billion x 25

Tapping into on-bill financing, utility energy efficiency spending could soar to $9.5 billion a year by 2025

January 23, 2013

Citizens' Climate Data Brigade

A shout out to the unsung citizen scientists and who gather much of the data official climate science needs

Decabonize The Cloud

Energy wonks -- weigh in on how to shrink the carbon footprint of building data centers

Sigma Six: Energy Efficiency Tool

How can Sigma Six, used to improve manufacturing businesses, help upgrade building energy efficiency?

January 22, 2013

The Ocean Is Not Like A Bathtub

While sea levels will rise due to global warming, some places will get more flooded than others

Mainstreaming Microgrids

The lessons to be learned about building robust microgrids are a silver lining in Superstorm Sandy

Light And Shade

Here's why 114 million square feet of prime NYC office space should be retrofitted with daylight controls

January 21, 2013

Mayors Rule

The world's mayors are a mixed bag but many public policies rest on their shoulders

We Can Capture Carbon

Pulling excess CO2 out of the atmosphere is in our reach

Wrong On Rebounding

More evidence that energy efficiency does not rebound toward higher consumption

January 19, 2013

Dear Mr. President: Climate Action Ideas

With four years to go, there is so much you can do to combat climate chaos

Microgrids For Lovers

Learn a lot by getting into the microgrid energy storage weeds

High Performance Building Tips

Three energy efficient upgrades to put on home building or improvements to do lists

January 18, 2013

Putting Spine Into Wind Power

Prospects improve for 7,000 MW of Atlantic offshore wind to power the east coast

Learning From Cedar Rapids

A landscape architect reflects on what New York can learn from Cedar Rapids, Iowa about flood recovery

Drama For Obama

Climate & energy action advice for the President

January 17, 2013

Make Something New: Electric From Water Vapor

Scientists invent a thin film, which curls up when absorbing water vapor and generates an electric current

Why, Oh Why

Dave Roberts blogs on what Theda Skocpol misses in her post-mortem of cap and trade legislation & looks ahead

January 16, 2013

Why Cap And Trade Failed And Health Care Passed

A must read interview with Theda Skocpol on the broken politics of the US environmental movement (and a link to her study)

Political Scientists

Reviewing The Geek Manifesto, climatologist Roger Pielke, Jr. doubts that scientists are specially equipped to succeed in politics

Science At Work -The Land/Sea Link

Australia's extreme heat wave is linked to a warming Indian Ocean

January 14, 2013

A Lot Hotter

A map of coming summertime heat trends around the nation

Science At Work - Sea Level Rise

Spend some time working through this discussion and its implications

Hotter Is Happening

Watch the video & see what humans are doing to the planet

Resilience: A Rising Sense Of Urgency

Reactions to NY's proposed climate adaptation report trend toward the need to act

The Law: Harmonize Green Patents

Why is harmonizing international patents for green tech inventions a good idea?

January 11, 2013

Smart Tech For Energy Efficiency

The technology is here now to make strides on everyday energy efficiency

Benchmarking: Just Do It

It can't be said too often, benchmarking residential building energy performance will be a game changer

Science At Work - Climate Sensitivity

Look into ongoing research about a key climate science prediction tool

January 10, 2013

Sustainability: Our Challenges

Jeffrey Sachs explores twelve none-too-easy challenges the world must tackle on its path to sustainability

Where Carbon Storage Would Count

Does storing carbon emissions from natural gas-burning power plants promise real climate-saving potential?

Cutting Edge Wind Power

A public private partnership advances state-of the art wind turbine technology

Raising The Bar On The Wedges

Does the seven wedge blueprint for stabilizing the global climate still stand up?

January 09, 2013

A Climate Tax Convert

Tom Friedman's red alert as the US hurtles toward an avoidable climate and a financial precipice

Obama 2: Who's In The Wings

Get the buzz on environmental and energy leadership prospects for Obama's second term

Science At Work - Sea Level Rise

New research clarifies some sea level rise controversies

January 08, 2013

The Word Of The Year

Why "resilience" should be the environmental buzz word of 2013

Regional Climate Progress

There's good climate action news at the subnational and regional scale, but globally it's not enough to ward off climate chaos

Friendly Persuasion 101

Tips and insights about how to succeed in making people adopt climate-friendly behaviors

January 07, 2013

Sandy's Lessons For B Schools

The Financial Times writes that MBA programs must update curricula cover climate risks and business continuity

Pigou And The Carbon Tax

Who is Pigou and what's he got to do with Grover Norquist?

January 04, 2013

Global Trend: Urban, Dense And...

A the world gets more urban and more crowded what are the prospects for sustainability?

Renewable Power Doesn't Hurt Consumers

Research finds no correlation between consumers' electric costs and whether a state has mandatory renewable energy requirements

Energy Data Sprouts

An industry emerges to analyze building energy performance data and improve their efficiency

January 03, 2013

Beware The Fossil Curse

The shale gas boom and its payoffs are real & they could create all kinds of problems

Dear Mr. President

The MIT Tech Review implores Obama to tackle climate change as a top priority

January 02, 2013

Smart Tech For Smart Cities

From wi-fi in subways, to energy efficient building to real-time displays for traffic and weather data, 25 ideas for smarter cities

Diversity Amps Up The Power

Growing racial and ethnic diversity in the US environmental movement means political and policy wins

Green Biz Trend-Spotting

Seven predictions for the 2013 urban green energy tech trends to watch

December 31, 2012

2012: A Banner Energy And Climate Year

Gushers of cheap shale gas, Obama's re-election & a 4% drop in US carbon emissions were 2012 climate highlights (Note: some readers will disagree)

Not Crying Wolf

Facing a planetary emergency, Bill McKibben makes an urgent call for 2013 climate action

Cheers For Urban Eco-Leadership

Ring out the old year with bold, bright green ideas for America's cities

December 28, 2012

Urban Climate Perserverance

2012 showed cities continued to be climate action leaders and the price they paid for federal inaction

Why Jackson's Leaving

Is the Obama administration stance on the Keystone pipeline and climate action the reason for Jackson's departure from the top EPA job?

After The Editorial - Read the Comments

Comments responding to the New York Times editorial calling for Presidential climate action make interesting reading

December 27, 2012

Private Public Parks

Consider this boomlet in urban parks that are publicly owned but funded and operated by private concerns

2013 Energy Efficiency Resolutions

Make some New Year's home energy efficiency resolutions based on this list of doable ideas

2012's Green Good Guys

Leading with Bill McKibben, Marc Gunther's list of the year's top climate and sustainability good guys (yes, all guys)

December 26, 2012

Los Angeles: Shoulda, Woulda, Coulda

An exhibit explores a Los Angeles that never got built

Smart, Green Businesses 101

Start-up or well-established in business, new ways to do well by going green

December 25, 2012

Getting On the A List

After Sandy's unforeseen flooding, will NYC neighborhoods get moved to mandatory evacuation A zones?

December 24, 2012

A Different Type Of Drone Deployment

Post-Sandy, NY metro-area utilities may buy drones to provide faster information on disaster impacts and speed up system repairs - and that's not all

Renewable Funding Slump

Is the 2012 drop in global renewable energy investment a hiccup or the start of a trend?

More Green For Less Green

Passive house-type affordable housing find buyers in Washington DC

December 21, 2012

Needed: Ciimate Can-Do Cities

To wrap up the year, we are reposting Mayor Bloomberg's 02.12 speech about the key role of cities in creating a sustainable global tomorrow

The 2012 Review

Another year of shattered climate records, notable energy news & some critter stories

A Warm New Year

A much warmer than average 2013 is on tap according to UK experts

December 20, 2012

Top Energy Stories of The Year

Pix and prose about the eight biggest energy stories of 2012

Dim View Of US Fossil Fuel Futures

As many project endless gushers of US shale gas and tight oil, a contrarian weighs in

Keep All Our Kids Safe

A post-Newtown meditation that reaches to climate change and protecting everyone's kids

December 19, 2012

In Praise Of Zeronauts

Zeronauts, a new book by a corporate consultant, makes the case that incrementalism is the wrong path to meaningful climate action

Eat That Wall

Bring greens, edible and otherwise, into urban building sites

Get Carbon Off Campus

Join the debate over the campus movement to make universities sell off their fossil fuel stocks

Care And Feeding Of Green Buildings

Like many things, high performance buildings work best with continuous monitoring & ongoing improvements

December 18, 2012

Parsing The Polling

What is the significance of recent public opinion polls detecting shifts in the climate views of US conservatives?

Decoding Smart Cities

To figure out what makes a city smart, take a walk and read some books

Australia: Framing The Future

An Australian White Paper blazes trails for producing & consuming energy as part of restructuring the national economy

December 17, 2012

Northeast Winter Forecast

Climate scientists predict that winters in the northeast will get warmer, wetter and less snowy

Toronto: Managing Climate Risks

To face changing climate conditions and costs, Toronto reviews its infrastructure with an eye toward resilience enhancements

Green Investment Contrarian

Not everyone's on board with the investment value of renewable energy

December 14, 2012

Pessimism On Obama Climate Action

While there are bight spots on the climate action front, the White House is not one of them

Fabricating The Lowline Maps

Lucky enough to visit the Lowline Park installation this fall? Now, see how the Manhattan maps were made

December 13, 2012

Building For Tomorrow

With the right technical & financial capacities, better building for a climate-changing world is achievable

December 12, 2012

Disaster Rx: Better Building Codes

If a disaster knocks out electric power, energy efficient building codes can help keep you safe

Rachel Carson - And More - Reconsidered

Rachel Carson rocks, but she was no saint and neither is the current environmental movement

Cutting Costs With Policy

How can the relationship between lowering production costs of green tech products and public policy be improved?

The Case For Optimism

Reasons for cautious optimism for climate-friendly US and global energy policy action

December 11, 2012

Beyond RGGI

The Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative has delivered on many of its promises, but now it's time to move on

Faiure To Managae Climate Risk

A global survey of corporate climate risk-management give low scores to US firms

25 Energy Efficiency Tips

Practical suggestions for walking-the-walk on energy efficiency

December 10, 2012

Stormproofing With CHP

Lessons learned from buildings with combined heat & power systems that rode out Superstorm Sandy

Solar CHP Saves Water

Concentrated solar power systems that generate heat and power have the added benefit of conserving water in operations & maintenance

Reskinning

New exteriors for old buildings help make them energy efficient

December 06, 2012

Levy Oil to Fill Climate Fund

In Vienna at the upcoming meeting of OPEC on 12 Dec., a proposal will be made by Ecuador to put a levy on every barrel of oil sold by OPEC members to help fund projects that cut greenhouse gases.

December 05, 2012

The Carbon Tax Slug Fest

Join in for another round on the great carbon tax debate: Komanoff v Roberts

December 01, 2012

First Lease Sales for Wind

All-of-the-above strategy continues to expand US domestic energy production, DOI and BOEM announced first competitive lease sales for renewable energy development in two wind energy areas (WEAs) in federal waters. BOEM proposes leasing nearly 278,000 acres offshore RI, MA and VA for wind energy

November 29, 2012

Tax Carbon, Maybe Not

Ten reasons to steer clear of a carbon tax

November 28, 2012

Cap, Trade and Spend

Not so fast — $500 million in cash from CA's cap-and-trade program has to be spent on greenhouse gas related programs — nonpartisan Legislative Analyst's Office says Governor Brown will only be able to use $100 million. CA Chamber of Commerce sues

API Sues EPA

The American Petroleum Institute says EPA went too far challenging its mandate for the use of 1.28 billion gallons of biodiesel in 2013, a 28% increase from the 2012 requirement.

November 27, 2012

City Oak, Country Oak

Cities as tools to make climate change work for us, exploiting CO2 absorption as a means to increase yield — could carbon dioxide be the answer?

November 25, 2012

This Is The End

All cities have a shelf life but that's no reason to move away now

November 21, 2012

Science At Work: Solar Steam

A new technology holds the promise of using solar power to create steam without having to boil water

Grist Interviews Gore

Al Gore has a lot to say about climate politics in Washington and more

Mapping Sandy In NYC

Multiple maps show myriad site-specific impacts of Frankenstorm Sandy

November 20, 2012

Science At Work: Climate Change By Region

Science refines its ability to predict changed climate impacts and adaptation needs at the regional level

Big Plans For Coal

A new study maps global plans and considers policy drivers for building 1,199 new coal-burning power plants

November 19, 2012

Farewell Thanksgiving

Consider the climate risks facing the delicious food in a traditional Thanksgiving dinnner

Advocating Anti-Fragility

The economist who coined the concept of 'black swans' now advocates the value of 'antifragility' for a volatile world

November 17, 2012

Rx For High-Priced Oil

Energy efficiency is the best cure for high oil prices says the chief economist of the International Energy Agency

November 16, 2012

A Tax Exxon Likes

Exxon likes the idea of a carbon tax -- along with heading off EPA regulations and corporate tax code changes

Coping With 100 30 Year Storms

What NYC knows now and what's ahead as a climate scientist considers Sandy's impact

November 15, 2012

Don't Mix Electricity And Water

Smart grid technology & off-grid distributed power systems could optimize adaptation to future fierce weather [$ub EE News]

Carbon Tax Collection

If carbon taxes should move from the politically impossible to the inevitable, never passing through the probable, here are ideas about how to collect them

November 14, 2012

The End of Grandma's Infrastructure

Could widely distributed, local combined heat and power systems keep us and secure next time?

Science At Work: Antarctic Ice And Water

Increased field data collection over the last decade advance understanding of changing conditions in Antarctica

November 13, 2012

Images Of Climate Disruption

Call it climate disruption or weird weather, here's what it looks like

MTA: Flirting With True Love

Will the surge of post-Sandy adoration translate into giving the MTA the funding it needs for its subways and buses?

3 Climate Actions For A 2nd Term

Three climate actions President Obama should start on now

November 12, 2012

It Can Happen Here

Save a tree while trying to save the planet by downloading an e-book about Germany's energy transformation for 99 cents

Creative Disruption

How benchmarking and disclosing building energy performance could create new market and value networks for urban real estate

Science At Work: Better Storage Batteries

The fate of renewable power hangs on development and marketing grid-scale storage batteries

November 10, 2012

Baby, It's Warm Inside

The ABC's of indoor insulation, basic to any high performance home

November 09, 2012

Why Climate Science Is Like Nate Silver

HINT: It's data-driven

UK: Stop Making Sense

Does politics explain the UK's shambolic renewable energy policy?

Carbon Production Consumption Tax

Could a carbon consumption tax be the key to throttling emissions globally?

November 08, 2012

And The Culprit Is...

The finger points at the climate-caused 8 inch sea-level rise in NY Harbor as the reason for Sandy's great destructiveness

New Day For LED's

New production methods could shrink energy-efficient LED costs and end the dominance of workplace fluorescent lights

Storm Waste And Biomass

How New Orleans and Japanese cities converted Katrina and tsunami debris into biomass fuel

November 07, 2012

Odds For Climate Action

While the odds are low for US action on climate change during Obama's second term, that is better than no odds at all

Rewrite That Climate Memo

With Wall Street recently underwater and Main Street still deluged by Sandy, now could be the time to rewrite the nation's climate action memo

Not A Teachable Moment

Recent research suggests cognitive views and political values may block Sandy's power to mobilize public action on climate change

November 06, 2012

Past Performance Is No Guarantee

Don't expect a President Romney to adopt the smart growth and urban sustainability policies he had as Governor

Calculating Climate Impacts

GDP, NDP and depreciation are economists' tools for measuring the cost of weird weather

November 05, 2012

Let's Get Serious

Federal climate action slipped away after Katrina, will we act in the wake of Sandy?

Infrastructure Security Is National Security

No doubt about it

November 03, 2012

The Arctic: Passive House

How to stay warm and zero-carbon where it's very cold

Soft-Edged Safety

Time to consider making New York City safer with soft edges

November 02, 2012

Silver Bullets For Energy Vampires

New gadgets can put an end to pesky energy vampires

Hard-Headed Safety

Ideas learned the hard way from airline disasters and other calamities for making cities more resilient in a climate-disturbed world

Pricing In Urban Emergencies

An economics look behind the headlines about scarcity of gas and other post-Sandy necessities

November 01, 2012

Science At Work: Temperature Trends

How do scientists sort out temperature trends from data noise?

At-Risk Cities

Why in New York more vulnerable to hurricane damage than Miami?

October 31, 2012

Sandy's Signfiicance

What we know as of now about Sandy

October 30, 2012

Science At Work: The Hybrid Storm

What is a hybrid storm and does Sandy's wallop have anything to do with a changing climate?

Goldman Sachs, Sandy And Glass-Steagal

Why are the flood risks at Goldman Sachs' new headquarters posed by Superstorm Sandy, like the financial risks posed by the rollback of bank regulations?

Building Tips For A Weird-Weather World

If there's a next time for Sandy-like storms, be prepared

October 29, 2012

Good News, Bad News

Cities continue to lead the way on climate mitigation and resilience in light of persistent federal inaction

Presidential Politics Of Sandy

The onshore impact of Sandy is already evident in the Presidential race

Science At Work: Frankenstorms

Decade-old research suggests caution about ascribing superstorm Sandy to human-induced climate change, so how to face this "big-maybe"

October 26, 2012

Tenants Key To Energy Efficiency

Among the critical paths to greening the Empire State Building is working with it tenants. In other cases, good tenants can't compensate for bad design

Big Cities - Big Data

Big cities attract big data and big data has the potential to improve the quality of urban life

Think Like A National Security Pro

What can national security expertise bring to thinking about climate risks?

October 25, 2012

Clean Energy Frontiers: Geothermal

Supercritical carbon dioxide could replace water as the medium to capture geothermal heat

Presidental Climate Debate

Proxies for the Presidential candidates debate climate and energy policy at MIT and thoughts on how to boost clean energy

Green Lease Library

Buildings owners and occupants, click here to benefit from energy aligned leases

October 24, 2012

Climate of Doubt

Thursday, chat on-line with the makers of the documentary Climate of Doubt, broadcast earlier this week

It's Too Easy Being Green

True or False: there's not much challenge for a building to get a LEED rating

Bad Acid

The ABC's of ocean acidification and why it's bad for life on Earth

October 23, 2012

Rockaway Bungalows

With NYC's climate resilience concerns, what to do about the Rockaway Beach bungalows?

Peer 2 Peer Power

Smart grid technology could allow people to sell wind or solar power directly to one another, eBay-style

October 22, 2012

This Old Rowhouse

Cities like New York are lined with old rowhouses and now there's a handbook for greening them

The Cato Climate Counterfeit

It looks like an 'addendum' to EPA's 2009 climate impact report, but it's a fake put out by the climate-denialist Cato Institute

Green Tech Geek Alert

There's a new smart-meter metrics software on the block that's making big energy promises

A Red-Hot Green Proposal

When it comes to energy, agriculture, and more, environmentalists must base their advocacy on good science

October 20, 2012

Climate Action Is Political

What to do about uncertainty in climate science and how to address the costs of climate action

Waste Not, Want Not

Keeping methane, a potent greenhouse gas, out of the air during fracking is not hard to do, it just has to be done

October 19, 2012

Picking Up The Climate Tab

Rising property & liability insurance payouts hit $44 billion last year, which preview the costs of climate change

Getting Past Yesterday

Despite the drawbacks of a legacy 20th electric power supply, building a 21st century clean, efficient, distributed system is a tall order

Smart Heat

Now that it's heating season in NYC, tips for a better working environment

October 18, 2012

ABC's Of EAC's

EAC's - energy-aligned clauses, are the way to get building owners and commercial occupants to share the benefits of energy efficiency by way of their leases

Co-Gen Could Be The Answer

With renewed advocacy and federal support, co-generation could climb the list of energy-efficiency to-do's

World Bank: Green Bonds

“Climate change threatens development gains. We work with client countries to prevent this outcome.” Read all about it

October 17, 2012

Low-Cost Eco-Home Tips

Five easy, inexpensive things to do for a greener home

Design Is Not Enough

Four facts to launch a discussion about making energy efficient buildings a reality, not just a blueprint

What A Dump - Not Now

Eco-restoration at two former garbage dumps along Jamaica Bay creates green gems

Much Ado About Gas Pipelines

Plans for new natural gas pipelines coming through Jamaica Bay arouse local controversy

October 16, 2012

Why Buy Green Gear

It's not the Energy Star label that makes consumers snap up energy-efficient appliances and electronics

The Sound Of Silence

Why isn't Obama making climate change part of his campaign?

Less Energy, More Work

Six case studies of how energy efficiency goals create jobs in labor-intensive industries and the energy savings free up dollars for other parts of the economy

Smart Meters/Dynamic Pricing

Smart meters could be a boon for pricing infrastructure demands and using scare urban resources

October 15, 2012

Storm Safety Measures

Federal agencies start restoring NYC's storm-eroded coast line and protect it from future damage

Electric Soccer

Ever wonder how to create electricity by kicking a soccer ball around?

Clean Energy - Big But Not Secure

With Romney as President the rumored demise of the US clean energy industry is premature, but its future is not secure

October 12, 2012

California Caps It

The California carbon cap and trade program is good to go

We've Got A Problem

NOAA scientists link melting Arctic sea ice to weird weather in North America; expect more weirdness

October 11, 2012

Urban Survival Tips

Practical advice to help urbanites survive climate change impacts

Science At Work - Bipolar Ice II

More climate science on why Antarctic sea ice grows as Arctic ice shrinks

Rethinking Cities

Will open thinking and open urbanism be the strategies for creating sustainable cities?

October 10, 2012

Science at Work - Climate Change Evidence

Watch the video series here

NYC Residential Alert

Smart apartment buildings in NYC will do their benchmarking because energy performance matters

October 09, 2012

First, Benchmarking - Next, Audits

A road map of current and upcoming Greener Greater Building Plan requirements and how to arrive at your destination

Reminder: How Fossil Fuels Get Priced

If election-year rhetoric confuses the issue, a refresher on how fossil fuel prices are set

Thinking About Smarter Cities

While ICT innovations are great, it take mores to make electric grids smart and cities more sustainable

October 08, 2012

Urban Parklets

What's a parklet and what did San Francisco and Chicago do to get some?

You Say You Want A Revolution

For most consumers, the fungibility of fossil fuels and a century of big-brand domination means the renewable energy revolution could be slow in coming

October 07, 2012

Science At Work - Bipolar Ice

If Arctic ice behaves differently than Antarctic ice, what are the climate change implications?

October 06, 2012

Facing Earth's Limits

The world's water supply is finite and that makes the case for renewable energy

October 05, 2012

South Africa: Call For Carbon Tax

Needing to tackle poverty and unemployment, South Africa is the right place for a carbon tax

Carpe Diem Data

Opportunities multiply to gather and make good use of energy data for advancing efficiency goals

DJ Spooky Hears Antarctic Melting

DJ Spooky's acoustic performance using his recordings of melting Antarctic ice brings art to climate action

October 04, 2012

Euro Green Home Competition

See some standouts in the European high performance home design decathlon

Science At Work - A Fungus Among Us

Scientists reject the idea that higher CO2 levels in the air could stimulate plant growth, which in turn, would capture more of the gas

Out, Out, Damned D Word

Call them doubtful, call them dismissive, but don't call them climate-deniers

October 03, 2012

A Modest Proposition

Could climate change be a sleeper issue in the 2012 election?

Win With Weatherization

Using federal stimulus dollars, the weatherization program, has upgraded energy efficiency in one million homes

Isn't It Iconic

How's this for a sign of the times?

October 01, 2012

Barry Commoner: 1917-2012

Renowned political activist, scientist and environmentalist Barry Commoner dies at the age of 95

Don't Stop Now

The NYLCV spells out what is needed to keep NYC on track to a greener tomorrow

September 28, 2012

Up In The Air

What are the prospects for high-altitude wind power?

September 27, 2012

Streaming Sustainable Ideas

Pick from a menu of videos about making smart, sustainable urban energy choices

Not Your GrandMa's Electric

Remember your land line phone? Next up -- distributing the electric power system

Today's Quote

“If Alexander Graham Bell were to come back, he would never recognize today’s telecommunication network. If Thomas Edison were to return, he would immediately recognize today’s electric power system and he would know how to fix it. “ Anonymous

September 26, 2012

An Ode To Deep Retrofits

Energy retrofitting the Depression-era Empire State Building is an inspiration

In Defense Of Data Centers

Yes, computer data centers are huge energy eaters, but that's not the whole story and Greenpeace has kind words for Google

Urban Mass Transit Moves

The glass might be half full for new mass transit projects in US cities

September 25, 2012

RIP Filthy Heating Oil

Replacing #6 heating oil with natural gas in NYC boilers is a winner for the environment and public health

Mothball the Grid

Research points the way for retiring a mainstay of the 20th Century, the fossil-fueled electric power grid

Going Green - Not

Why is making green, high performance building the new normal such slow going? But wait, here's another new LEED Gold winner

September 24, 2012

Undecideds On Climate

Poll finds voters who don't know whether to choose Obama or Romney do know they're concerned about climate change

Mann v Silver

Climate scientist Michael Mann faults number-crunching journalist Nate Silver for confusing scientific and economics predictions

Illuminating Atlantic Wind Power

Can Atlantic offshore wind power keep the lights on from Maine to Florida?

September 22, 2012

PV: Soft Costs Matter

In Germany the soft costs of installing small PV systems are consistently lower than in the US, why?

It Takes A Supply Chain

Educating the entire supply chain is key to making high performance building the new normal

Finding The Value In Microgrids

Calculating the value of microgrids is harder than pricing widgets, so start here

September 21, 2012

A New Way To See The World

Mash up Google Street Views with thermal imaging and here's what you get

Kerry's Climate Red Alert

John Kerry, possibly the next Secretary of State, calls the threat of climate change a top-tier international crisis

Holes In the Insurance Umbrella

Citing the insurance costs of recent weird weather events, a new study casts doubt on future coverage for climate damages

September 20, 2012

Science At Work - The Big Melt

Why do scientists' predicted dates for the disappearance of arctic ice vary so much?

Science At Work - Extreme Weather

Join the red-hot debate over the climate science significance of extreme weather events

There'll Be Some Changes Made

Scientific American environment and energy writer David Biello tries to imagine a world without oil

September 19, 2012

Blogging NYC Climate Week 2012

NYC has a million buildings and myriad opportunities to make them green, get the climate message right and more!

Searchable Footprints

Now you can discover Google's carbon footprint size and see if it gets smaller

Dream On

Ezra Klein shares his daydream about how passage of a carbon tax would keep the federal budget from plunging off a cliff

September 18, 2012

Maybe Next Summer

The promise of the smart grid to pare down electric use on hot summer days was not fulfilled this year

September 17, 2012

Evolution And Energy Efficiency

Think walking on two feet is more energy efficient than walking on four?

Seeing Is Believing

Honest Buildings is a platform for transparent building performance data today and market transformation tormorrow

Smarter Buildings

Smart buildings offer a business opportunity to operators who can maximize their performance potential

September 14, 2012

He Said No, No, No

What else can be said about Romney's addiction to fossil fuel?

The Lord Said To Noah...

What can NYC do to address chronic flooding in southeast Queens?

September 13, 2012

How Green Buildings Can Save Real Money

High performance buildings can have a big impact on occupants' budgets by reducing absenteeism

Town And Gown - Sustainable Together

Find the synergies for cities and their universities to ramp up sustainability

Science At Work - Climate Modeling

The National Academy of Science reports on the need for continued evolution toward unified climate modeling

September 12, 2012

Hooray For The Wind, But Watch Out

What's so great about wind power? Meanwhile, the stock of a giant Swedish wind turbine maker plunges on fears the company is running out of money

Wind Power Gets An A

Contrary to some recent reports, wind power does not warm up the planet and there is plenty of it

September 11, 2012

Better Management By Measurement

The on-line power to share and compare building energy use and its impact on the bottom-line gets a boost from investors

Mexico City's Carbon Model

How did Mexico City beat its own goal for cutting its CO2e over the last four years?

The Cement Race Is On

Submit your idea to the competition for cutting CO2 emissions in the energy-intensive cement industry

September 10, 2012

After Dirty Dancing

Listen to the soundscape of urban smog

Green Jobs In Red States

A new study discovers the biggest growth in green jobs is taking place in red and swing states

Mitt's Mouthful

No big surprises, but it's worth looking at candidate Romney's own words on climate change

Clean Tech - The Killer App

While facing fierce political headwinds and a mixed record in venture capital backed projects, clean tech advances in the big industrials sector

September 07, 2012

Greening The Grass Roots

A call for New York City's grass-roots organizations to take up the cause of urban sustainability and for supportive City resources

Copenhagen: What Sustainabiity Means

Working at at the neighborhood scale, architects in Copenhagen make sustainability city-specific

September 06, 2012

Look Who's Cutting Carbon

Some jumbo firms are stepping up on energy efficiency and smaller carbon footprints, while federal climate legislation remains MIA. Your Q&A soon

Science At Work - Soot Reconsidered

Urban soot may not be a big-time climate culprit

Them's Fightin' Words

Utah anti-coal campaigners learn how to be heard

September 05, 2012

The Sports Pages

Surprised to see a story about pro sports and energy efficiency?

High Value Proximity

With its green campus blueprint, the Roosevelt Island Applied Sciences NYC project could burnish the concept that industry clustering is the key to success

Walk The Walk

Could the war of words over climate change be obscuring practical forward steps?

September 04, 2012

Science At Work - Remaking Monsoons

Knowns, unknowns and some unknown unknowns regarding links between climate change and monsoon change

Listening For A Price Signal

Check out the Canadian discussion on putting a price on carbon and crating a market signal

A Senor Moment

A top Romney aide, Dan Senor, is author of a book extolling Israel's beyond-oil-cleantech-innovation-economy

August 31, 2012

Science At Work - Making The Climate Case

Explore how scientists make the case for a climate changing due to human impacts

CA: Cabon Market Dress Rehearsal

Get a preview as California gets ready to open its carbon emissions trading market this fall

August 30, 2012

Finding Funding For Smart Cities

Ideas for funding smart urban infrastructure initiatives

Not Energized By Mitt

The current energy policy of a certain former Massachusetts Governor gets the thumbs down from Boston's cleantech sector

August 29, 2012

Building On Building Data

Missed "Implications of a Data-Driven Built Environment" at the NY Academy of Sciences? Here's the eBriefing

August 28, 2012

Science At Work - Arctic Sea Ice

Scroll down the Revkin post for scientists' thoughts on record-low Arctic sea ice

A Modest Proposal

An updated twist on Jonathan Swift for the climate-concerned

Chemistry Lobby Loathes LEED

What to make of chemistry industry claims that LEED standards harm energy efficiency goals and kill jobs?

August 27, 2012

Capturing Climate Fugitives

Since the oil industry began to capture fugitive emissions of climate-heating ethane, a global decline has been detected, but with fracking that decline could be ending

August 26, 2012

A New Kind Of Urban Lab

CITE, a city with zero population, will be a lab for academic, government and private-sector researchers to test new green technologies

Everywhere But Washington

There are many signs of a more chaotic climate, but no signs of a carbon tax in Washington. Need more evidence? Click here

August 24, 2012

Change Or Cook

Nathan Myhrvold does the numbers of carbon emissions and energy demand and concludes either we make a quick transition to carbon-neutral energy or we're cooked

Romney's Bid For Freedom From Arab Oil

Fuggedaboutit

Green Biz Growing Pains

Why are green tech services and product businesses having trouble finding customers?

August 23, 2012

Cities Green Their Grey Infrastructure

Cities are home to innovative natural infrastructure systems that protect the environment and save money

Science At Work - West Nile Virus

Is there a clear link between the summer's record heat and drought and record outbreaks of West Nile virus?

August 22, 2012

Guide For The Perplexed

The latest WSJ [but surely not the last] climate deniers column earns a razzberry

August 21, 2012

Gimme Data

Real-time data is becoming the most powerful tool for improving and maintaining energy efficiency in buildings

People Can Change

When it comes to the smart grid living up to it's potential, optimism that people can learn to adapt is a plus

Stripped, Boiled and Bad

What makes the oil from Canadian tar sands much worse than conventional fossil fuel?

August 20, 2012

Climate Action Down Under

Why Australia should stay the course with its carbon-cutting policy and resource investments still surge

August 17, 2012

Predicting Water Demand

A new software program can help California water resource managers plan for demand in hotter, drier 2100

Science At Work - The Rain Band

Research predicts the rain band of the southern hemisphere will shift north more often due to global warming, creating extreme weather events

August 16, 2012

Smart Building - LED Synergy

Why should smart building owners consider LED lighting upgrades?

Science At Work - The Southern Ocean

Scientists discover vast funnels that store atmospheric carbon deep in the Southern Ocean

GM Likes Government Research

General Motors is upbeat about an electric vehicle battery developed with research at the Argonne National Lab and ARPA-E funds

August 15, 2012

OMG - Some Good News

A new book calls Obama's American Recovery and Investment Act a huge clean energy bill

Jevons Paradox - Fuggedabout It

More experts weigh in on why the fearsome Jevons Paradox should not worry energy efficiency advocates

223 Local Losers

223 buildings in NY and NJ are competing in the EPA Biggest Energy Losers contest for the winner who cuts the most energy waste

August 14, 2012

Become An Energy Prosumer

Today's smart grid opens the door for utility customers to become 'prosumers' who add to the energy supply

On Or Off For Bus Rapid Transit

The jury is still out on the value of urban bus rapid transit

August 13, 2012

The Fracking Fight: Round X

Watch the natural gas industry square of against the environmental movement over America's energy future

Science At Work - New Zealand

Scientists studying glaciers in New Zealand find evidence of why today's global warming is different than earlier warm spells

In Praise Of Congestion

Could congested city streets be an index of urban success?

Climate Science: Shoot The Mesenger

Climate scientist Michael Mann talks about climate science and about the climate culture wars

August 11, 2012

Heat Over Hansen Paper

The published claim by climate scientist Jim Hansen that climate change is causing recent extreme heat waves is challenged by other climate scientists

August 10, 2012

Blueway For Manhattan

A road map for the East River Blueway, from the Brooklyn Bridge to midtown, is the result community based planning

Climate Data From 73 Cities

Now at your fingertips, climate data and action plans from 73 cities around the world

Benchmarking: The Time Is Now

Benchmarking building energy performance is catching on in cities everywhere

August 09, 2012

Sustainability Is An Urban Value

Atlanta, Georgia Mayor, Kasim Reed sees the value of investing urban sustainability and meets with other American mayors to advance this agenda

The Power Of Green Coding

Expect innovative, eco-friendly building design now that New York City has 'greened' its zoning code

New Day For Solar Business Models

There is more than one way to design a viable solar power business

August 08, 2012

Home Improvements

A primer on window replacements & energy efficiency

Atlanta: No Taxes, No Way

Why metro Atlanta won't be doing anything about it's terrible traffic

August 07, 2012

NYC 2012 Benchmarking Report

Hot off the presses - the facts, the photos, the analysis

Hello Heliostats

Tour a renewable energy project rising in the Nevada desert that uses heliostats to make solar thermal electricity for southern California

Adapt Or Else

Devastating drought-related crop failures and a massive blackout signal where India needs to develop resilience to climate change risks

August 06, 2012

Name That Synonym

In the age of Twitter, six-syllable words like 'sustainability' are too long, got better ones?

The East River Bluebelt

A community-based plan to create a waterfront bluebelt in lower Manhattan is moving ahead (but will it be climate-change resilient?)

We Ain't Seen Nothing Yet

While the financial media focuses on today's Eurozone crisis, it's missing the main event, the looming impacts of climate change

August 03, 2012

Energy Auditors At Work

There is a lot to be learned from the energy audits of 29 NYC office buildings and many ways to optimize their HVAC systems

Why Clean Energy Stocks Flounder

The small scale of many clean-energy ventures makes it hard to attract conventional stock investors

Richard Muller: Ex-Climate Agnostic

Standing in a global media glare, climate scientist Richard Muller explains himself

August 02, 2012

Retiring Coal

More and more US coal-fired power plants can't wait to retire, but beware of surging coal exports

Clean Energy - It's Inevitable

With a headline like that, how an you resist reading this interview with CEO of Bloomberg New Energy Finance, Michael Liebreich?

The Future Of "High" Parks

Picture the future of two very different NYC parks, High Bridge and the High Line

Facebook's Carbon Footprint

Is Facebook's 2011 carbon footprint better than its 2012 IPO?

August 01, 2012

Let's Talk About The Weather

Public alertness to the current heat waves and droughts have yet to translate into 2012 election-year talking points

Money-Minded Solar Decisions

Catch up with the latest rooftop solar installation financial ABC's

Writing Climate Science

Andy Revkin does a quick survey of the work behind publishing climate science research today

July 31, 2012

VAWT's Ahead

Sandia National Labs advances on developing a new generation of vertical axis wing turbines, VAWT's

Solar Power Gap

While the pace of PV installations in the US is accelerating, a comparison with Germany reveals a solar power gap

Cheers (Mostly) For Philadelphia Transit

SEPTA, the Philaldephia-metro mass transit authority, receives an award from the American Public Transit Association, but also comes in for some criticism

July 30, 2012

Where We Live Now

Experts are debating whether more Americans are moving to cities or exurbs, so why does it matter?

The Selling O' The Green

Economic ups and downs and now burnished corporate images are the big drivers in green-themed advertising

Climate Conversion

Thoughts from The Guardian on Richard Muller's story of personal climate conversion appearing in the New York Times

July 28, 2012

Smart Green Gadgets

Smart battery queries the grid — stores energy when it's cheap.

Import Substitution

If losing access to rubber trees was the mother of invention for synthetic rubber during WWII is now the ideal time to substitute renewable energy sources for imported fossil fuels?

July 27, 2012

What Every Smart City Needs

There seems to be a pattern shared by cities that are growing smarter

Urban Climate Beacons

Who are the 41 California cities & counties that got Beacon Climate Awards for Local Leadership Toward Solving Climate Change?

On The Climate Blog Beat

What's your take on the debate blaming politics, media OR our lizard brains for failure to take action on climate change?

July 26, 2012

Conservatives Shatter Climate Consensus

Energy policy decisions by England's ruling Conservative Party are creating an uproar. Stay tuned

Urban Salvation

Can cities save the world? It's possible

July 25, 2012

NYC: Sunny Side Up

What are the prospects for more PV installations in the Big Apple?

Exceeding Energy Expectations

The growth of renewable energy since 2000 way outstrips expert predictions. Why?

Preserving Stability

if political conservatives want to conserve things, what would make a compelling climate action argument?

July 24, 2012

All Aboard For High Speed Rail

Making the case for a Boston-New York-Washington, DC high speed rail system

Urban Earth

What's up with urban farming in NYC?

Wind Generates Money

A study of Illinois wind power finds it makes money & jobs as well as electricity

July 20, 2012

Get Over It

Enough already, it's climate change and 3,715 business are done debating

July 19, 2012

US Energy Use Shfiting For Good

Add a recession with a turn away from coal-burning - replaced by fracked natural gas - plus new emissions regulations and growth in renewable power and it could total up to a permanent lower-carbon US energy economy, but it's complicated

Sea Beds For Power Grids

Deep-sea oil and gas companies explore how to create a deep water electric grid to power more drilling

Eco-Optimism

A Sallan Snapshot writer launches a blog that looks for opportunities amidst the pervasive eco-gloom

July 18, 2012

Bill Rates Hill

Bill McKibben doesn't blame Hillary Clinton for the failed Copenhagen climate meeting, but does take the Secretary of State to task for how she negotiated the Canadian XL Keystone pipeline

US Energy: Subsidy v Policy

Consider the current realities of US energy programs and why energy politics look the way they do

Improbable Is Not Impossible

An industry expert explains why nuclear power plants designs, because they use 'unforgiving' technology, must rest on planning for the improbable

July 17, 2012

The Mental Climate Of Gen X

A National Science Foundation-funded study finds Gen X'ers are not climate change deniers, but they aren't much worried about a hotting-up planet

City As Adjective

What comes to mind when you think of Berlin, L.A., Brussels or Amsterdam?

July 16, 2012

EV: Re-Target Low Interest Loans

Bloomberg News urges the feds to shift low interest loans for electric vehicles to buyers, arguing car-makers now have ample access to capital while EU targets toughest emissions standards

Keys To Sustainable Cities

If sustainability needs cities and cities need sustainability, what are the critical forward paths?

Just The Facts Ma'am

Peruse this fact sheet about what it will take to decarbonzie global electric power systems

July 13, 2012

Incorruptible Carbon

Q: Carbon tax or cap & trade? A: Opt for the least corruptible option

July 12, 2012

Global Cities In Harm's Way

Thumb-nail sketches of 20 global cities at risk for major climate-change damage

Conservation Nation, Sort Of

March 2012 research reveals that while more than half of the Americans surveyed said they had tried to cut family energy use, only a small fraction said they had engaged in any climate support actions

Mitigate, Adapt Or Suffer

When it comes to a climate-changed world, we've got three options and we may not get to choose just one

July 11, 2012

Ice Is Nice

A summer treat -- iceberg portraits

Solar Power And Solar Panels

Germany has proved that political will can create solar power consumers but can automation revive its solar manufacturing?

July 10, 2012

Randomly Hot - Not

The odds that this year's record-busting heat is just a random weather event are 1 in 1.6 million. But wait, there's more

King Coal Dethroned

Today, the US gets more electric power from natural gas than coal

Don't Drive

Last year extended the national drop in driving that started in 2007 as the population becomes more urban

July 09, 2012

Forget About Climate Change

Factoring out the impact of fossil fuels on climate change, calculate the world's new power equation (or the persistence of fossil thought)

Brownfields And Sustainability

Experts and innovators see redevelopment and community revitalization at the core of today's brownfields clean ups

July 06, 2012

Redirecting Federal Clean Energy Flows

A call to redirect federal energy policy toward broad technology developments, but the fragmented clean tech industry lacks clout compared to fossil fuel heavy-weights

Federal Fracking Framework

Would a federal regulatory framework for natural gas fracking be any better than state-by-state rules?

What The FERC

How does FERC, the little known federal electricity transmission regulator, make progress on the renewable energy front?

July 05, 2012

Not Alll GHG's Are Created Equal

Some research suggests that natural gas obtained from fracking has a smaller greenhouse impact than other natural gas

In Praise Of Sunshine

Sunshine laws, requiring public disclosure of environmental data like carbon emissions, can do a lot

Everybody Talks About The Weather

If this summer sets records for storms that knock out electric power supplies, it could also be time to start investing in better system reliability, distributed power and smart grids to keep the lights on

July 03, 2012

British Columbia: Carbon Tax Update

Now four years old, the British Columbia carbon tax is unique in North America and controversial

Building Owners Seek Federal Energy Action

A nationwide real estate association gives its six-point plan for advancing energy efficiency to a Senate committee

Another way To Waste Water

Burning Our Rivers looks at the toll taken by power plants on US water resources

July 02, 2012

MIA: Campaigning On Climate

Climate change is MIA from the Obama re-election campaign, even though signs of a changing climate are all too clear

Meet The Flywheel

Get introduced to an old technology repurposed as a renewable energy storage technology - the flywheel

LEDs Are Street Smart

A twelve city test of LED street lighting find they can be up to 85% more energy efficient than conventional bulbs

June 29, 2012

California: Surf's Up And That's Not Good

Explore the future with maps of sea level rise impacts on California's infrastructure and natural resource systems

Facing The Fracking Fight

Here is one account of how one New Yorker grapples with the fiery fight over hydrofracking for natural gas and another from the maker of Gasland

Connect The Dots: ACA and Pollution Taxes

What are the legal implications of Justice Roberts' Supreme Court tax argument about the Affordable Care Act for environmental economics?

June 28, 2012

Rio: Get Over It

After the climate treaty dead-end at Rio, what's the alternative path on climate action?

Get Clean Heat

A primer on ending New York City's addiction to dirty fuel oil

June 27, 2012

Tweet For Energy Efficiency

Can energy and IT wonks make the electric grid smarter by making it social?

Another Alternate Fuel Option

Consider the case for switching US vehicles from gasoline to natural gas

Capitalists For Climate Rescue

How financial pros and CPA's can help save the planet

June 26, 2012

NYC Trees: Post-Planting Survey

Take the New York World survey about what happens to a neighborhood tree after it's been planted as part of the Million-Tree Campaign

Climate Bonds

This UK report makes the case for a climate-bonds market to finance energy, transportation, building and pollution control projects

Boiling In Oil

Predictions for the opposite of 'peak oil' and its political implications

June 25, 2012

Go Green With The Yellow Label

Making energy-smart appliance choices is easier if you understand the yellow label and follow these tips for cutting summer AC bills

Ex-King Coal

The long reign of coal as America's dominant power source and political force could be coming to an end

Old and Grey Green

Can historic preservation be compatible with energy efficiency?

June 22, 2012

Honest Buildings In Texas

Dallas is the latest city to get an Honest Buildings social media map

Clean Tech Troubles

The US clean tech industry faces a rocky road and it future success is far from clear

Red Herrings And Green Jobs

Dive into a study of the use and abuse of economic models that predict the impact of environmental regulations on employment

June 21, 2012

Smarter Buildings Driven By Data

Miss May's Data-Driven Built Environment conference? Highlights here

June 20, 2012

On The Sunny Side Of The Street

Making the case for bright times ahead for solar, wind and geothermal power

The Clean Energy Competition

A federal funding competition to support scaling up the next generation of clean tech businesses is in high-gear

Germany Is The Energy Test Case

Will Germany, a industrial giant, be able to decarbonize its energy system without nuclear power in the mix?

June 19, 2012

On The Front Line Of National Security

What does a national security energy and climate policy look like for a soldier who fought in Iraq?

Struggle For Community Solar Power

Business as usual poses tough challenges to urban community solar power joint ventures Climate Wire [$]

June 18, 2012

Climate Change Makes You Sick

Kaiser-Permanente, one of America's largest health care providers, sees climate change as a major health risk and sees things like energy efficiency as part of its core mission

In Training

American cities and urban developers are catching on to the value of mass transit access

Sun Shine For Shingles

Roof shingles generate solar power for home use in California

June 15, 2012

Dare Not Speak Its Name

When Virginia lawmakers recommended a scientific study to address flooding and encroaching sea water on the coast, they met resistance from Republicans who didn't want any reference to "sea level rise" or "climate change".

June 14, 2012

All-of-the-Above Strategy

June 08, 2012

Intro to Clean Energy Gizmos

What does a heat pump do?

The Soft Revolution

How is software propelling the campaign for a clean energy economy?

June 07, 2012

Transform IT

The IT and data boom will transform what it means to be a smart city and how to address climate change

June 06, 2012

Doom Or Not Doom

How will oil abundance and oil price levels impact climate change?

Health V Wealth

States start to confront the lack of scientific data about the potential for health threats associated with hydrofracking for fossil fuels

Give Green Peace A Chance

Senior US military brass see cutting oil consumption as a matter of war, peace and climate change

RGGI Makes The Grade

Contrary to doom-sayers, the northeast states' RGGI carbon cap and trade program earns solid performance ratings

June 05, 2012

Laugh A LIttle

Colbert reports on the latest in climate denial

What The Frame

Once again, the narrative, the framing and the media get blamed for American's indifference to taking action on climate change

Green Codes And Smart Grids

California's new energy-aware building codes go hand in hand with smart-grid advances

June 04, 2012

Solar Obituary

The life and death of a Massachusetts thin-film solar start up company

Metropolitan Space

Urban density and form can play major roles in the transition to smart cities and a low-carbon economy

Parsing Obama's Energy Policy

What does all of the above mean when it comes to making sense of the President's energy policy?

June 02, 2012

Southern Discomfort

Scientists find evidence of the the rapid-warming hockey stick trend in the southern hemisphere

June 01, 2012

A Conservative Climate Rx

A political conservative who takes climate change threats seriously posts a call to action

A Tree Grew In Brooklyn

A Red Hook artist shadows Brooklyn's arboreal past

Follow The Lobbying Money

The Union of Concerned Scientists looks at whose corporate lobbying dollars went where to influence climate change policy

May 31, 2012

Wind Power Facts v Fictions

Time to rescue wind power from its media foes

Coming Clean On Fracking

The ability to purify polluted water coming from hydrofracking operations is one of the biggest challenges facing the industry and government regulators

What To Do When Banks Won't Do It?

Can capital markets step in where banks won't go to finance building energy efficiency upgrades?

May 30, 2012

It's Culture Not Science

Climate deniers don't suffer from a deficit of scientific literacy, they operate in a different culture context

May 29, 2012

Parsing Goldman's Green

What is the meaning of the Goldman-Sachs ten-year $40 billion green investment?

What The Frack

While some see the dawn of a golden era for fracking natural gas, you might see something quite different

Japan's Energy Future

In the wake of Fukushima, the choices Japan makes about its energy future could be instructive for other nations

May 25, 2012

Let The Sun Shine In

Near completion, the Oculus will allow sunlight deep into the Fulton Street transit terminal where 11 subway lines and the PATH train link up

Home Lighting In Dark Ages

Residential lighting remains stubbornly retro and energy-slurping

You Can't Go Home Again

Reversing climate change impacts like sea level rise and drought won't be like hitting the rewind button

May 24, 2012

How To Save $1 Billion

Since 2008, Climate Corps fellows have identified $1 billion in potential energy savings at participating corporations

Next Generation Nuclear Power - Not

Super-low natural gas prices and no carbon tax might smother market chances for an emerging nuclear power technology

Urban Roofs - Green, White, Blue And PV

Look up options for raising the eco-performance of building roofs

May 23, 2012

Biophilia - Love It Or....

Despite the passion for biophiic building design, lack of performance data hampers its growth

All Oil Isn't Created Equal

What makes is Canadian tar sands oil so dirty and what could slow down sales?

NYC: Making Good On 30x30 Pledge

Catch up with what's happened since 2007 when NYC first pledged to cut its carbon footprint 30% by 2030

On The Bus In San Franscisco

Six years in the making, San Francisco's bus rapid transit plan comes into focus

May 22, 2012

We Want What They Have

Cities with star-power high performance buildings make us green with envy

Take The Money, Please

Lack of consumer demand rather than problems with financial markets might explain the low number of energy efficiency loans and the lack of underwriting standards for energy use doesn't help

Thank You For Asking

At last, peace of mind for everyone wondering what to do with old plastic CD cases

May 21, 2012

ABC's Of Concentrating Solar Power

Introduce yourself to the basics of concentrating solar power

NYC Moves Itself

What should New York City do to improve mass transit, traffic congestion and the pedestrian experience?

Unintended Consequences

The 1990s requirement that made utilities sell their nuclear power plants lead to increasing output and big cuts in energy-sector carbon emissions

May 18, 2012

From AC To DC

Why is China investing $3.7 billion in DC power transmission lines?

Clean Energy Dollars And Sense

Despite a political black-eye, the economic value of clean energy investments still shines

Demystifying Energy Efficiency

In states with low electricity costs but without efficiency policies, consumers pay bigger bills than in high cost states with efficiency policies

May 17, 2012

The PV Misperception

It can't be said too often, PV power is cheaper than you think

Wind Resource Map

Location, location and location of the nation's onshore and offshore wind resources

Data Envy

When the owner of building A sees performance data for building B, things happen!

May 16, 2012

Climate Science And The Media

The recent James Hanson climate tocsin op-ed is a magnet for pro, con and other reactions in the media

May 15, 2012

Hanging Out On YouTube

A Stanford University climate scientist invites climate skeptics to chat with him on YouTube

A New Way To Walk

Starting this summer pedestrians can go through mid town on Sixth-and-a-Half Avenue

LIPA Cleans Up

Under the CLEAN banner, the Long Island Power Authority pays 22 cents/kW for solar power fed into its system

May 14, 2012

Forward Thinking On Renewables

What will it take to create a robust future for therenewable power business in the US?

How Cities Can Accelerate EVs

If demand for electric vehicles is ever to reach a serious scale, here is how cities can lead the way

The Urban GHG Inventory

With cities as hubs of population and innovation, the need is clear for a standardized global guide to inventory GHG emissions

May 11, 2012

1% Is No Solution

Under 1% of American households report having some kind of energy management devices

What Business Wants Now

The 2011 MIT/Sloan innovation survey finds US corporate management is nearing a sustainability tipping point but is not yet a top priority

What We Are Thinking

Surveys find Americans' opinions on climate change and what should be done about it are more complicated than you might think

May 10, 2012

No Solution For This Water Problem

Handling the huge volumes of toxic waste water created by hydrofracking is geologically unavailable in the Marcellus Shale so underground injection is not an option

A Climate-Koch Connection

As James Hansen spells out a dooms-day scenario if tar sand drilling in Canada proceeds, some facts surface about Koch Industries involvement

May 09, 2012

Welocme GB EE

PlaNYC launches a web asset replete with useful information about green buildings and energy efficiency

A Little Too Late, Lugar

Now that Senator Lugar has lost his re-election bid, he rips the Republican hard stance against climate action

Get Smart

IBM sees major opportunities in retrofitting buildings to make them energy-efficient and healthy for occupants

May 08, 2012

A Romney EPA

In speculating about a President Romney's EPA, Politico notes, "In November, Romney proudly exclaimed that he exhales carbon dioxide, asking rhetorically at a New Hampshire rally if that makes him a polluter.
'I exhale carbon dioxide', he said. 'I don’t want those guys following me around with a meter to see if I’m breathing too hard.'"


Green Offices Shine In Houston

Houston, Texas announces the winners of the first Green Office Challenge, supported by the Clinton Climate Initiative and ICLEI

May 07, 2012

Green Her Not

A 20-something social activist explains why she doesn't want to be called an environmentalist

The Social Psychology of Climate Politics

Authors of The Republican Brain and The Righteous Mind probe the political polarization over climate change and science

May 05, 2012

Don't Drown In Data

With the ability to amass building performance data comes the opportunity to find its value

Where The Birds Are

If you're like me, you like wind turbines and birds too, so you'll want both in your future

May 04, 2012

Feeling The Heat

Why is making predictions about climate changes as as much about politics as about physics?

Parting The Clouds

Now that the issue of clouds and climate change has made it to the front page of the NYT, get deeper into the current state of the science

May 03, 2012

An Opening On Solar Windows

Will the technology for converting window glass to solar panels catch on?

Clean Energy Investing Now

Global clean energy investments sag 28% from late 2011, but low equipment costs mean market demand will rise over time

May 02, 2012

A Corporate Climate Risk Management Primer

To face the risks of climate change, what should forward-thinking corporations be doing now?

What Do EV Drivers Do?

One way to resolve debates over the future of electric vehicles is to study what people do when they drive them

May 01, 2012

Rethinking Energy Analysis

The Rand Corporation recommends analyzing all the energy that goes into making and using different products to arrive at climate-smart choices

The Fate of PACE In California

A scholarly analysis of the PACE residential energy efficiency loan program in several California communities fills a knowledge gap

Science At Work

Settle down here for the latest thinking on what ended the last Ice Age

April 30, 2012

Not Just Dreaming

New York's PlaNYC 2030, its blueprint for urban sustainability, is becoming a reality

Making Corporate Sustainability Count

When executive compensation is tied to corporate sustainability policies, does it make a difference?

April 29, 2012

Hot And Deep

Data shows the oceans are where the planet is heating up most with one third of this gain down below 700 meters

April 27, 2012

The ALEC Hit List

Challenges to state renewable energy mandates could be high on the to-do list of the right-wing policy group ALEC

April 26, 2012

Proof: High Gas Prices Are Good For The Economy

$4 a gallon gas motivates consumers to trade in their gas-guzzlers for new energy-efficient autos and sales figures rise

The US Insurance Climate

Is the US insurance industry lethargic about responding to risks posed by climate change?

Like A Rolling Stone

Check out Obama's interview in Rolling Stone that's got climate activists energized and a new poll finds strong public support for federal action

April 25, 2012

Reporting On Progress

Now that the program is five years old, catch the highlights of the PlaNYC 2012 Progress Report or deg down deep

Carpe Diem

The Center for American Progress reports on the opportunities America has right now to grow its economy and make communities more resilient by taking the low carbon, clean energy path

April 24, 2012

Sonoma Sticks With PACE

While not every county has Sonoma's resources, this northern California county maintains its PACE loan program in the face of persistent federal opposition

Some Good News, But Not Enough

Deutsche Bank reports that global GHG emissions have continued to decrease since 2009, but not enough to limit climate change to 2 degrees C

Renewable Energy Policies Face The Goon Squad

Right-wing activists like Grover Norquist and ALEC target state renewable energy programs

Unleash The Value Of Climate Change

American business and pro-business politics should seize the market opportunities presented by cutting our carbon footprint

London: Olympic Greenwash

Will the corporate financial support of firms like BP make a mockery of the London 2012 Olympics greener-than-thou aspirations?

April 23, 2012

Greening NYC, One Building At A Time

Stories from the front line about how affordable housing developers tackle operational cost-cutting and energy efficiency to help everyone

Austin: Smart Grid Start-Up

There's a lot to learn when launching a smart-grid business in Austin, Texas

April 20, 2012

Closing Out The Fossil Fuel Era

What will bring about the end of the Fossil Fuel Era and when could that occur?

Why Carbon Emissions Drop

States in the RGGI carbon cap and trade pact have seen their emissions drop by more than the national average, but does that mean RGGI deserves the credit?

The Deployment Enigma

The challenge of how to deploy new green technologies in the market place isn't going away

April 19, 2012

The Energy Efficiency Slide Show

Watch the slide show on how to make energy efficient buildings the new normal

What The Weatherman Says

Read this personal narrative of a weatherman who used to be a climate change skeptic

Size Matters

Urban guru Richard Florida spells out the connection between city size and sustainability

Lease The Sun

Leasing makes rooftop solar power affordable for more homeowners than ever before

April 18, 2012

Revolution Number Nine

It's an odd list, but green building is the ninth-fastest growing industry in the US

Watch Out

Don't expect to see reporting about climate change on network TV news, it's not there

Meet The Super Commuters

Who are the super-commuters, people who commute to work in Manhattan at least 90 minutes or 90 miles in each direction?

April 17, 2012

The End Of Exurbia

The American love affair with exurbia took a hit during the Great Recession and shows no sign of reviving

Green Consumers: The Communications Gap

Polls of consumer choices find a willingness to buy green -- in theory -- and doubts about product promises

April 16, 2012

Warm Feet - Cool Climate

Radiant underfloor heating systems are an energy-efficient choice for home-owners

The Amerian Dream - Urban Edition

Urban living is trending for Gen Y while suburban life-styles are on the decline

The Renewables Roller Coaster

While global investment in renewable energy still outpaces overall economic growth and the US is #1-ranked, investment is totally reliant on public polices that come and go [$ub]

April 13, 2012

The Case For Natural Gas

Love it or hate it, the Energy Information Agency links rising use of natural gas to lower CO2 emissions in the US since 2007

No Place To Hide

We can ignore the risk of climate change but it won't ignore us

April 12, 2012

Microtubines 101

What are microturbines and why do they matter?

True Or False: Either Go Green Or Grow The Economy

False

Reinventing Fire

Amory Lovins wants to reinvent the electric power system from the bottom-up through accelerated innovation and competition

April 11, 2012

The Cost Of Clean Power

Could it be that adding renewable power into a state's utility mix doesn't raise customer bills?

Goodness Had Nothing To Do With It

It's time for the clean tech industry to get out there and market itself, just being greener isn't enough

April 10, 2012

Hard Times For Renewables

Prospects for renewable power growth in the US don't look good, with few projects in the development pipeline

Could This Be The End Of King Coal

Experts fuel the debate over coal's current decline and its future in the US and its rising exports

Tri-State Solar

Why and how should NY, NJ an CT ramp up their PV capacity while building a solar economy

April 09, 2012

Tips For Climate Tweeting

Tweeps -- upgrade your 140 character climate tweets

Use Water To Store Wind

Could New York use its hydro-power resources as a battery to store the intermittent power from wind farms?

Climate Rewrites The Calendar

As the timetable of the seasons shifts, scientists study changes in nature

April 06, 2012

Save The Planet Playfully

Today's 20-somethings can be enlisted for the serious work of energy conservation with the right kind of video games

Key Lessons From Keystone

Bill McKibben has learned a a lot about the fossil fuel industry and Washington politics from his campaign to derail the Keystone XL pipeline

Hot And Salty Tech

What's happening now in research on molten salt able to store solar power so it can be when it's needed?

April 05, 2012

Science At Work — The Air

New evidence confirms the climate science hypothesis that atmospheric CO2 levels rose before temperatures climbed to end the last Ice Age

Science At Work — The Oceans

Scientists find evidence to support the climate change theory that during Ice Ages atmospheric CO2 concentrates in deep oceans

Science At Work — The Arctic

Research links the degradation and thaw of Arctic permafrost with the high levels of atmospheric methane and Co2 in that region

April 03, 2012

The Climate Desk At The Times

What has Justin Gillis learned working the climate beat at the New York Times?

More Than One Way To Be Vulnerable

Take a climate change impact tour of tense regions of the globe

April 02, 2012

House Wants You To Take The HEAT

The House Energy Action Team - HEAT - shows Republicans have yet to meet a fossil fuel they don't like

Less Carbon To The People

Successful grass roots efforts to block construction of new coal-fire power plants suggests there is real support for climate action

March 30, 2012

Make War Not Carbon

Attendees at a Carbon War Room conference learned about biochar - a process that relies on plants to remove CO2 from the air to create fuel

Small (Might Be) Beautiful (To Some)

If developers of smaller and cheaper nuclear reactors can apply for $450 million in DOE funds for engineering and licensing, why does a former utility CEO sas there will be no new nuclear power plants?

Clean Fuel Standards - RIP

Time could be running out on 11 northeast states' Clean Fuel Standard as plans advance to ship Canadian tar sands oil into the region

March 29, 2012

Did You Ever See A Wind Farm Flying

Here you go, WHOOSH

Another Cost Of Canadian Tar Sand Oil

California, despite its carbon cap & trade law, is home to among the most polluting oil refineries in the nation because they process Canadian crude from tar sands sources

What' Climate Got To Do With It

Research finds the sharpest drop since 1974 in confidence about science occurred among the most highly educated US conservatives

March 28, 2012

EPA: A Rules Without A Cap

The new EPA rule cuts carbon emissions from existing power plants & spells the end for King Coal but won't limit overall CO2 levels, so who wins?

Waste Not, Want Not

Feed food scraps and sewage into one end of a gizmo and out comes enough methane to fuel energy-efficient combined heat and power systems - and that's not all

March 27, 2012

Cities: Where It Happens First

Cities are on the front line for climate change impacts and inventing ways to respond and adapt

Bright Green Tech

An international conference hosted in San Francisco showcases the latest green tech gadgets and products

NYC: Green Zoning

Highlights of the NYC green zoning proposal, based on the idea of removing obstacles to a more energy smart built environment

March 26, 2012

Pedal Pushers

Are you transported by the fancy footwork around the proposed bike and pedestrian lane for a rebuilt Tappan Zee Bridge or Gridlock Sam's bike bridges idea in his congestion pricing scheme?

The Ten Suggestions

Consider these ten policy ideas that, if adopted, are sure to cut GHG emissions and reap environmental & economic rewards

Where The Good Greeen Jobs Are

There's more than one way to map data on good green jobs in the US, but there's a clear link between this economic sector with higher income and education

March 24, 2012

L.A's Eco-Ambitions

Mike Bloomberg's top dog eco-status gets competition from Mayor Villaraigosa's big plans for cleaner, greener Los Angeles

March 23, 2012

Measure Better To Manage Better

While some 27 big cities measure their GHG emissions, until now there was no standard yardstick to create a common baseline for urban climate action

What A Concept

What is Sponge Park and what could it do to clean up the Gowanus Canal?

Cities: Not Everyone Is Into Them

A corrective for those who think only cities can be "smart" and a path to finding common urban-rural ground

March 22, 2012

Canada And The Dutch Disease

The "Dutch Disease" a phrase describing how a 1970's boom in fossil fuels drove up the value of Dutch currency and sapped its economy, could also explain the impact of tar sands drilling in Canada, but its clean energy industry seems immune

Coastal Cities Face Stormy Future

With climate change and coastal city flooding on the way, what should urban centers start doing now?

Upgrading Weatherization

The Weatherization Assistance Program has a record of success but could be streamlined and standardized to help more homeowners

March 21, 2012

Bloomberg Is (Mostly) Bullish On New Energy

The CEO of Bloomberg New Energy Finance has many reasons for investors to be upbeat about clean power and energy eeficiency, but worries about an erosion of policy support

Science At Work

Scientists discover decreases in super-cold Antarctic Bottom Water and while this has global climate implications, its cause is not yet known

It's Not The Weather

A new study finds a strong link between economic recession and climate change denial

March 20, 2012

Put It There

The question of where to site the next generation of fossil and renewable fuel US power plants gets a spatial answer

Nixing Durban

Created at the 2011 Durban climate talks, an opening to create a GHG reduction system that applies to all nations draws opposition from India and China

Hot Race, Hot Weather But Not To Worry

While the outcome of the Republican primary in Illinois may be too close to call, it's a safe bet that the state's heat wave and climate were not on the lips on any candidate

March 19, 2012

If The Cap Don't Fit

Research finds that trying to set the right cap levels in carbon cap and trade programs - like most efforts to predict the future - turns out wrong

The $15 Per Ton Solution

Don't give up on pricing carbon, a $15 per ton tax could solve so many problems

A Smarter Smart Grid

To succeed, smart grid advocates need to learn more about investor-owned utilities and how to support changes in their culture

March 16, 2012

Climate TV Drama

Watch Rachel Maddow tangle with Senator James Inhofe over climate change and don't miss part 2

March 15, 2012

Heartland Targets Your Kids

Yes, the Heartland Institute is developing a K-12 climate denial curriculum

The Political Value Of Green Building

Based on 2008 voting patterns, Republican and Democratic regions place different market values on LEED or Energy Star industrial warehouses

New Tech's Not The Climate Breakthrough

Contrary to what the Breakthrough Institute claims, energy techno-gadgetry will not save us from the worst impacts of climate change

March 14, 2012

We're All Weatherpersons Now

Take a tutorial on the jet stream and its impact on our weird weather

The Good Guys Win

Climate change researchers take heart! Scientists have prevailed over industry opposition when it comes to tobacco-smoking, smog, & ozone holes, it just takes a long time

Coastal Flooding 2020

Explore this interactive map of metro area New York to see if coastal flooding is in your future

March 12, 2012

Stick With What Works Well

US energy efficiency standards for appliances, lighting and equipment have a proven track record, making projections of future savings a safe bet

Wasting Money On Witch Hunts

The Washington Post slaps down the Virginia Attorney General who spent years investigating and harassing climate scientist Michael Mann and squandering public funds

Chu's Choices

DOE Secretary Chu spells out the administration's all-of-the-above energy policy, with R&D as the 'sweet spot'

March 09, 2012

Cut The Risk

An insurance industry think tank urges governments and decision makers to cut GHG emissions and take other actions to mitigate extreme weather events that imperil large urban areas

In Praise Of ARPA-E

Although it's got critics, ARPA-E, an incubator for disruptive energy-tech innovations, has a fan base that expects big things

March 08, 2012

In the Climate Journalism Trenches

The current state of media coverage on climate science seems to satisfy no one

Do It The El Paso Way

El Paso, Texas has big plans to become a healthy, sustainable, green & delightful city

March 07, 2012

Harmonizing History And Green Zoning

A historic preservation group takes exception to specifics in the New York City green zoning proposal

An Ounce Of Prevention

It can't be said too often, one key to sustainability is when corporations adopt pollution prevention planning

$45 Billion LBO, Victim of Fracking

Plunging natural gas prices due to hydrofracking upend a $45 billion leveraged buy-out of a venerable Texas power utility by KKR and Goldman Sachs

March 06, 2012

Wowing Them In Pittsburgh

The Phipps Conservatory Center for Sustainable Landscapes project could be a game-changer for sustainable architecture

Fact Checking On The Price Of Gas

Despite what you may hear this election season, global market dynamics - not more domestic drilling, sets the price of gasoline at the pump

Today's Nuclear Power Landscape

While prospects are dim for a new fleet of nuclear power plants in the US, owners of existing plants have long-term plans

March 05, 2012

The Back Story Of The Hockey Stick

The iconic chart of climate change's hockey-stick effect emerged from decades of work by many scientists explains Michael Mann & a |

Arctic Amplification Is Bad News

What is arctic amplification and what's it got to do with globally weirder weather?

March 03, 2012

What's Dense Got To Do With It

While far below historic peaks, New York City's population density places steep demands on its environmental infrastructure

March 02, 2012

Leaks, Deception And Media Law

Media law experts weigh in on the climate scientist who leaked Heartland Institute documents obtained by using questionable means

Don't Be A Climate Yo-Yo

The severe impacts of today's weird weather make the case for big government as the necessary resource for facing coming climate change crises

Energy Politics Ignite

In a Presidential election year, the fierce political fight over energy policy gets even fiercer. Here's one current scorecard

March 01, 2012

Gauging Energy Retrofit Opportunities

Deutsche Bank spells out the benefits of upgrading US building stock energy efficiency and how to overcome barriers to market demand

Report From The Energy Summit

The ARPA-E Energy Summit attracts the A-list of new ideas and energy innovations, but is that enough?

February 29, 2012

Climate Skeptics Flunk Econ 101

If cost-benefit ratios are not the right tool for calculating the value of acting on climate change, what is?

Scienctists At Work

How can cold winters be a sign of global warming?

What We're Thinking Now

Don't miss the latest survey of US and Canadian public opinion on climate change

Left, Right Or Neither

Is location on an ideology spectrum the wrong way to think about the political dynamics of climate policy?

February 27, 2012

Mind The Climate Gap

Are there good ways to make the scientific consensus on the reality of climate change credible to a skeptical public?

Shale Gas - Fuggedabout It Or Not

Thoughts on why the world should curb its enthusiasm for extracting and burning natural gas. Thoughts on why the world should keep natural gas in the mix

Destination: Sustainable Cities

Starting with Singapore, here's a three-part path for growing sustainable cities where people want to live

February 24, 2012

How To Obfuscate

Scientific straight talk about the climate denier's SOP

World Doesn't Revolve Around US

Things have changed and today global oil prices are not driven by US demand

February 22, 2012

Trending High Performance

Six high-performance building trends that reflect real-world conditions in 2012

Fossil Fuels Are So Over

Energy visionary and debunker of conventional wisdom, Amory Lovins, always has something memorable to say

CA On-Bill Financing

California considers an on-bill financing law to make it easy for homeowners to pay for energy-efficient upgrades on their utility bills, but what should happen if repayments are not made?

February 21, 2012

Trouble In Mind

AAAS President Nina Fedoroff said about the spread of the anti-science movement in the US and around the world, "We are sliding back into a dark era," she said. "And there seems little we can do about it. I am profoundly depressed at just how difficult it has become merely to get a realistic conversation started on issues such as climate change or genetically modified organisms."

February 20, 2012

A Make-Over In Queens

Here's a preview of the transformation of the traffic-immersed Queens Plaza into a pedestrian and bike-friendly urban asset

Don't Abandon Hope

How can an abandoned London warehouse be converted into a vertical urban community garden?

Eco Sustinabiity IS Financial Sustianability

Identify the business opportunities in the energy and climate megaforces that are sending the business costs of environmental impacts spiraling

February 17, 2012

Out Of Town

February is Eagle Cam time!

February 16, 2012

The Climate Spectrum Syndrome

Are climate analysts at war with climate advocates, or is something more complex happening?

How Things Work

Everything you wanted to know about concentrated solar power technology but were afraid to ask

China's Urban Future

Can Chinese cities, already home to 1.35 billion people and reliant on property sales rather than property taxes, transform their environmental impacts with green design and sustainable growth?

The New Normal Is Hot

Data shows summertime extreme heat in the US is already becoming the new normal [Climate Wire $ub]

February 14, 2012

Scoring An Analogy

Is our understanding of climate change and extreme weather advanced by using the analogy of steroids and home runs?

The New Military-Industrial Complex

Defense Department investment in solar power boosts domestic industry

What Money Will Buy

The environmental movement splits over energy industry donations to the Sierra Club

February 13, 2012

Tell Me Why

Seven reasons why cap and trade can work to cut carbon emissions

100 Year Storm Becomes The 20 Year Storm

Dive in to a New York City routinely flooded by ferocious storms

Urban Retrofits And Liquid Assets

Public infrastructure and private building retrofits can use innovative financing to control storm runoff and clean up urban waterways

February 10, 2012

Mapping A Clean Energy Planet

Zoom around this Renewable Energy Lab map of the world's renewable energy resources

Getting Personal

What is a personal carbon allowance and how would it work?

February 09, 2012

Dear Mr. Nocera - Wrong On Keystone

What are the fatal flaws in New York Times columnist Joe Nocera's support for the Keystone XL pipeline project?

The Science Of Public Opinion

Research finds the most important factor in influencing public opinion on climate change is “the elite partisan battle over the issue...It is the political leaders in Washington who are really driving public opinion about the threat of climate change. The politics overwhelms the science" 'Nuf said

A Different Super Bowl Review

No, not Super Bowl the game, but Super Bowl, the advertising opportunity for corporate environmental responsibility

February 08, 2012

Mixed Labor Message On Pipeline

The reality of union members' views on President Obama's Keystone XL shale oil pipeline stance is more complex than some say

Weather Or Not

Is it just weird weather these days or a taste of climate chaos?

Propelling The Agenda 21 Plot

What drives the Tea Party belief in a UN sustainability plot, though its Agenda 21, to ruin America?

February 07, 2012

Curb Your Enthusiasm

The "so what?" industry response to potential problems with the US shale gas industry is not the right one

Hubba Hubba For Philly Energy Efficiency

Don't miss the second story on the race at a research hub in Building 661 in the Philadelphia Nay Yard Building to solve the puzzle of how to make buildings energy efficient [Climate Wire $ub]

What To Expect In 2012

Still time for making predictions about the year's top sustainability stories

February 06, 2012

Fool Some Of The People Some Of The Time

Today, you can't fool all of the people all of the time, when it comes to climate science

London: Hacking For The Green

Using open source or other permitted data sets, the Green Hackathon in London disseminates ideas for using a world of data to save the planet

February 03, 2012

Higher, Greener Education

Learn about STARS, a streamlined tool to rank American colleges' green achievements

Let There Be Solar - Not Good Enough

New solar technology is not the only solution to get electricity to people who need it most

Science At Work

Nobel Prize-winners explain how climate science can be both reliable and incomplete

February 02, 2012

Obama and the C Word

Why will the President be pressed to start talking about climate change again?

States Are Right

Nearly every state and territory has been active on the clean energy and efficiency fronts, despite federal inaction and a weak economy

Mothballing Baseload Power

Germany has a plan to solve the fundamental power system problem of baseload (dirty or detested) v intermittent (clean and renewable) power

February 01, 2012

Building Blocks For Tomorrow

The urban block is a fundamental micro-unit for developing resilient and sustainable cities

PV In A Global Economy

See the twists and turns of the global PV industry through a US-China lens

Climbing Out Of Urban Data Silos

Smarter cities need better energy use measurements and the ability to apply them to urban planning ideas

January 31, 2012

Hot and Salty

Molten salt will be used at three California solar power plants to store power and boost output if regulators approve

Battery Dud Isn't Doomsday

Time for some background and perspective on the Chapter 11 bankruptcy of the federally-funded EV battery maker

Chu Chewed Up

Carl Sagan's famous quote captures an essence of DOE Secretary Chu's Washington years, “Our planet is a lonely speck. In all this vastness, there is no hint that help will come from elsewhere to save us from ourselves.”

January 30, 2012

Hot Volcanos, Chilled Climate

How did a spate of volcanic eruptions in 1250-1300 AD lead to the Earth's Little Ice-Age?

Oceanic Acid Indigestion

Trend data on ocean acidification, an outcome of rising CO emissions, is getting clearer and the implications are not good

See Climate Change

Watch the NASA video map of global temperature trends starting in 1880

January 27, 2012

Rx For Climate Change

If the $409 billion in annual global production and consumption subsidies for fossil fuels was ended, we would advance half way to cutting enough GHG emissions to keep the planet tolerably cool

Oil: Peak, Plateau or None-Of-The-Above

Another round in the peak oil prize fight BTW, don't skip the readers comments & a rebuttal
'

The Next Big Thing

A California workshop might be incubating the electric storage technology that could change the rules of the power game

January 26, 2012

Speed Dialers For Renewables

Low expectations of Congressional action on the President's energy agenda is a safe bet, but panels of citizen speed-dialers gave the Obama SOTU speech high marks on solar and wind power proposals

Light Up

The energy efficient light bulb revolution is happening here and now

January 25, 2012

Why It Will Get Warmer Sooner

NASA pulls together oceans of information to explain predictions of rapid global warming

Energy: He Said, They Said

Here's a summary of the President's remarks on energy in his State of the Union speech and Republican reactions

Sunny California

Although California is not the only state to take up the solar power challenge, it still leads the way

January 24, 2012

More Inconvenient Truth

Despite a wave of VC investment, technological innovation and federal support, fossil fuels are still king

How To Save The Planet

People should live in cities, here's why

January 23, 2012

Lighting The Way

Confused about which light bulbs to buy or have trouble with the one's you bought already? Ask Umbra

What A Concept

Renovate vacant foreclosed homes in federal receivership to create thousands of energy-efficient, affordable rentals

Plumbing Climate Denial

If today's 'deficit' of scientific literacy does not explain widespread public skepticism about climate change, what does?

Fraught In Florida

Keep an eye on what Republican Presidential primary candidates say in Florida about environmental protection

What NY Greens Want

New York's environmental groups have ten top goals for State action in 2012

January 21, 2012

Reality Check

What's a weather disaster? a climate disaster? and when will the signals be seen? [Hint: Don't skip the links]

Another Round On Jevons Paradox

Arguments about the Jevons Paradox, also known as the rebound effect, still enthrall energy efficiency wonks

January 20, 2012

Where Do We Go From Here

With the expiration of federal loan guarantees and tax breaks that serve as renewable energy policy, EDF offers ideas about what should we do now

The Canada-California Carbon Link

While the Canadian oil pipeline project is on hold for now, a court decision striking down California's low-carbon rule could allow local refineries to process Alberta's oil sands in the future

Hansen Does 2011

Jim Hansen crunches 2011 world weather data (a La Nina year) and finds it the ninth warmest since 1880

January 19, 2012

Who's Watching Now

Sharp increases in US toxics and carbon emissions, despite a slow economic recovery, show the need for more corporate innovation, government monitors and citizen watchdogs

Science (Still) At Work

Understanding that all science is a work-in-progress done by real folks is the first step toward understanding climate science

Shale Gas Is A Wedge Not A Bridge

Experts debate over the claim that shale gas will be a bridge to a renewable energy economy

January 18, 2012

Climate-As-Culture War: Round X

Wham, bam etc

State of Green Business Report

Using twenty indicators, the annual state of green business report paints a dark picture, with just a few few bright spots

January 17, 2012

Minding The Media

Looks like CBS News fact checkers flubbed their facts on federal loans to clean energy companies

Paradoxical Thinking

If the most powerful forces arrayed against climate action are stagnating national economies, is the opposite true?

Contain Your Enthusiasm

Seeing potential in a glut of shipping containers, Starbucks opens a new chapter in green building & urban retail

January 14, 2012

Life's Not A Beach

Southeast Florida, home to 5.6 million people, isn't waiting for international climate treaties to undertake its own climate adaptation planning

January 13, 2012

Experts Disagree

Experts disagree over the impact of falling natural gas prices on energy use, development of renewables and whether prices will stay low

Decision Pending On VT Nuke Plant

Expect a court decision on Vermont's challenge to federal relicensing of the Vermont Yankee nuclear power plant

Nuclear Decision Pending In VT

Expect a court decision on Vermont's challenge to federal relicensing of the Vermont Yankee nuclear power plant

January 12, 2012

The Holy Grial Of PV

It's complicated to explain, but grid parity, when solar power costs the same as fossil-fueled power, could be coming to New York by 2016

Find That Footprint

Explore the new EPA GHG emissions map starting with New York and scan the horizon too

January 11, 2012

Forget Jevons Paradox

In case you missed last year's set-to, here's why improved energy efficiency does not result in a rebound in energy use

Banking On Energy Efficiency

The Deutsche Bank Americas Foundation looks for the value of energy efficiency housing and finds it in The Benefits of Energy Efficiency in Multifamily Underwriting and the Benefits of Energy Efficiency in Multifamily Affordable Housing

January 10, 2012

A State Of Success

States find their clean energy fund programs also succeed at stimulating economic growth

Monitor The Media

Is it true that general climate coverage in the media took a nose dive last year or was it just certain topics that took the hit?

Count On It

Energy efficiency saves homeowners and businesses money and payback times are another plus

A Polymer To Save The Planet

Scientists have created PEI, a low cost polymer that can be used infilters to adsorb CO2 right from the air, and recycled into fuel

January 09, 2012

Getting Green In Bushwick

Students in Bushwick, Brooklyn learn about urban sustainability by growing food and building a greenhouse

Bangalore v India

The solar power potential made possible by the IT revolution centered in Bangalore may find it hard to grow in India

The Long Interglacial Era

What evidence do scientists consider when calculating the onset of an Ice Age, and what is likely to delay the next one?

January 08, 2012

Mental Structures

Cognitive neuroscience converges with architecture to sprout new urban forms rooted in the natural world

January 06, 2012

Predictions And Wish Lists

What are some insiders thinking could happen on the energy and climate fronts in this Presidential-race year?

Useful Urban Knowledge

Cities like New York are creating digital finger-prints to solve high priority problems, some of them could be ecologic

January 05, 2012

I See Green

Can you see prospects for green/clean economic development in New York City's emergent high tech tomorrow? Sallan wants to know

ARPA-E Looks Ahead

Researchers at ARPA-E search forbig energy tech breakthroughs

Evidence Of Climate Change

Want to know how scientists identify and causal 'fingerprints' of global climate change?

Yes We Could

One more time -- rebuild American with good green jobs

January 04, 2012

Shall We Overcome

The rise of local opposition to renewable energy projects is the latest in the siting drama, Anywhere But Here

Edison's Bright Idea

The great-grandson of the inventor of the light bulb is sure Edison would approve of the new federal efficiency standard

Fire, Not Ice

Think a new ice age is on the way? Think again

January 03, 2012

Pssst! Pay Attention

Media coverage of climate issues down 42% from its 2009 peak

Paying The Pipeline Piper

Stay tuned for President Obama's decision on the Keystone XL tar-sands pipeline and the political consequences while a former safety inspector speaks out

Making It In NYC

If you can make it there, you'll make it any where... clean, green and high tech firms get incubated in NYC

December 30, 2011

Don't Forget 2011

Does this video recap of record-breaking weird weather in 2011 makes you look forward to 2012?

Financing Fracking

One way to peer into the future of hydrofracking is to look at the corporate bond market

December 29, 2011

Public Health Costs Of Climate Chaos

Whatever the specifics of a changing climate, factoring in its public health impacts steeply raises the cost of inaction

Adjusting To Climate Chaos

Get acquainted with efforts around the world to cope with challenging climate changes

Methane Mysteries

Methane is known to be a potent GHG, but why its atmospheric concentrations change is not well-known

December 28, 2011

A Different Us v Them

To understand the uproar at the over the chairman of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, don't think Democrat v Republican

Hydrofracking Happy In Canada

Western Canada speeds down the road to becoming a capital of hydrofracking for fossil fuel extraction

Vermont: 90x50

Consider the Vermont plan for getting 90% of its energy from renewable sources by 2050

December 27, 2011

Looking For Leadership

Former Senator and Clinton-era official Tim Wirth calls on President Obama to to show some leadership on climate action if he gets re-elected.

Climate Needs B-2-B Strategy

Can businesses who get green become the key to unlocking the resistance of other businesses to act on climate change?

Bank Talks Green But Backs Fossils

Despite its renewables commitment, the bulk of the European Investment Bank energy investments still go to fossil fuel projects.

Past Performance Is No Guarantee

Although life on Earth has always bounced back after radical changes in its climate, this time it could be different

December 23, 2011

Benchmarking Bragging Rights

A four-star review of the NYC Greener Greater Buildings Plan and the latest on Local Law 84, its benchmarking law

India: Getting Urban

Anticipating a rising tide of urban growth in India, transit options will be key to sustainability and the government seeks to relaunch infrastructure development

A Holdiay Wish - Seal Your AC

Tis the season to learn the best way to seal up your window-mounted air conditioners and save on home energy costs

In The Smart Grid Crystal Ball

An industry optimist sees significant smart grid global growth along with renewables capability and security concerns in 2012

December 22, 2011

Science At Work

Another in a series that explores how science gets done, focusing this time on how paradigms get shifted.

December 21, 2011

A Bike Rider's Quest

Would the local sale of Amsterdam-type bikes in New York City encourage more people to pedal?

Fukushima: Reality Is Bad Enough

Scientific American debunks bad science that links US deaths to the Fukushima nuclear disaster

Lord Stern's Contradiction

Dig deeper into the meaning of UK economist Nicholas Stern's insight on the contradiction between climate action and the market vale of fossil resources

Reflecting On Energy Predictions

Review six energy predictions made this year and consider their merits

December 20, 2011

On The Bronx Waterfront

MIT students and Bronx residents start planning for eco-puncture, waterfront access and infrastructure adaptation on the borough's waterfront

Tracking Fracking

Scientific American creates an on-line resource to track ongoing inquiries and debates in the hydrofracking sphere

Continue reading "Tracking Fracking" »

December 19, 2011

Behind The Shale-Gas Boom

Think it was the miracle of market forces that propelled the shale-oil boom? Think again

Top Eco-News Of The Year

Check out this list of the best in environmental journalism for 2011

Cities: The Other 90%

An exhibit of practical, socially-conscious urban interventions from Caracas to Durban and more is reviewed here

December 16, 2011

Take This Seriously, Please

Grist's Dave Roberts explores the tone, tenor and thresholds needed to get Americans serious about climate action

Newt's Back Pages

A short recap of Newt Gingrich's comings and goings on climate change and eco-stewardship

Everybody Talks About The Weather

Looking for an eco year end wrap-up? Here's the US weather catastrophe slide show

December 15, 2011

The Competitive Edge

At the Department of Energy Washington headquarters, the building is divided into zones competing for monthly energy efficiency improvement awards [Climate Wire $]

Out Of Town

With climate change adding to the peril of desertification in Africa and the Arabian Peninsula, does innovative reforestation stand a chance? [New Yorker $]

December 14, 2011

Driving Low-Carbon Innovation

Don't miss these four case-studies of leading corporate low-carbon innovators

MA Makes RGGI Work

The much maligned northeast carbon cap and trade program, RGGI, proves its economic multiplier effect in Massachusetts and New Jersey too.

Pre-Copenhagen, Post-Durban

Written prior to the 2009 Copenhagen climate treaty meeting, this Rx for making a fossil fuel-free world still packs a punch after the 2011 Durban gathering.

December 13, 2011

Sustainable Business In 2012

Triple bottom line prospects for 2012? Not so good

Anthropocene Optimists

For some, living in a world made hotter by humans will be the incentive for the next wave of technological innovation

December 12, 2011

Variable Speed Rail Policy

A good national rail policy includes support for both conventional and high-speed service

Beyond Durban, Get Urban

The best ideas to come out of the Durban climate meeting focus on cities as the locus of sustainable action

Incoming Fire

Ten pillars of federal environmentalism at risk over the next twelve months

December 09, 2011

Immerse In Blue Carbon

The dynamic role of oceans in storing and releasing CO2 comes into climate science focus.

Climate Goals Put In Doubt By Market Values

Climate economist Nicholas Stern sees a contradiction between public climate policy goals and the market value of fossil fuel companies based on estimates of underground reserves.

Last Chance For Sustainability

In what could be the last such funding for a long time, HUD awards $97 million in sustainable planning grants to a rainbow of regional and local projects

December 08, 2011

Klein's Climate Message

After Naomi Klein attended a Heartland Institute conference, she wrote about climate politics in The Nation and followed it up in an Dot Earth dialog with Andy Revkin

December 07, 2011

Can't Get Here From There

Despite job and population growth that is concentrated in the outer boroughs, New York's public transit options haven't kept up with the trend.

Blogging The Smart City

Take a virtual tour of big ideas and trends at the Barcelona Smart City Expo 30

Climate Change Poses Health Dangers

It won't affect everyone the same way, but the impacts of climate change will raise the world's health risks levels

December 06, 2011

Rethinking The Apple

Reflect on why the New York City Zoning Code is up for a greener make-over and at the age of 50

South Africa: Green Street Now

If you've been to Cato Manor in Durban South Africa, this story will make you glad and if not, it will still make you glad.

A Class Of One

Is UK columnist George Monbiot the only media environmentalist who supports nuclear power?

December 05, 2011

Up On Your ToEs

Scientists develop a method to distinguish the "noise" of natural climate variations from the Time of Emergence (ToE) of climate change signals around the planet.

Power Ads

A quick history of advertising for electric and power says a lot about how we live.

Some ABCs of Renewable Power

How much renewable power is used in the US, where does it come from and other fundamentals can be found here

December 02, 2011

Offsets Undermine Carbon Markets

The problems with measuring and monitoring carbon offsets in the Alberta, Canada emissions trading scheme are not uncommon.

December 01, 2011

It Will Cost You

An accurate calculation of the subsidies given to different energy industry sectors depends on who you ask.

November 30, 2011

Try Not To Despair

While the gap between talk about climate action and global realities is profound, more facts are now available, so don't despair.

Let's Look At The Record

EPA responds to utility critics of proposed air toxics rules in very fine print.

Benchmarking Starts Here

NYC issues it's first in-depth report on benchmarking the energy performance of municipal buildings and explains how they stack up compared to similar facilities around the nation.

November 29, 2011

Getting Halfway

What would it take for California to to get halfway to its goal of cutting GHGs 80% by 2050, more research and development of new technologies or more deployment of what is now available?

Energy Policy 101

What role should government play in the energy economy as a whole and why is government investment key?

November 28, 2011

Insensitive Science

To track climate science at work, spend some time with this detailed response to the headline-making paper estimating the sensitivity of the climate to carbon emissions.

Redirecting Energy Support

Instead of pouring tax dollars into costly, current-generation renewable energy projects, redirect them toward R&D for a new generation of efficient, clean and cheap power supplies.

Clean Tech VC: Past and Future

An insider's overview of US clean tech venture capital action from 1995- 2011 shows a peak of seed money investment in 2008 and then a sharp contraction - no surprise there - but the future could be brighter.

November 26, 2011

Dense Is Smart

Now's the time to reverse the tide of office development from suburban sprawl to downtown density.

November 25, 2011

Storage Options

While the financial failure of a New York company using flywheels to store electric power for the grid made headlines, transmission line construction costs make other storage technologies competitive.

Tailing Climate Politics

Consider how statistical 'fat tails' of low-probability, high-risk events plague climate action decision-making.

Power Concedes Nothing Without A Demand

Apply the evergreen observation,"Power concedes nothing without a demand. It never did and it never will." to the politics of building the Keystone XL tar sands pipeline.

November 22, 2011

Follow The Leaders

Even without national policy or international agreement on climate action, there is leadership that counts at the 'subnational' scale.

The Federal Role For Fracking

EPA Administrator Jackson speaks about the agency's current hydrofracking research and what might lie ahead.

A Little R and D Would Go A Long Way

Harvard researchers find doubling current federal spending on energy R & D would be a key driver to attracting billions in private low-carbon energy innovation investment, but other supporting policies are equally essential.

November 21, 2011

Things Could Be Looking Up

Maybe, just maybe, the influence of climate deniers is on the wane. Even more reason to understand the folks in 'uncertain center'.

November 18, 2011

Go Further On A Gallon Of Gas

Making the reality-based case for the federal rule requiring vehicles to get 54.5 MPG.

Adapting To Climate Weirding

While the IPCC refines the current state of knowledge about what to expect as the climate changes, the urgency of undertaking adaptive actions is clear right now.

Antarctica And Us

Changes in the remote Antarctic Pine Island Glacier will matter close to home.

November 17, 2011

You Tube In The Basement

Check out this YouTube clip of how an apartment building in Queens, NY can save big on its energy budget.

Let's Look At The Record

A review of 40 years of US regulations disproves the notion that environmental protection has damaged the economy. And now for some recent job figures.

November 16, 2011

Hot Graphics

Consider what can and cannot be learned from the latest animated climate data graphs.

China: The Climate's New Best Friend

With the US remaining adamantly opposed to international action on climate change, Chinese self-interest might drive the action agenda.

November 15, 2011

Canada: Rerouting The Pipeline

Anyone who thinks the US delay in approving the Keystone pipeline from Canada will stop the flow should think again.

Debating Renewable Subsidies

The New York Times attack on current patterns of renewable energy subsidies gets a feisty response.

November 14, 2011

Certifiably Sustainable

As a general contractor, master plumber or master/special electrician, now you can apply to become a Certified Sustainable Contractor in New York City.

Real World Impacts Of Climate Science

A new IPCC report spelling out areas of climate science uncertainty could make it tougher for developing nations to get mitigation and adaptation support.

Solyndra: Shoulda, Woulda, Coulda

Digging into the demise of Solyndra reveals bright business big-box prospects for what could have been.

FAQ's On Climate Science

Looking for a refresher on how hot is too hot or what do concentrations of atmospheric CO2 explain?

November 10, 2011

The Bright Side Of Solar Power

A look at solar power projects in California shows it's no time to pull the plug on the renewable source of power.

Attention Must Be Paid

While there could be some work-around on the EIA call to change our carbon-loving ways by 2017 or else, why gamble?

Retrofit Roundup

Don't miss this summary of the good news about the energy efficient building retrofit movement.

Climate Deniers and U-Turners

Review the record of what the current crop of Republican Presidential hopefuls have said about climate change and see what's changed.

November 09, 2011

Learning To Trust

Overwhelmed with the task of validating stories reporting on climate change? Here's some help.

Join The Renewable Energy Debate

The Economist invites you to weigh in on a debate over the value of subsidizing renewable energy development.

November 08, 2011

Inner Mongolia: Climate Tourism

Take a tour of Inner Mongolia, the capital of coal mining and GHG emissions in China.

November 07, 2011

Scare Tactics

With the closure of the Indian Point nuclear power plant high on Governor Cuomo's to-do list, the fight over how to keep the lights on heats up.

Feeling Good Isn't Good Enough

Why polls showing Americans' good feelings about clean energy don't translate into effective political action .

Benchmarking Thrills

Compare and contrast New York City's benchmarking law with Canadian voluntary programs.

Now Hear This

Seven reasons why the public shuts out climate information and advocacy.

Solyndra Is Dead, Long Live Solar Power

The failure of Solydra should be seen as a technological and market success of the falling price of solar power.

November 04, 2011

Remember, Mother Nature Bats Last

The Sierra Club offers an urgent reminder about what it means to live on a planet with finite resources.

November 03, 2011

Coal's Still King

Think the world will break its addiction to coal anytime soon? Think again.

1.7 Trillion Tons Of Bitumen

Drill into this fine print to calculate the carbon and climate implications of plans to drill and pump 1.7 trillion tons of bitumen from the Alberta, Canada tar sands. Don't skip the readers' comments.

November 02, 2011

Auditing Green Buildings

Federal auditors report that the government's portfolio of green, occupied buildings really does outperform conventional real estate.

Don't Be Fooled

Why is asking if some freakish storm or drought is the result of climate change is the wrong question.

November 01, 2011

When Simple Gets Complicated

Researchers rethink the popular recommendation about painting roofs white to help cool the planet.

Good Reasons To Have A Government

Economic growth is tied to innovation and government provides five essentials for innovation to occur.

Retrofit Power Tools

What are the key tools for making energy efficiency retrofits of commercial buildings the new normal?

Climate Data Central

Whether you are a scientist, citizen or app developer, this on-line access portal could be just what is needed to access climate data and assess scientists' working models.

October 31, 2011

In The Media Machine

Joe Rom's razzberry hurled at the New York Times Special Energy Section gets its own commentary.

Wind Energy Worries

The maker of wind turbine components calls for a five year extension of federal tax credits or worries about having to shut down instead of making new hires.

October 28, 2011

The Budget Guessing Game

Trek into the deepest recesses of Washington budget-making and track DOE's energy loan program.

Finding Your Way To Climate Science

More problem solving rather than mountains of facts could be the key to persuading people about the meaning of climate change.

California Modeling

Check out this free, web-based mapping tool to visualize climate change impacts in California from 1950 - 2090 and draw your own conclusions.

October 27, 2011

Manufacturing Isn't Dying, It's Changing

If a sound economy needs a vibrant manufacturing sector, what should the US do now? (with implications for the green jobs debate).

Free From Ancient Pond Scum

Calling fossils fuels 'ancient pond scum', Avery Lovins' latest book makes the economic value proposition for renewable energy.

The Hottest Google Earth Map

Now you can locate geothermal energy sources around the US on Google Earth.

Don't Call It An Energy Policy

This review of The End of Energy finds the US has a history of short-term political expediency, not an energy policy.

October 26, 2011

The Urban A List

More interesting than who's on the list of America's greenest cities, is what they do to get there.

Clean Energy R&D Leaders

Which companies are investing the most in their future with clean energy research and development funds? (Hint: Based on net sales, not Exxon.)

October 25, 2011

Add Up These Job Numbers

What to make of the million new jobs in the energy industry promises made by candidates Romney and Perry?

October 24, 2011

Reduce, Reuse, Remodel

Thinking about a home energy-efficiency upgrade? Here's a chart with upfront costs and payback times to help you decide what to do.

Why China's Smart Grid Investment Is Smart

China will invest $45 billion on a smart electric power grid to ease its energy shortages, bring more renewables on-line and become the leader in infrastructure tech.

Trashing Dirty Diesel

Replacing dirty and expensive diesel fuel with trash-hauling trucks using compressed natural gas splits environmentalists.

October 21, 2011

OWS Through A Green Lens

First impressions of the relationship between the OWS message and climate advocacy.

Read What Krugman Reads

Citing this scholarly article on how economic costs of air pollution outweigh their benefits. Paul Krugman slashes at Republican attacks on environmental protection in the name of job creation. EPA Chief Lisa Jackson reads GOP the riot act

October 20, 2011

States Of Efficiency

Massachusetts bumps California to 2nd place on the 2011 State Energy Efficiency Scorecard while New York retains its #3 slot.

Inherit The Wind

Our failure to make significant progress on halting climate change is a moral failure with consequences for succeeding generations.

October 19, 2011

How To Talk The Talk

Climate scientists grapple with how to explain their latest discoveries to the public and understand the significance of probabilities.

People Are Strange

When it comes to nudging people towards greater energy efficiency, research encounters a gap between awareness and behavior.

Climate Science Digest

What are the highlights of the latest in climate science?

October 18, 2011

Looking For Venture Capital

Tips from a venture capital investor on what it takes to raise clean tech funding.

Parsing Australia's Climate Politics

Look into the political context of the new Australian climate law.

Sound The Alarm

Incoming data shows that scientists making the more dire climate change predictions could be proved right. Meanwhile, the broader battle over climate science media coverage rages on.

October 17, 2011

Why Australia Can Do What The US Can't

Unlike the US, Australia now has a carbon tax, so what does that tell us?

NY Doesn't Need Nukes

An environmental group reports on how New York can be energy secure if the Indian Point nuclear power plant is closed in 2015.

The Sustainabilty Gap

Delve into the emerging gap between corporate sustainability embracers and the cautious adapters.

October 13, 2011

Critical Climate Data

New NASA weather satellite is the first mission designed to collect critical data to improve weather forecasts in the short-term and increase understanding of long-term climate change. Take a look under the hood

October 03, 2011

Greening Aviation

Google sponsored Green Flight Challenge results are in and the all-electric Taurus G4 Pipestrel takes home 1.3M prize purse from NASA achieving an amazing 403.5 MPGe. A long way from Kitty Hawk.

September 29, 2011

Americans Like Green Jobs

By wide margins, polls and focus groups find the US public supports a federal role in growing green jobs and a clean energy economy.

Geo-Architecture Of The Big Apple

A new book explores how New York City's near-time urban environment meshes with geological processes billions of years old and makes the case for environmental responsibility.

September 28, 2011

Deeper Into The Stabliization Triangle

Professor Socolow's essay refining his 2004 wedge strategy for grappling with climate change elicits hisses and kisses.

September 27, 2011

Fast Tracking High Speed Rail

How could creation of an interstate infrastructure corporation help realize the goal of developing high speed rail in the northeast?

More Dope Peddling

The fossil fuel industry uses the same PR strategy the tobacco companies deployed against the science of smoking's health impacts.

Enter The Stabilization Triangle

The scientist who launched the strategic idea of a wedged climate stabilization triangle in 2004, says we know what to do about global warming but delves into why so little has been done.

Legally Green

Get an attorney's view of the fast-evolving field of high performance building law.

September 26, 2011

Review The Reviewer

Did the New York Times goof in picking a technocrat rather than an industry expert to review Daniel Yergin's energy industry book The Quest?

There Will Be Change

Blame the Texas monster-drought and wildfires on climate change, La Nina or bad luck, there is no doubt it's changing life in the Lone Star State.

Getting Under Your Skin

Climate change impacts are not remote in time and space since they can make you sick now.

Maintstreaming Green Leases

The time is now for green commercial leases to relocate from the financial frontier to the industry standard .

September 25, 2011

Living PlanIT - Maybe Not

Pegasus, New Mexico, the latest software experiment to make cities smarter, might be outfoxed by human serendipity.

September 23, 2011

Needed: A 3rd Industrial Revolution

According to big-ideas author Jeremy Rifkin, our future depends on shifting to a renewable energy economy.

It Might Take A Weatherman

Hitting energy efficiency building targets could get a boost from software that factors in the weather.

There Outght To Be A Plan

With electric use on track to grow sharply and its historic reliance on fossil fuels and an aging nuclear power fleet, New York needs to plan a new energy future.

September 22, 2011

Parsing Distributed Power

No, this is not a poli-sci posting, it's all about competing models of electric power generation, ownership and control.

Students Race For The Sun

Tour the 2011 Solar Decathlon, a student competition for the best solar home design.

September 21, 2011

Solydra: Hiccup Or Horror

Observers weigh in on the significance of Solydra's bankruptcy saga for renewable energy development.

NYCs GHGs - Data Galore

NYC's annual Greenhouse Gas Inventory finds real cuts, both annual and over its baseline year, 2007.

September 20, 2011

Yergin Writes Again

Check out this review of the latest book by energy industry maven Daniel Yergin on the new world of oil.

It's Not Your Grandma's World

Climate change along with political change means The Times of London must redraw its global map atlas every four years, bloopers and all.

NY Hydrofracking: Dryden Says No

A law suit seeks to overturn the Dryden, NY (pop.13,000) ban on hydrofracking to extract natural gas claiming that state law trumps local zoning rules.

September 19, 2011

Rick Perry Gives Reality A Lift

Could it be that Rick Perry's anti-climate screeds have boosted public opinion on the reality global warming?

In Hot Water

Using the latest data, scientists model how oceans respond to a changing climate. [$]

September 15, 2011

See Solar Clearer

Although the collapse of Solydra grabs the headlines, there's more good news about the US solar industry.

NYC Bar White Paper On Green Zoning

The New York City Bar Association examines how the City's powerful Zoning Resolution can be steered toward planning for sustainability.

September 14, 2011

The Fewer Green Jobs The Better

Spend some time with this Contrarian column on environmental economics and green jobs.

No Price Signal, No Pulse

If you put down Tom Friedman's column after the "global weirding" paragraph, read what he as to say about the need for a carbon price signal or companies like Solyndra will be left for dead.

Housing Bust Dims Solar Goals

While the California PV program for existing homes and businesses is on target to meet its goals, the housing crash has put a big dent in the solar rebate program for new construction.

September 13, 2011

Off Shore Wind - Bring It On

Let's hear it for the Long Island off-shore wind power project!

Skewering Obama's Ozone Decision

Grist calls Obama's decision to pull the plug on EPA ozone rules "a crass political move".

What's Happening Here

Forensic meteorology seeks to explain place-specific extreme weather events as new normals begin to appear.

September 12, 2011

After Solyndra

After the flame-out of Solyndra, the PV maker with $535 million in federal loan guarantees, what are the prospects for two other high profile, green energy start-ups?

Climate Change And Cosmic Rays

Since CERN research finds a link between cosmic rays and formation of molecules that make up clouds, why don't these rays explain our changing climate?

Walking In Cities v Walkable Cities

While large numbers of people use their feet to get around East African cities, that's not a measure of walkable cities.

Ahem - About That Infrastructure Bank Idea

What could possibly be wrong with create public-private capital partnerships to improve America's aging infrastructure?

September 11, 2011

Lost Jobs Found

The NY Post claims green jobs have been lost in California during the Obama years, but the Brookings Institute finds real eco-job growth for the 2003-2009 period.

Two-Wheeled Optimism

Three cheers for the bike lanes rolled out by NYC's Transportation Commissioner and the legacy they could create.

September 09, 2011

Natural Gas, Say It Ain't So

New research finds that replacing coal burning with natural gas does almost nothing to slow down global warming.

Energy Efficiency Program: No Margin For Error

Stimulus funds for home energy efficiency upgrades run into a buzz saw of some bad contractors, short time lines and political hostility.

Houston: The Opposite Of Cool

The heat in Houston Texas this summer rates as a once-in-10,000-year event, but what does that mean?

Up and Down, Up and Down

Now, New York City can shrink its carbon footprint through a utility program that makes high rise elevators energy efficient.

September 08, 2011

Illuminating Energy Politics

Grist warns that energy politics is not like graduate school, winning is disconnected from having the best argument.

WTC: Dust To Dust

The highly alkaline cement and gypsum in the dust from the destroyed World Trade Center was responsible for respiratory distress, while the contents and health effects of the disaster's airborne gases may never be known.

Making A Green Industrial Revolution

Testifying before Congress, the Center for American Progress offers concrete ideas for drawing on the nation's resources to launch a green industrial revolution.

September 07, 2011

Consider The Onion

The Onion makes you laugh until you cry on the subject of doing something about climate change.

Protect Us From Fracking And Hurricanes

According to City and State First Read "*When the Department of Environmental Conservation releases its complete report on hydrofracking today, Ramsay Adams of Catskill Mountainkeeper has a burning question for state officials: In the wake of Tropical Storm Irene's rampage across New York, where does the report stipulate how to protect gas wells against the increasingly common threat of flooding?" Link to DEC report.

Heads Up Or Heads Off

After President Obama abruptly offed the EPA smog rule, what are insiders saying about Lisa Jackson's shelf life at the agency?

September 06, 2011

What Made Controversial Story Bad Science

Climate scientist lays out the errors in a controversial skeptics' article that lead to a journal editor's resignation.

Waving A Red Cape At Green

In the most-e-mailed story of the day, New York Times columnist David Brooks charges that jobs won't come from government efforts to grow a sustainable energy economy. Compare this with The Nation columnist Eric Alterman who sees the death of Keynesian economics in Obama's policies. Another observer digs into the shifting market dynamics for PV makers and finds winners and losers. Nancy Anderson suspects that the lack of federal climate law just might have something to do with the business failures Brooks cites.

September 02, 2011

Uprepared For The New Normal

A 'perfect storm' of events and political trends stops the country from preparing to face the weather's new normals.

Canadian Oil Pipeline: Con and Pro-ish

Mark Bittman distills the anti Keystone XL oil pipeline position while Michael Levi offers lukewarm support.

Blue Skies

A survey of US insurance companies finds the industry is doing little to address and assess climate impact risks for business.

Good News On Jobs (Really)

In contrast to another month of dismal new job numbers, green industry clustering shows signs of economic growth.

September 01, 2011

Not Your Typical Bureaucrat

Chris Ward, Executive Director of the Port Authority, stirs things up in a speech calling the political assault on US infrastructure funding the "deterioration of the social contract", while he memorializes 9/11.

Adapt At Scale

Acknowledging the need for climate change adaptation is the first step, but making impact forecasts at the local scale is a big challenge.

August 31, 2011

Working Science

What's the significance of those charts with wavy lines and zig-zags where scientists plot global climate data?

California RAMs It

Not everyone is pleased with the California Renewable Auction Mechanism, a market mechanism for creating 1000 MW of renewable energy in two years, without using costly feed-in tariffs.

The Economy And The EPA

Battle lines are shaping up for the coming combat over economic policy and jobs, with Republicans putting the EPA and greenhouse gas rules in their cross-hairs.

August 30, 2011

Green Jobs Pay More

Why do both highly-educated and low-credentialed workers get better paid compared to employees in conventional jobs?

Landmark Green

New Yorkers soon will have a guide for making their smaller landmarked buildings energy efficient.

Raise Your Wind IQ

The smart grid offers crucial -- if partial -- solutions for making wind power a regular part of the energy supply system.

August 29, 2011

Smarter Than Hurricanes

Making the case for smart electric grids that could keep the lights on despite severe weather events.

Raise The Gas Tax

Set to lapse on September 30, a Bloomberg News editorial calls for the federal fuel tax to be renewed and raised over time to benefit roads, tunnels and mass transit.

August 28, 2011

Too Cool

It's time to rethink and reset summertime thermostats.

August 26, 2011

Why A Climate Scientist Reaches Out Now

"We cannot afford to wait until the full effects of climate change become known and say, 'Oh, this is not the future I really wanted, can I just kind of roll back time a few decades and knock all that carbon dioxide out of the air and make some different choices?'"Katharine Hayhoe, Texas climate scientist

Utopia v The New Normal

Instead of pinning hopes on building a few visionary green cities from scratch, city building codes should require efficiency and durability for all construction.

Western Power At The Crossroads

Energy, environmental and regulatory experts make the case for 11 western states to invest in renewable energy and a smart grid instead of fossil fuels and analog technology.

August 25, 2011

Staying Dry

New York City maps areas vulnerable to flooding and hurricane storm surges and where to go if evacuation is necessary.

Green MBA Job Futures

Graduates with MBAs that focus on environmental studies find bright job prospects

Van Jones v NY Times

Political activist Van Jones accuses the New York Times of getting a story about green jobs all wrong by misrepresenting what he's frustrated about.

August 24, 2011

It's Green It's Platinum, It's In Victoria

Take a tour of Dockside Green, a new LEED Platinum center-city neighborhood in Victoria, British Columbia.

Decongesting Stockholm, London And...

There's more than one way to do congestion pricing as this comparison of Stockholm and London programs reveals. Also, four cities that could use some congestion pricing.

August 23, 2011

Don't Mourn, Organize

If it's not a white, liberal, elite mindset that accounts for failed climate action politics, what does?

Hot Seat On The Science Beat

What should reporters on the science beat do when covering candidates like Rick Perry who blow off the science on political hot-potatoes like climate?

August 22, 2011

Furor Over Oil From Tar Sands

Look into the Keystone XL pipeline story for the hottest domestic energy policy debate of the year.

August 19, 2011

Green Roof Curmudgeon

Saying dirt is not insulation, this green building fan grumps about green roofs.

Everyone's Talking

Now it's time to talk about climate change when talking about the weather.

A New Climate Action Alliance

Water utilities link up with climate scientists to more accurately predict area-specific climate change impacts, including droughts and floods, to ensure quality service and reliability for their customers.

Crowd-Sourcing In Action

Want to combat climate change? Get together and do something.

NYC's Electric History

Since the 1880's, New York has depended on Edison's electric power system but now new solutions are needed to keep Gotham plugged in.

A Climate Science Refresher

Why does pumping CO2 into the atmosphere cause climate chaos and what's wrong with the Galileo Movement denial?

August 18, 2011

So Cool, It's School

Does your school or alma mater make the cut on the Sierra Magazine list of America's coolest, greenest schools?

Be Careful What You Wish For

Michelle Bachmann's promise of $2-a-gallon fuel can mean only one thing, another Great Recession.

August 16, 2011

The Political Climate

A political scientist looks at pubic opinion and political fund-raising data to explain the polarization and rightward shift of US politics.

Sustainable Creditworthiness

If S&P wants to accurately rate US creditworthiness, it should assess how the nation values its environmental resources.

August 15, 2011

What Makes Social Movements Move

Thesis: A movement to do something about climate change need organization to make things happen. Is climate organizing MIA?

The Neighborhood Project

"Using evolution to improve my city, one block at a time" - a book preview.

Green Jobs: Walk The Talk

The President talks about the potential of green collar jobs, find out what New York is doing about it while Congress needs to set up a framework.

August 12, 2011

The Gowanus Lowline

Not far from Manhattan's famous High Line, Brooklyn's Gowanus Canal has a Lowline competition winner.

Fare Hikes: It's Up To The Govs

The Port Authority of NY & NJ receives no tax payer support, but will Governors Cuomo and Christie approve the proposed toll hikes?

Tomorrow's Computer

Looking for more computer power and energy efficiency? then innovations in heat sink technology could be the key.

August 11, 2011

See The Drought

This is what the record-breaking drought in Texas, New Mexico & Georgia looks like.

Indigenous Communities In A Changing Climate

The Museum of the American Indian installs an exhibit on the impact of an increasingly chaotic climate on indigenous communities around the world.

The Limits Of Resilience

While Earth and its living creatures have demonstrated resilience in the face of previous climate changes, it would be unwise to count on it now.

August 10, 2011

A Plea For High-Speed Rail

Here's why the fatal crashes on China's high speed rail system should not shut down US intercity plans.

The Low Carbon Cloud

If the energy efficiency claims of cloud computing hold up, the climate could be a winner.

August 09, 2011

NJ: Green Legal Eagles

If you practice law in the Garden State, this Going Green issue of New Jersey Lawyer is for you.

Be Careful What You Pray For

After praying for rain, Texas Governor Rick Perry is praying for a rollback of EPA's air emissions rules.

New Building Rules Rule

The impact of energy-conscious building regulations is being felt throughout California.

Walking The High Line

Stroll through the history of New York's wildly popular new park, the High Line.

August 08, 2011

Exercise Judgement While Exercising

Be alert for heat-related illness when exercising on hot summer days.

August 05, 2011

Energy Efficiency Is Economic Efficiency

It's time for the US to learn the California lesson that energy efficiency is a power tool for creating economic resilience.

August 04, 2011

Time To Start Talking About Climate Change

Gunther pushes back on Shellenberger's siren call to stop talking about climate change.

Driving Toward EVs

What are the crucial factors that predict whether electric vehicles can compete in the marketplace?

Cholera And Social Change

The history of London's success at vanquishing cholera holds lessons for today's urban eco-activists.

South African Frack Fight

The possibility of hydrofracking for natural gas in a semi-arid area of South Africa creates government hope and local opposition.

Good Vibrations

Scientists are learning to capture the power of electromagnetic waves that surround us to power grids of microprocessors.

August 03, 2011

What If The Grid's Too Smart

Smart grid deployment must be coordinated with electricity pricing or there could be trouble ahead in the form of new demand spikes.

Mapping US Climate Impacts

More drought, heat, infectious disease, floods and air pollution are already happening. Are you at risk?

August 02, 2011

EPA Takes Aim At Air Pollution From Fracking

EPA announces plans to regulate air pollutants linked to hydrofracking for oil and natural gas extraction.

August 01, 2011

Shedding Light On The Sun

Contrary to the claims of some climate deniers, the sun is not the culprit in the current era of global warming.

Fracking: When The Times Becomes The Story

Why has recent New York Times reporting on hydrofracking for natural gas become its own news story?

Finding Ways To Finance Green Building

While financing is a major challenge for all builders in this tough economy, financing high performance buildings must find its own path

July 29, 2011

PlaNYC For The Long-Haul

How can long-term urban environmental blueprints like PlaNYC survive the short-run election cycle?

C+WM=Hot Climate Politics

What is it about Conservative White Males (C+WM) that form the core of US climate deniers and is there any solution to the climate equation?

NYC Green Building Info Resources

Check out this New York City web page loaded with information and links to new programs in its Greener, Greater Building Plan.

July 28, 2011

Rubber Bands And Opinion Trends

An annual poll of Californians' opinions on environment and climate topics reveals changes that come and go and some that stick.

Germany's Post-Nuclear Strategy

Germany develops a three-part energy strategy for a post-nuclear power system.

July 27, 2011

Catching Up With C40

Rohit Aggarwalla, special advisor to the C-40 initiative, explains what cities working together can do to face their climate challenges.

No LEED For Defense Department

The proposed federal budget zeros out funding for the Defense Department to obtain LEED certification for its buildings.

The Lord Said To Noah

Wade into New York City's resilience planning for mid-century storms and floods linked to to a hotter planet.

July 26, 2011

The Limits To Climate 'Pragmatism'

Michael Levi asks what to make of the Breakthrough Institute climate agenda, which eschews the goal of avoiding big-time climate changes.

July 25, 2011

Trends In Rating Energy Performance

The idea of rating and comparing buildings' energy performance is catching on around the US.

Putting Sustainability On Local Agendas

A survey finds local governments are just beginning to tackle sustainability issues.

July 22, 2011

A Climate Tale Of 2 Cities

Consider the different ways Washington and New York approach the climate change challenge.

July 21, 2011

Climate History: More Than Academic

James Hansen & Makiko Sato explain why understanding the dynamics of Earth's paleoclimate is key to understanding what's happening now.

Fracking: NY's Green Family Feud

Will the fight over hydrofracking for natural gas extraction split New York's environmental movement?

TV Drama

Watch climate scientist Steven Schneider take on Australian climate skeptics -- it's worth 45 minutes of your day.

July 20, 2011

NY Frack S-DGEIS Questions

With the release of New York's proposed supplemental environmental review on hydrofracking for natural gas, questions start rolling in.

Probabilities And Climate Action

"When you make a decision about the future -- whether it is based on theory or observation -- it is a sort of gamble. You can never know what is going to happen. When we make decisions about how to tackle climate change it is no different," David Stainforth, Confidence in Climate project

ARPA-E Good News/Bad News

The House votes to give DOE's energy research wing, ARPA-E, an $80 million budget boost, but this falls far short of recommended targets.

July 19, 2011

Est. 1830, Green 2011

Here's a menu of ideas about how the venerable Henry Street Settlement, located in 1830-era row houses, could go 21st Century green.

July 18, 2011

Fracking In PA

This American Life drills deep into the science and politics of hydrofracking for natural gas in Pennsylvania.

High Speed Rail: Mind The Gap

Will Obama Administration hopes for high speed trains get derailed in California due to a funding gap? Meanwhile NYC's aging transit resources are stuck in a rut.

White House Visits Brooklyn Green Jobs Magnet

The head of the President's Council on Environmental Quality visits IceStone the energy efficient Brooklyn manufacturer of kitchen counters made from recycled glass.

Investors Alert For Carbon Bubble

Are institutional investment managers overweighted in fossil fuel stocks that are forming a risky carbon bubble?

July 15, 2011

US Tide Power Potential

Explore this interactive map of tide power potential for the US being developed by Georgia Tech.

July 14, 2011

Rx For Bike-Phobia

In cities across Europe, people are riding bikes to get around, but not in American metropolises. What's the problem?

Cool Roof Research

Research models the urban temperature impact of cool urban surfaces and also considers large solar arrays.

July 13, 2011

TKO In Lightbulb Battle

The Congressional effort to toss out light bulb efficiency standards blows a fuse while, as a result of the 2007 efficiency law, technical innovations in 21st century lighting booms.

July 12, 2011

California: Zero x 30

California wants to build a zero net energy (ZNE) homes and offices future by 2030.

How To Get A Green Job

Looking for a career in the green space? Look here

Life Is Not Elsewhere

Only if people have a sense of place in their cities and neighborhoods will a sustainability agenda thrive.

July 11, 2011

What's In A Word

Does it matter that at last week's Presidential Twitter-Town Hall, Obama chose words like "clean" energy, but did not say "green" or "sustainable"?

Study Your School At School

For students in high performance school buildings, a green curriculum is all around them.

Home Imprivements: The Window

The ABC's of window installation and energy efficiency.

July 08, 2011

The Time Is Could Be Now

Here's the argument for reauthorizing a federal transportation law in 2011.

Cap and Trade Extinction

In the US and around the world, why are cap and trade programs for cutting GHG emissions fading away?

Climate Change At Murdoch's Media Empire

Beyond the hackinging headlines about Murdoch's media empire, is there a generational shift coming on its climate opinions?

July 07, 2011

Huhne's High Climate Anxiety

British Cabinet member Chris Huhne explains why climate change is a 'systemic risk' to food, water energy security, human health, trade flows and political stability.

Working In The Climate Corps

What happens when a volunteer environmental army, the EDF Climate Corps, fans out into corporate America?

July 06, 2011

Continents Apart

Media coverage of climate change in the US and Europe is a study in contrasts

Voters' Eco Choices

Scholars find Democrats and Independents are more likely to vote for candidates favoring climate and green policies while Republicans voters respond neutrally.

July 05, 2011

NYC: Retrofitting History

There are many opportunities to green NYC's trove of historic building. Start here

Urban Ratings Are Question Dependent

Explore the input that shapes the output in trendy urban sustainability ratings.

Fracking In Poland

Poland has much to gain and much to lose if it uses hydrofracking to extract its natural gas resources. Drill down

July 01, 2011

Sunny Upside For NYC

Now that NYC has a solar map, it's time to crunch some solar power numbers. Start counting

CO2 - Then And Now

What is the PETM and why do climate scientists care about it now? Find out

Crackdown On Chinese Eco-Activists

Budding public participation in decisions like building new hydropower projects, is nipped in China. Learn more

June 30, 2011

Dot Earth On Google's Climate

Andy Revkin sends notes from a Google media and the climate conference. What do you need to know?

AEP v CT: The Silver Lining

Look at the bright side of the Supreme Court decision, AEP v CT, when it comes to upholding EPA's legal climate authority.

Keys To Urban Sustainability

How does urban density affect the sustainability of metropolitan development? Fine print

June 29, 2011

In Defense Of A Green Jobs Agenda

This is not an academic exercise. Get to work

Strategies For Smaller Footprints

The UK has an ambitious goal to cut its carbon footprint, but some of the biggest firms traded on the stock exchange have no carbon-cutting strategies. Rx

June 28, 2011

Slow Growth Is Not Enough

Although better vehicle fuel standards will slow the growth of oil imports and GHG emissions, they are not enough to reverse rising demand. What's needed now?

June 27, 2011

It's Still The Economy, Stupid

Bill Clinton's Global Climate Initiative meets this week with a 14-point climate and energy-linked agenda. Smart or stupid?

A Surprise Gas Tax Fan

Which conservative commentator confirms his support for a gas tax but not a carbon tax? Look into it

Solar Number Crunching

Consider this proposition: the high dollar value of PV not its energy value makes the case for a new electric grid policy. Start here

An American Phenomenon

Climate change has become entangled in the US culture wars. Is there any way out?

June 24, 2011

Dam Dangers

Around the world, dams created for generating hydropower are decades old and some newer ones are in earthquake zones. Dive in

Pedal Power

Bike-sharing gains momentum in US cities. Learn more

Reclaim The Past

Industrial sites of earlier times are ideal locations for locating renewable energy installations. Here's why & how

June 23, 2011

Revkin And Romm On Gore v Obama

Andy Revkin and Joe Romm weigh in about Al Gore's slam of President Obama's climate efforts and the media's methods.

Carbon Diplomacy

An Australian newspaper quotes an American diplomat's assurance that the US will meet its carbon cutting goals of 17x20. Well ok!

June 22, 2011

No Budget, No Action

The biggest obstacle to undertaking energy efficiency improvements in commercial buildings is the lack of a budget to do such work. Ring a bell?

June 21, 2011

Bearing Witness

The account of one man's conversion from climate skeptic to action advocate. Make it personal

Hacking The Grid

Basic infrastructure, including the electric power gird, is vulnerable to hack attacks. Watch out

Re: Fracking Disclsure Laws

Five states now require disclosure of the chemical content of hydrofracking fluids, but are they good enough? Find out

June 20, 2011

The Javits Center Do Over

Tour the hopes and realities of a green retrofit initiative at the NYC Javits Convention Center. Enter here

Seeing Spots

Ever wonder if the frequency of sunspots has an impact on the Earth's climate? Admit it and learn more

EU: Energy Policy At The Microlevel

A survey of 5,000 households in eleven countries finds a wide variety of responses to a uniform energy efficiency policy. Fine print

June 18, 2011

Predicting Our Energy Future

Industry experts offer their views on what's in store for the US energy sector. Other experts peer ahead here

June 17, 2011

The Volt Market

Wonder who's buying electric hybrid Volt cars and if they are pleased? GM's happy

What's Historic Can Be Green

Start with green building preservation and connect to making sustainable cities. Think about it

June 16, 2011

Save The Planet Sink-By-Sink

Biogas, obtained from food waste that goes down the sink drain, is a resource for helping to save the planet. Waste not

Article X Opinion

Since 2003, New York has made do without a law to regulate the siting of power plants. Do we need a new law?

Only In London

An analyst of London's road-tested congestion pricing scheme does not expect to see it adopted in US cities. Why is that?

LEED Not Legislate

Is there an argument for keeping LEED out of municipal building codes? Look into it

June 15, 2011

Open Climate Science Source

California provides open-access to climate science research done at its universities and research centers. Learn lots

Green Building: Good For Bottom Lines

New research makes the business and economic growth case for investing in high performance building. Learn more

Businesss Remakes The Grid

Innovators find ways to integrate renewable energy into the power grid. Plug in

June 14, 2011

Solar Forecast: Partly Sunny

Revkin comments on Romm's comments on solar power. Look here

June 13, 2011

Seeing Through Denial

Australian scientists lauch a two-week series to demystify the M.O. of climate deniers. Start here

Number Crunching For Green Buildings

Here's how policies that support energy efficient building upgrades will benefit the environment and the economy. It adds up

Consider Salinity

A new satellite that measures changes in the salinity of sea-water will provide more clues about global warming. Fine print

June 10, 2011

PV: Graphic Progress

Solar power prices plunge and installation times can't be beat. Catch some rays

June 09, 2011

Scaling Up Super-Green Buildings

How to scale-up development of net zero-energy buildings is the topic of this New York Academy of Sciences e-Briefing.

China-US: Clean Tech Opportunities

A two-way street for China-US clean-tech business development is being paved now. Come this way

June 08, 2011

Climate Attitudes 2008-2011

A May 2011 survey of American attitudes about climate change and climate science shows what's changed since November 2008. Draw your own conclusions

Nullius In Verba

An analysis of evidence for the science of rising CO2 levels and hotly combative readers comments. Fine print

WikiCities

From do-it-yourself bike lanes and street seating to basic questions about citizen involvement in urban sustainabiiity, wikis could become a new force. Think about it

On The Rise Of Natural Gas

Review the IEA scenario of a world energy system that will be dominated by natural gas. Start here

Underwater Alert

Scientists research the link between oceanic dead zones and increased heat and GHG levels. Dive in

June 07, 2011

What The REC

Here's how to tell a good REC (renewable energy credit) from a dud. Spend some time

ICLEI 2.0

C40 and ICLEI develop a second-generation tool that identifies and quantifies sources of urban greenhouse gas emissions in order to target the right solutions. Measure up!

June 06, 2011

Buildings Are People Too

David Hsu explains just how to measure building performance in order to manage it right. Learn about latent categories

Emerging Economies/Carbon Incubators

The World Bank sees emerging economies as potential incubators for new carbon emissions trading schemes. Look into it

It's Back

The pattern of spiraling global levels of CO2 emissions has returned. Really bad news in depth

Summer Arctic Ice Watch

What's the current status of Arctic ice and what is in store for the summer of 2011? Stay tuned

June 02, 2011

Forecasting Extreme Weather

Tornado Alley residents in Joplin, Mo. had 24 minutes to prepare. What about the folks in Springfield, Mass. — no one was expecting a tornado. What to do

June 01, 2011

Salarymen Jettison Suits

Japanese Environment Minister, Ryu Matsumoto, anounces Super Cool Biz campaign to conserve energy and save the planet by dressing down a notch. France 24 wieghs in on fashion implications.


May 26, 2011

There Might Be Progress

A look at US energy use since the 1970's show 31% gains in in building efficiency but soaring growth in electric appliances. A mixed bag

PV Learning Curve Up, Prices Down

Is the world on a path for solar power to become the new affordable power supply? Consider this

Awaiting the Smart Grid

One day, when the nation has a fully-functional smart grid and shops are filled with smart appliances, we won't refer the 'smart grid' anymore. Another new normal

May 25, 2011

Metropolitan Preconditions

Can a city be green if it isn't dense? Find out

Love Those Labels

Starting with 2012 models, cars and light trucks will have EPA energy rating and operating cost labels. How will consumers react? Oh yes, GHG information too.

May 24, 2011

Are EVs Right For You?

EVs have undeniable limitations, but for some drivers they could be just the thing. Look into it

Economic Models And Real People

Energy policy assumes we make rational energy consumption choices based on cost benefit analysis. Is that right?

May 23, 2011

Northern Climate Chaos

Scientists grapple with the climate implications of the impact of a massive Arctic storm in 1999. Dig in

The Stockholm Memorandum

Nobel laureates are alarmed about the world's SOPs. "This situation concerns us deeply... we call upon all leaders of the 21st century to exercise a collective responsibility of planetary stewardship. This means laying the foundation for a sustainable and equitable global civilization in which the entire Earth community is secure and prosperous."

The EPA Code

Here's a conspiracy theory key to the EPA's climate policies. Feeling paranoid?

Coal Is The Worst. Period

A recent study claiming that the life cycle of natural gas drilling and use is worse for the climate than coal burning is torched. Drill down

May 20, 2011

The Power Of ROW

Is there a link between the growth of renewable power and land use rules? Consider how a new rule makes it easier to transmit electricity across federal lands with a new Right-of-Way (ROW) rule. Fine print

Dear Mr. Biden

Ever hear of the federal energy research lab NREL and wonder if it's worth taxpayer support? Decide for yourself

May 19, 2011

Modern Alchemy

Scientists research how to turn carbon dioxide into fuel, but it's not ready for prime time. Work on it

Sweeeter Green

The right incentives make sustainable development more appetizing. What's on the menu?

Gowanus Houseboat: Beyond Category

What would LEED, Energy Star or Passive House make of an off-the-grid houseboat afloat in Brooklyn's Gowanus Canal? Ahoy!

May 18, 2011

Roberts v Socolow

Grist regular Dave Roberts is nearly speechless over Princeton prof's lament that changing climate change is a tougher fight than he expected. What the...

Get Less Intense

Aldy's climate action discussion paper proposes cuts to the energy intensity of electric utilities, uniform national standards, technical neutrality and tradable incentives. Something new here?

Who's Who In Green Construction

Michael Deane, a leader in the high performance building revolution, explains it all for you

May 17, 2011

Mind The Gap

How will Germany fill the energy gap created by accelerated shut-downs of its nuclear power plants? Join the debate

Think Outside The Energy Envelope

Spend some time with a multi-media exploration of seven edgy energy solutions. Enter here

Yo! I'm A Climate Scientist

Who said climate scientists can't make a cool music video. R-rated [naughty words]

May 16, 2011

This Isn't Working

David Victor's book Global Warming Gridlock diagnoses the failure of climate policy's SOP and redirects expectations toward adaptation. Not light reading

Smart Enough Meters

Smart electric meters still face a learning curve, but they are already doing their job. Plug in

Rahm's Coal Challenge

Chicago clean-energy campaigners want Mayor Emanuel to clean up the city's two coal-burning power plants. Stay tuned

Dam Decisions

With renewed interest in hydropower, dislocation of upstream populations and concerns about climate-induced changes in rainfall patterns make damming decisions difficult. Dip in

May 13, 2011

Induction Cooking

A new generation energy induction stoves are small enough for apartment kitchens and unlike gas stoves can run on renewable energy. That's magnetic

May 12, 2011

Defeated By The Facts

Here's the story of how one climate change denier switched sides

PlaNYC: Beyond The Glossy Cover

While release of the updated PlaNYC 2030 was ignored by the media, it's got important things to say and raises some big questions. Stay alert

Is 'Green Jobs' Working?

While some say federal funds have failed to create real green industry jobs, others tell a success story. Look further

May 11, 2011

Mapping The Innvoation Environment

Understanding the market dynamics of technical innovation requires a look at the institutional infrastructure and the choices made by public authorities. Fine print

May 10, 2011

Some Like It Nuclear

Nordhaus & Shellenberger make the climate case for nuclear power. No worries!

A Modest Energy Subsidy Proposal

Consider the case for ending permanent government subsidies to all types of energy. But what about supporting technical research?

See You In Court

Climate scientist James Hansen sues the US government, claiming violation of the public trust doctrine for its failure to cut GHG emissions. The complaint

May 09, 2011

Smart Grid Resources

Check out DOE's resource-rich smart grid portal. Keep on clicking

Angela Merkel: Earth Angel

How did German Prime Minister Angela Merkel become Europe's greenest political leader? Look into it

May 06, 2011

Moving Into The Future

Consider ten urban mass transit proposals in the running for federal funds. Got legs?

May 05, 2011

There's A Great Future In Plastics

The famous line from The Graduate needs updating to Oil-based, unrecyclable plastics, some future!

May 04, 2011

2084

If Orwell's 1984 was the dystopian vision of the 20th Century, Powell's 2084: An Oral History of The Great Warming shows what could lie ahead in the 21st. Catch this feisty review of Climate Change Denial and the power of ROT. Don't overlook what economists could be saying now.

Out With The Old Finance

Governments across the country have sliced deep into infrastructure capital investments. Panelists at the RPA Assembly probe for innovative ways to invest in our future through private investment, public-private partnerships, public investment and inter-governmental finance. Listen to the Audio »

May 03, 2011

Stick Around

Peer ahead to the 2050's and see how intelligent home interiors could be. Think modular & smart controls

Bright Ideas For The Big Apple

Check this list of fifty ideas for making New York - and big cities everywhere - better places . Sallan's smitten with #35. Add your own

May 02, 2011

Who's The Greenest Of Them All?

245 buildings are in it to win it at the annual EPA Energy Star contest. Meet the contestants

Certificates Grow Good Green Jobs

Getting a building analyst certificate pays off in getting government contracted work for energy auditing and weatherization. Climate Wire {Subscribers only}

The End Of Volatility

The classic cycle of rising and plunging prices for global commodities, including fossil fuels, could be history. Going, going...

An Equitable Gas Tax

In poor countries, gas taxes have a progressive impact. Can the US raise gas taxes equitably? A thought experiment

April 30, 2011

The Rules Of The Game

If Washington politics is not about policy and compromise, what is it about? Let's find out

April 29, 2011

Will Green Bonds Bloom?

Bonds to fund green private sector and infrastructure development could be financially fertile. Spend some time

April 28, 2011

LA: Park It On A Freeway

Plans for the Hollywood Freeway Central Park, built atop a downtown highway (shades of NYC's High Line), are more than a dream.

Copper: The New Green

A little something for everyone who cooks. It's material

April 27, 2011

Like Nuclear Power? Don't Read This

Rolling Stone paints a dire picture of the aging US nuclear generator fleet. Read it anyway

Can't Eat From Dust Bowls

Soaring global food prices are becoming the new normal and this is not good news. Causes & consequences

Responding To PlaNYC

PlaNYC 2030 is a complex proposal, attracting wide-ranging reaction. Streetsblog it

April 25, 2011

Everything You Want To Know About Smart Meters - But Are Afraid to Ask

The UK experience with smart meter programs Part One and Part Two

April 22, 2011

Climate Costs: State By State

There's no question that climate change impacts will be costly, the only question is when to start paying. Find out what it will mean for your state

Why Buy Green

Some marketing strategies succeed for green consumer products Which ones?

April 21, 2011

PlaNYC 2030 2.0

Get the new PlaNYC 2030 version 2.0

Terminal Case

What explains the across-the-board failures of the environmental movement in national politics? Here's a menu

NYC's Solar Sliver

While NYC now has 5.7 megawatts of photovoltaic capacity, not nothing, it may never be a solar capital. Plug in

When's Weather Climate?

Scientists tackle the threshold question of when are weather events evidence of climate change. Learn more

April 20, 2011

Honing The Green Competitive Edge

The Citizens Budget Commissions explores the nexus between New York City's green agenda and its urban competitiveness. Fine print

Poli-Sigh

If politics is the art of the possible, why are Germans willing to pay a premium for renewable energy while Americans are not? Look into it

April 19, 2011

The Yawning Climate Gap

The gap between people who identify as Democratic or Republican in holding that climate change is underway has become a chasm over the decade. Peer in

Greenpeace: Koch Update

Greenpeace updates its report on Koch family spending for climate denial, now totaling $55.2 million. Did the Kochs get their money's worth?

Rochester: Rx For Neighborhoods

Consider the lessons learned from a Rochester, NY neighborhood stabilization program rooted in green building upgrades. It's HOME

April 18, 2011

Tracking Fugitive Emissions

The hydrofacking debates open a window onto scientific efforts to calculate life cycle and fugitive emissions impacts of many GHGs. Fine print

Put Cities To Work

Find out how US cities can incubate new manufacturing businesses, (green ones too). Report & case studies

Help!

Need help to figure out Local Law 84, the NYC building benchmarking law? Dial 311

April 17, 2011

New York Loves Biophelia

Biophelia, learn from nature how to make materials, design builiding and zone cities, is a recipe for urban resilience. Wild!

April 14, 2011

Won't Tweet, Can't Friend

Why are social media failing to spur an energy efficiency revolution? What a question!

Sunlight For Sustainability

Sunlight, in the form of abundant, high quality data on building energy performance is just what's needed to make cities centers of sustainability. Here's why

April 13, 2011

The Economics Of Fat Tails

Ecological economics tackles rare but high risk events like climate change. Fine print

Carbon In The Court

Read papers just filed by the Tennessee Valley Authority and electric utilities for the April 19 Supreme Court hearing of AEP v. CT.

April 12, 2011

Make It Infra-Green

High performance buildings are only as green as their infrastructure. That's valid

Energy Security:Getting It Right

The Bipartisan Policy Center identifies energy security and clean energy innovations as critical to the nation and calls for the management, metrics and accountability to succeed. Fine print

What's Your Energy Plan?

The National Journal seeks reactions to Obama's call for fossil fuel independence. Speak up

This Is A Test

A Boulder, CO participant in the city's SmartGridCity program likes the concept, not the outcome. Plug in

April 11, 2011

Climate Cred: Find A Different Messenger

With credence in climate change polarized by political affiliation In the US, there's a need to find a better messenger while polling finds an uptick in aspirations for climate action.

SOUPER Green In LA

The Los Angeles Architecture + Design Museum mounts a decidedly unconventional exhibit on green building and electric vehicles. Review it

April 08, 2011

How To Get Some Respect

What would make elected officials take environmental protection more seriously? Consider this

Picture The Problems

What are the drawbacks of current energy options? LOL if you can

Choices Will Be Made

What are the energy sources that will fuel our future and how should choices be made?
Listen up

April 07, 2011

Sickness And Heat

In East Africa, malaria spreads as the climate changes. What's the connection?

The Beginning Of The End

Could the tsunami of tea party-type attacks on climate action be on the way out? Look into it

Break Out Of The Nerd Loop

Cringing at what passes for climate messaging. Start over

Seeking Sustainability In Oberlin

In a world that seems less and less secure, Oberlin Ohio aims to make itself sustainable and resilient. High hopes

April 06, 2011

Greening KKR

Often locked in battles with environmental advocates, the efforts of investment firm KKR to green its assets is 'a work in progress'. Look into it

Tree-Hugging

Scientists discover that Pacific mangroves are world champions at soaking up atmospheric carbon. Learn more

April 05, 2011

Local Locavores

Read this blog on a NYC conference that digs urban farming. Start here

Climate Hearing Post-Mortem

Miss last week's House Republican hearings on climate science? Ministry of magic demystified

The Acid Test

Grist asks, if the acid rain program didn't create pollution hot spots, why should the California cap and trade program? True or false

April 04, 2011

The Future Will Be Different

Face it. Energy will become scarcer and more expensive everywhere. What to do?

Sustainable Start-Ups

See a need for sustainable packaging? DIY

A Rose By Any Other Name

Are pollsters right who say activists should avoid the words "climate change"? Sniff sniff

April 01, 2011

Kill The Messenger

Consider the costs and consequences of cutting funds for climate research & data-gathering government agencies like NOAA because of political hostility to climate action. Start here

Q: Why Should EPA Regulate GHGs?

A: Because it's the law. Lisa Jackson interview

March 31, 2011

EPA Budget: Rumors Fly

Will Obama ok cuts into EPA's power to regulate GHGs as part of a budget deal? Look into it

Energy: Finding A Way Forward

This page will link to a changing menu of US energy policy ideas over the next few days. The nuclear debate rages on.Monbiot v Caldicott Let'sspend less on gas How to spend less for gas Developers of new coal-fired power plants promise new jobs for the host community Do they deliver? One key to effective energy policy is high performance building

Research Horizons

Climate research suggests a zero global net loss of arable land over time, but specific local factors - like which lands will prove fertile - are unknown. Fine print

March 30, 2011

Certain Facts About Uncertainty

Don't let uncertainties in climate science rattle you. A scientist explains it all for you

The High Speed Rail Rationale

The trend for Americans to live in mega-cities makes the case for building a high-speed rail system. Concentrate

In Defense of Nuclear Power

The International Energy Agency makes the case for nuclear power. Here it is

March 28, 2011

Come To The Fair

The 2014 East River Cleantech Expo aims to bring the world to New York City and make some changes. Start now

Energy Efficiency: Making It Work

Which policy options ensure that building energy efficiency laws really deliver? Find out

March 25, 2011

EV Power

Forget batteries to power electric cars, think ultracapacitors. Ultra what?

Make Your Vote Count

Vote in Treehugger's 2011 poll for the best green watchdogs, green blogs, green policies (you get the idea). The ballot

NYC's Ambitious Waterfront Plan

A serious plan for remaking New York City's waterfront and its relation to the rest of the metropolis merits serious consideration. Dive in

Choices Will Be Made

Join the tough, fractious and critical discussion about making energy choices. Think hard & learn more about the next generation of nuclear power plants slated for Georgia.

City Centers 2025

Pay a virtual visit to the world's leading cities of 2025. Enter here

March 24, 2011

Call To Free NRC From Captivity

Citing a New York Times Op-Ed, Climate Progress calls for a freeing the Nuclear Regulatory Commission from its history as an industry-captured government agency.

March 23, 2011

Greening A Greene House And More

A 1903 house built by Charles & Henry Greene gets a sustainable restoration. and Carnegie Hall renovations go for LEED Silver

March 22, 2011

A New Climate-Flood Link

UK researchers find people who have been in floods are more concerned about climate change. Are you experienced?

March 21, 2011

Above The Waterline

Can the Mayor's new waterfront plan make New York City more reslient when faced wtih higher tides and fiercer storms? Find out

Touch The Earth

The Tangible Earth is a computerized media installation that offers new ways to see our planetary situation. Get terrestrial

March 18, 2011

Britta's Windowfarms

A New York City, web-savvy, eco-entrepreneur would like to sell you her windowfarm. Grow with crowdsourcing

Compare Chernobyl And Fukushima

Design features of the Chernobyl and Fukushima nuclear power plants shed some light on different ways things can go wrong. Let's hope

Green Tide Ebbs

The list of lost green initiatives keeps on growing. Come on down

March 17, 2011

The Science Terminators

Nature fears the Congressional rush to overturn EPA's authority to regulate GHGs shows science has lost its power to convince. Stay tuned

Illuminating Light Bulb Standards

Separate fact from fiction on federal light bulb efficiency standards. That's bright

North Pole: Theater of War?

The US Navy is warned that melting polar regions could be a magnet for international conflict in a race for natural resources. Strategic thinking

March 16, 2011

An Inconvenient Question

The New Republic asks "Do we need nuclear power?" The answer is...

Ferries Make A Splash

Is more ferry service a feasible transit option for New York City? Look into it

Global Energy: The Known Unknowns

The unfolding disaster is Japan is just one part of the instability facing world energy supplies and markets. Consider this

March 15, 2011

25 Energy Star Cities

See if you live in a city that's a top Energy Star and how much you're saving on carbon emissions. The list

EZ Job Creation

Consider the argument that investment in mass transit is a key job growth strategy for New York. Where's the Gov?

Some Nuisance

State Attorneys General, respondents in the upcoming Supreme Court hearing on whether CO2 emissions will be declared a common law nuisance, ask the Court not to act. Get briefed

March 14, 2011

Is California Dreaming?

It's going to take a lot of efficiency to cut California's GHG emissions 80% by 2050. Start here

March 11, 2011

Real World Experiment

Scientists don't know much about the impact of acidifying oceans on marine life, but with more CO2 entering the world's waters, they will find out. The acid test

Utility Invesments Clouded By Uncertainty

Will financing of American utilities become easier with CO2 emissions rules? Look into it

March 10, 2011

The Devil's In The Details

Crafting regulations after a law is key ot its impact and the public has the right to comment on New York City's draft building Benchmarking law rules by March 21. Fine print

Small Reactor Legislation

What's in the Senate bill for developing and demonstrating small modular nuclear reactors? Find out

Under The Ice Sheets

Drill into the scientific meaning of recent findings about Antarctic ice. Who knew!

March 09, 2011

Build Better Mousetraps

Inventors and investors at MIT's green tech conference hope the start-up world will beat path to their door. Knock, knock

Think Outside The Box-Paint Your Roof

What do climate change action, peak oil, economic security and painting your roof white have in common? Here's what

March 08, 2011

Let's Talk It Over

Social scientists look for ways to talk with climate doubters to prevent long-term political deadlocks. Fine print

A Paradox Makes The Point

Frigid temperatures in the Bering Sea offer insights into the workings of climate change. Dive in

NYC's Conversion Experience

With final rules on the way, New Yorkers will soon be converting their boilers from dirty, unhealthy #6 home heating oil to cleaner #4 oil or something even better. Do it!

Spotlight On ARPA-E

Want to learn more about recent developments at ARPA-E, the federal agency created to fund the research and development of cutting edge energy technologies? Plug in

March 07, 2011

WSJ: Not The Paper Of Record

What happens when the Wall Street Journal prints an article about the EPA that contains factual errors? Look into it

From Farmhouse To Your House

Since sustainable cities can't survive without productive farms, the impact of climate change on agriculture is a critical matter. Make a connection

Matchmaking

Here's how to link communities with investors to forge a local, livable, sustainable future. Step-by-step

March 04, 2011

Closed-Loop Messaging

Grist raises the alarm that climate change advocates haven't learned the important lessons of Climategate. Get it

March 03, 2011

Eye Witness News

New Yorker Bruce Rosen attended this week's City Council oversight hearings on hydrofracking for natural gas upstate and took some notes.

Fracking Abroad

The US is not the only nation where hydrofracking for natural gas extraction arouses controversy. Drill down

March 02, 2011

What's New At ARPA-E

Catch up with what's happening at ARPA-E on the new energy technology front. Dr. M explains it all for you

Not The SOS

Duke Energy CEO Jim Rogers wants to see major federal R&D dollars go toward making wind and solar power as cheap as coal. Learn more

Is This For Real?

Ever wish you could figure out if the promises made by promoters of new energy tech products are credible? Start here

March 01, 2011

Schwarzenegger: Overturn The Old Energy Order

As collapsing of old regimes making headlines, Arnold Schwarzenegger calls on ARPA-E to end the old energy order and advance better times. Stay tuned

Biophilia For City Life

What is biolphilia and how can it make our cities places of resilience? Find out

February 28, 2011

What Went Wrong

Another installment in the Destiny development debacle. More soon

February 25, 2011

A Nuclear Provocation

With headlines aflame over imperiled access to mid-east oil, this provocateur's paean to nuclear power is timely. Ready?

February 24, 2011

Tell Me Why

Scientists and media professionals try to determine why Americans remain unconvinced about the findings of climate research. Listen in

Breakthrough Breakdown

The Breakthrough Institute attack on energy efficiency, based on the idea that more efficiency lowers costs, which leads to more consumption, doesn't stand up to scrutiny. Get it straight

Live In A Green House

Check out this NYC resource guide for greening your home, staying healthy and saving money. It's easy

The Three Rules Of Green Real Estate

Location, location & location. Home rules

February 23, 2011

Can A Canal Come Clean?

Consider what it will take clean up the notoriously polluted Gowanus Canal Wade in

Waiting For The Bus

Just as New York City's job and population takes off outside Manhattan, bus service is lagging. Hop on

Signal or Static?

Research detects a price signal in rental and purchase values for green, high performance buildings. Fine print

February 21, 2011

If Market Failures Are The Problem

Can market tools solve the 'problem of the commons' when it comes to enivronmental protection? Ask Professor Stavins

DIY Food

Umbra reports on DIY yogurt without any electric gadgets. Be part of the solution

In Praise Of H.R. 61

Amending the federal tax code is the linchpin of a cleaner, more self reliant domestic energy policy. De-code this

February 18, 2011

Look Here!

Take a tour of some awesome-looking clean power generators. What's not to like?

Covering The Climate Beat

Revkin looks at how the media covers big climate science stories. Decode it

Deep Heat Rising

Research suggests that warming deep ocean waters help explain observed global sea level rise. Dive in

What's The Score

The League of Conservation Voters does an annual eco-rating of members of Congress. Here's how things played out in 2010

February 17, 2011

Quick Calculations

Compare Republican and Obama budget proposals for energy programs. Advocate with authorizations

Going To Extremes?

A comment about the science behind the headlines on extreme weather events and climate change. Fine print

Incubating Clean Tech Biz

What's the secret to the success of six ARPA-E supported clean tech start ups able to attract $4 of private investment for every $1 of public money? Look into it

Winning The Word War

While climate activists cast around for catchier monikers, US climate deniers are on a roll. Warm up here

February 16, 2011

ETA For 2nd Ave Subway?

Decades in the making, the Second Avenue Subway is on the way. Swipe here

First Galileo Now Climate Science

Are Republicans going down the same path on climate science as the religious establishment that declared the astronomer Galileo a heretic? Move on

February 15, 2011

What Republicans Want

Learn something about Republican budget proposals for energy-related research and development, clean technology, energy efficiency, etc. Want more?

February 14, 2011

My Urban Valentine

For Valentine's Day — and the days after — a love letter to cities and their role in getting American moving again. XOOX

Making The Economics Case

Wade into the debate over the impact of climate regulation during a time of low investment and stalled job creation. Start here

Eager For Lower Gas Prices?

A review of the prices of gas at the pump shows they drop with terrible economic conditions. Supply & demand

February 11, 2011

What's A Terawatt?

Consider what it would it take to replace fossil fuels with clean energy over the next three decades. Uh-oh

Climate Science: An Editor's View

The editor of an earth sciences journal explains the editorial process and comments on a controversy. No funny business

It's Not Easy Going Solar

Speaking from experience, a homeowner weighs the red tape and the reasons for a PV installation's paper work. Plug in

China & Its Coal

Scientific American reports on China's current economic reliance on coal and its next five-year plan. Dig in

To The Moon Alice

While most Republicans oppose action on climate change and demand steep EPA budget cuts, some also call for NASA spending to send more humans into outer space. Honest!

So Much To Do, So Little Time

New York City's Department of Environmental Protection sets its sights on 100 goals and initiatives for 2014 while another agency will cut government's carbon footprint 30x17

February 10, 2011

A Green Economy Needs $$$$

Growing a green economy and green-collar jobs requires ready, willing and able financing. Spend some time

Big Tech Breakthroughs Take Big Bucks

Is federal funding essential for major energy tech research and does it attract private development investment? Consider this

Economists & Climate Change

The Economist has faith in the ability of economic systems to withstand the impacts of climate change, but has doubts about the resilience of political systems when confronted with such impacts. Your thoughts?

February 09, 2011

Cure For The Split Incentive

Can landlords and tenants find shared incentives to improve a building's energy efficiency? Consider this

State Energy Code Upheld

A federal court in Washington State finds its energy efficiency code is not pre-empted by federal law. Fine print

February 08, 2011

Housekeeping Tips

For everyone who uses a clothes drier, here's how to save energy and keep the air cleaner. Yes you!

Setting Clean Energy Standards

The Center For American Progress builds a case in support of President Obama's Clean Energy Standard and making it happen by 2035. Begin the race!

Let There Be Snow

Climate science explains why to expect more massive winter storms. Dig in

February 07, 2011

The New Normal? Not Yet!

Given the promise of energy efficiency, why are there so few takers? Acute observations

Solving An Arcic Climate Riddle

Scientists explain why the ancient Arctic Ocean was so warm when other weather conditions resembled today's. Dive In

Outside The Sphere Of Consensus

Why do reporters report the way they do on climate change? Look into it

The Price Of Uncertainty

While some states put prices on carbon emissions, federal inaction creates a climate of uncertainty that chills investments in cleaner development. Here's one way forward

February 04, 2011

Bob Vila Does the Bronx

"The most trusted name in home improvements" tours a green, affordable apartment project in the Bronx. Hop on.

Look Under The EV Hood

A critic of the proposal to provide federal subsidies for the purchase of EVs makes his case. Follow the numbers

February 03, 2011

Smart Or Sick?

Grist covers the controversy over whether smart electric meters are bad for your health. Look into it

February 01, 2011

What's Smart About Smart Cities?

The rise of all-new smart cities offers chances to learn what's intelligent. Plan it

Warming Antarctica - Do The Science

One scientist who studies warming in the Antarctic posts comments on the research of another scientist. That's what scientists do. Hard at work

Beware Plan B

Now that a concerted international agreement to cut GHG emissions is off the table, is geo-engineering a feasible alternative? Look into it

Homo Economicus - Not

When it comes to climate issues, does behavioral economics need to include the impact of values and ethics? Think about it

January 31, 2011

Comment On Climate Action Plan

Find what what New Yorkers are saying about the state's draft Climate Action Plan. Get involved

What Do Evolution & Climate Science Share?

Find a over teaching the science of evolution and conflict over climate curriculum won't be far behind. Look into it

Nowhere, Man

While President Obama shares some blame for the failure to pass climate legislation, the absence of any reference in his State-of-the-Union is entirely his responsibility. POV

January 28, 2011

Get Energized About Climate Action

"If you think there's an existential danger facing the country, you say so. That's part of what it means to be a leader." Grist

January 27, 2011

Too Late Already?

Hot: Living through the next fifty years on Earth — Stop and listen.

Who's A Climate Believer?

People who believe that climate change is a risky business share other identifiable world views. Think in clusters

January 26, 2011

Obama Overlooks Energy Efficiency

Since the President did not mention energy efficient buildings in his State-of-the-Union address, here are three ideas from NRDC. 1, 2, 3

Obama: 80x35

What did President Obama mean when he called for 80% of US electricity to come from renewables by 2035 in his State-of-the-Union speech? Start here Consider the absence of the C-word & compare the POTUS energy policy to the RSC's. Grist calls C-word silence a Moral & political failure

A Browner Post-Mortem

What is the climate and energy policy significance of Carol Browner's departure from the White House? Final words Now, who's next? Maybe nobody

January 25, 2011

Two Cheers For Tesco

UK supermarket giant Tesco is a leader on greening its supply chain and its operations. Here's how

Energy Star Shines For Engineers

Energy Star, the EPA energy efficiency rating rating system for buildings, is a boon for engineers. Learn more

January 24, 2011

Hotter By The Dozen

Rolling stone rolls out its list of the twelve biggest opponents of climate action. Get it here

Rethinking Recharging

Now there's more than one way to design an electric vehicle recharging station. Get connected

Who's In Harm's Way?

Damage to food production in poor nations could be among the worst impacts of climate change. Learn more

Climate Suits Or Emply Suits?

Prospects are rising for law suits resulting from damage caused by climate chaos, but chances for success are murky. Stay tuned

January 21, 2011

10 Steps To Green Financing

Go a green construction project to finance? Here's one ten step plan. Sharpen your pencils!

January 20, 2011

A Little Is Not Enough

While headline-making renewable power innovations are inspiring, climate trends won't change without a great global energy transformation. Get started

RGGI: Getting & Spending

New York's CO2 RGGI emissions permit auctions have earned $266.3 million. Program spending totaled $115.8 million and $90 million was redirected to state deficit reduction. Data galore

January 19, 2011

Got The Right Green Stuff?

Join the debate over whether the US can be a contender in the global green tech industry. Start here

Fixing The Blame

Darrell Issa, chair of the House Oversight & Government Reform Committee, blames the DOE for a generation's worth of failures to cut energy use. Instead, he should look in the Republican Party mirror. See here

Cleaner Air Deal?

Polititco reports electric utilities and the Obama administration are thinking again about how to cut air pollution. Look into it

January 18, 2011

S*** Happens

Paul Krugman saluets Joe Romm for skewering the common argument that CO2 should go unregulated because we all exhale it. Read on

Path To Energy Efficient & Affordable Housing

Developers identify what works and what doesn't when it comes to making and marketing energy efficient, affordable homes. KISS

High Performance Ohio

A survey of Ohio businesses, professionals, governments and advocates involved in growing the high performance building market identify barriers to growth. Fine print

January 14, 2011

NY Greens' Agenda

Leading New York environmental advocates have a twelve part to-do list for the Governor and state legislature. A new leaf

What's In A Name?

The Bureau of Labor Statistics is trying to make sense of 'green jobs' and locate their role in an economic recovery. Work on it

Signs of 'Climate Chaos'

From Brazil to Brisbane, you know something is happening here. Tell Mr. Jones

Hot Under The Collar

With new numbers in on a hotter planet, supporters' frustration rises over failure to pass federal climate legislation. And?

EVs: Cleaner Than What?

An MIT research report on plug-in electric vehicles concludes that the kind of fuel a power plant uses has a major impact on how much greener electric vehicles are than gas-fired ones. Get connected

January 13, 2011

Is There A Tiger In Your Tank?

Scientists say sewage could become a significant source of renewable energy. Flush it

What A 20% Cut Looks Like

With the Republican goal of a 20% to the federal budget, what would mean for clean energy programs and why would the GOP want to do it? Plug in

2011 Predictions

The World Resources Institute spotlights key environmental stories in 2011 for Washington and Wall Street.
Take a look

January 12, 2011

Down On The Wind

The swooshing sound of wind turbines distresses some neighbors. What to do?

January 11, 2011

Siting That Train

The Regional Plan Association identifies keys to building a US high speed rail system. Make tracks

Cool To Coal?

The success of pro-climate control (and BTW pro-nuclear) Duke Energy could mean the future of coal is dimming. It's an argument

In Defense of 'Made In US'

While we live in a global economy, the US military decision to buy domestically-made solar panels is not knee-jerk protectionism. WTO rules

Mind The Energy Info Gap

A national survey finds Americans both low-ball energy savings and energy-consumption of fifteen typical activities. Fine print

January 10, 2011

Age Old & Brand New

The Bible's environmental catastrophe was The Flood and ours could be climate change impacts. Mass migrations and more

Taxes & Techno Innovation

It's a truism that taxes affect behavior, but precisely how can they encourage climate-friendly technological innovation? Fine print

January 07, 2011

Does The Media Ignore Good Climate News?

A Forbes Magazine story blaming the media for ignoring good climate news and fanning irrational fears is subject to fact-checking. Check it out

Beyond 'The Efficiency Dilemma'

More than a critique of the New Yorker story on the Jevons Paradox facing energy efficiency, get some ideas about what it will take to really shrink our carbon footprint. Start solving here

January 06, 2011

If A Tree Falls In The Forest...

Mainstream media coverage of climate issues nearly disappeared in 2010. See here

January 05, 2011

Cities Reflect On Cities

While New York was the home of comprehensive planning, to meet its PlaNYC 2010 goals it's time to learn from other urban leaders. Take a look

Better Batteries Needed

Scientists urge policy makers to support research for new battery technologies needed to make renewable energy systems feasible. Beyond AAA

January 04, 2011

Election Post-Mortem

Former Congressman Boucher weighs the role of voting for the climate cap and trade bill in his November 2010 defeat. Dig down

Good Enough For Dinosaurs

Since Earth's history shows wide climate swings, why are we so concerned now? Hear Hansen

Another Round On 'The Energy Dilemma'

Can't get enough on the debate over energy efficiency and the rebound effect? Here Schipper and Nadel Get the last word

Measuring Up

Applying the adage "to measure is to manage", how sustainability is measured is key. Compare & contrast

Another Inconvenient Truth

Not long ago, new Chair of the House Energy and Finance Committee, Fred Upton, supported action on climate change. No more

January 03, 2011

Running On Fumes

Gary Wills is no friend of climate protection or energy efficiency and his call for scientific progress as the key to US economic revival is ridiculed by Joe Romm. Wham bam!

In Dreams Begin Responsibilities

Ideas for advancing the high performance building agenda. Reveille!

Urban Time Travel

With cities consuming 73% of the world's annual energy budget by 2030, what will urban life be like? Stick around

December 30, 2010

The Social Science Of Climate Change

The National Research Council reports on what behavioral and social science can add to mobilizing for climate change mitigation and adaptation. Intro here

December 29, 2010

Tax (Incentives) Man!

The federal tax code provides specific incentives for building owners to install alternate energy capacity. Highlights

Weather Or Not?

Still wondering how scientists and insurers distinguish weather from climate change? Risky business

Arsenic & Science

The controversy about arsenic as a biological building block offers insights into the sociology of science. Learn more

December 28, 2010

People Can Change

Studies of why people quit smoking or start using seat belts point the way to altering climate-changing behavior. Learn more

What Is The Public Role of Climate Scientists?

Princeton Professor Michael Oppenheimer addresses the AGU about scientists' engagement in the public policy arena on climate change. Video here

Timing Is Everything

Is there a best time for launching climate change mitigation actions? Look into it

December 27, 2010

Gifford v USGBC: 2011

Read some tea-leaves for next steps in the nation's best-known green building litigation. Hot enough?

Photo The Future

A photo essay from British Columbia on what sea level rise could look like. Imagine that

Colorado: On Bill Finance

Although New York failed to pass an on-bill home energy improvement finance law in 2010, Colorado is one of twelve states that gets it. Fan mail

December 24, 2010

Khosla Looks Ahead

Green venture capitalist Vinod Khosla sees a revolution in mainstream technologies as key to future energy progress. Summary free, full content not

Up Next?

Here are ten green tech trends to watch in 2011. List here

December 23, 2010

Correlation Is Not Causality

Yet another parsing of the New Yorker piece that uses Jevons Paradox to dash the hopes of energy efficiency advocation. Share my obsession

December 22, 2010

Less Is More In Gainesville

Evidence for the impact of energy efficiency laws is found in a study of Gainesville, Florida. Get some data

And This Lump Of Coal Goes To...

Romm hands out his 2010 Citizen Kane awards for the worst media climate coverage. Thank you!

Tri-State Energy Plans

The Regional Plan Association taps into electricity and efficiency networks in NY, NJ and CT to energize ideas about shared energy planning. Stay tuned

Don't Mourn. Send A Message

Scientists get a crash course in how to communicate their climate knowledge to the public and partisan spinners. Here's how

December 21, 2010

Old Is New Again

What can today's urbanists can learn from Italy's old Cinque Terre? Visit here

AC For Xmas

For readers looking forward to warmer weather and for friends in Australia, a history of air conditioning. Cold comfort

December 20, 2010

Back To The Future

Don't miss this social history of how scientists and journalists communicate and what this means for us now. In these times

The Sino-Singapore Saga

China and Singapore study past failures to succeed at a joint eco-cities project. Visit

Higher Education

Does NYU"s controversial expansion in Greenwich Village win points for going green? Look into it

December 19, 2010

City Science

December 18, 2010

Energy Efficiency Paradox, Not

NRDC shows how improved energy efficiency can be a great success, not the paradox described in the New Yorker article "An Energy Dillemma". Plug in

December 17, 2010

Romm Rips Book On Cities & Climate Future

Climatopolis, a book about how cities will thrive in a globally heated world, fails because the author 'hasn't done his homework' writes Joe Romm. Review it

Front Lines Of The Energy Future

Harvard researchers summarize findings on energy research, development and deployment in economically emerging BRIMCS nations. Fine print

December 16, 2010

The Fifth Horseman

Given the size and growth of China and it's basic reliance on coal, what are its energy options? Look into it

Carbon Market Mayhem

China gets vast overpayments from the EU carbon trading market to end production of one GHG, while another ozone hole making gas is smuggled into the US black market. Couldn't make this up

Why Aren't There More Green Jobs?

It's the dismal economy, stupid. Fightin' words

December 15, 2010

What's Jevons Got To Do With It?

Here's a rousing cheer for the New Yorker article that uses Jevons' Paradox to dampen enthusiasm for energy efficiency.

December 14, 2010

Why We Do What We Do

Environmental policy can no longer rely on the 'rational economic actor' model as the basis for effective climate action. What's the alternative?

December 13, 2010

An Inconvenient Proposal

It can't be said too often, a carbon tax would solve many problems. Anybody listening?

Some Like It Green

While corporate property owners are more upbeat about energy efficiency than developers, they share an enthusiasm for green tax breaks. Survey the field

Climate Corps Case Study

The Climate Corps, a cadre of MBA students who work with big companies to go greener, do nitty-gritty field work. Here's E-bay

December 10, 2010

Is The Tide Rising?

The prospects for generating electricity from the ocean tides gets brighter in the US. Details here

Feedback On Clouds

While understanding the positive and negative impact of clouds on climate change increases, it is still a work in progress. Science in action

December 09, 2010

Biochar: Cheers Or Jeers

There's hot debate over the potential of biochar, the product of burning organic waste without oxygen, to combat climate change. Got a match?

Money Mechanisms

A UN Climate Advisors report on options for global action considers the mechanisms and balance of public and private financing. Look into it

The Hadley Cell and You

Scientists see evidence of lower wind speeds in wind-turbine friendly places around the globe and suspect northward shifts in global air circulation linked to climate change are a cause. Study up

December 08, 2010

Do People Like Green Buildings?

A USGBC white paper points to a research agenda for learning about people's experience of high performance building. The human element

December 07, 2010

Clean Tech Innovators

Which countries lead in clean tech patents and investments and why? Get busy In the US, policy direction and access to capital are needed now. Get busier

In The National Interest

The Center for American Progress finds US leadership on global finance to cut GHG emissions is in the national interest. Think about that

Why Easy Is Not Enough

What's wrong with the proposal to take on easier climate changers like methane until we're able to tackle CO2? Fine print

Relocating Browner

Inside the Beltway, people are parsing Carol Browner's departure from the White House energy and climate office to become a Deputy Chief-of-Staff. Enter here

Brawl Over Fracking Oversight

Industry challenges Pennsylvania's oversight of exploratory natural gas drilling while environmentalists fight exemptions. Dig in

Nudges & Neurons

Do behavioral economics and neuroscience offer tools to close the gap between scientific knowledge of climate change and public perception? Look into it

December 03, 2010

Flunking Econ 101

Joe Romm finds a new Economics textbook to be riddled with factual errors on climate change. True or false?

The Age Of Aquarius

EPA releases photos of 60's-style pollution, before the birth of the agency in 1970. Happy 40th

December 02, 2010

Some Like It Green

Looking to make the case for green roofs? Start here

It's A Plan

New York issues a region by region analysis of coming climate change impacts and how to plan for them. Transition-worthy ideas

November 30, 2010

Writing On The Walls

Greening Modernism, a book by Carl Stein, seeks to reunite the impulse behind 20th century modernism with 21st century ecological goals in architecture. Reviewed here

What's The Story?

Follow the fate of media reports on an academic study of what climate message is most effective. Start here

November 29, 2010

A High Performance 2011

Three legal eagles weigh in on what to expect on the green building front next year. Start here & Continue now

No Bailouts For Planet Earth

Unlike tottering financial systems, the perils facing the climate can be saved only by systemic change that the Cancun meeting won't deliver. Sorry

November 26, 2010

Q: How To Dispose of Old Nuclear Power Plants?

A: Here's one way

November 24, 2010

2010: Climate Coverage

What is the overall direction of US media coverage on climate issues ithis year? Just the facts

UK: Renewable Potential

Deutsche Bank analyzes the potential to scale up renewable power and associated infrastructure in the UK. Think big

Grow Your Own

One day, will we live in homes built by using biomimicry? Think Brooklyn

November 23, 2010

One Bryant Park: Behind The Curtain Wall

Rating the energy performance of One Bryant Park, a LEED Platinum office tower, is a tall order. What was learned?

Green Consumer Education

In the market for a high performance, green home? here are ten questions for the architect. Just ask

Q: How Is A Smart Meter Like Dating?

A: A successful smart meter program, like a good relationship, is built on trust and transparency. Gotta love it

November 22, 2010

Going Incandescent

Conservative Congress members launch a fight against the ban on incandescent bulbs slated for 2012. Watt?

Aim For Global Green Growth

A policy paper by the German Marshall Fund calls for targeting global green economic growth as the solution to the current worldwide political climate impasse. Fine print

Solving The Renters' Dilemma

Can crowd-sourcing come up with solutions to the home renters' dilemma over whether to weatherize? Welcome in

November 19, 2010

NY Sea Level Rising

Now's your chance to comment on a draft report that offers responses to the complex challenge of sea level rise along New York's shoreline. Dec. 10 deadline

Don't Upset Us, We're American

Is the current popularity of climate deniers the result of an American don't-worry-be-happy mind set? Read post & comments

Deliberate Distortion?

The Scientific American magazine is outraged by misuse of its climate science poll and other research in climate skeptics' Congressional testimony and op-eds. Grim stuff

November 18, 2010

Plans C & E

US companies hoping for a boost from federal climate legislation now look to business in China and Europe. Small world?

Some Ideas Are Keepers

Although New York State will get a new Governor on January 1, 2011 the proposals contained in the 2010 Climate Action Plan should not be forgotten. Chapter 6

Everyone Into The Pool!

Want to join a global climate research network? All you need is a computer and web access. Enter here

LEED 2010: Report From The Front

Based on new data, it's clear that LEED is grappling with a tough market and a steep learning curve. Fine print

Wool Bricks & More

Get the latest on innovative products for greener building construction. Materialize

November 17, 2010

IN: Climate Impacts Coming Soon

Researchers predict by the 2030's India's temperatures will be 3.6° F higher and droughts and storms will be fiercer. Future is tense

November 16, 2010

Plan B On Climate Action

WIth the failure of Democratic Congress to pass federal climate legislation, the Environmental Defense Fund is rethinking its national action strategy. Outcomes matter

Home Improvements

Thinking about weatherizing your home, but don't know what's entailed? Start here

November 15, 2010

Two Cultures?

Social scientists report on a possibly unbridgeable divide between climate scientists and climate skeptics. Mind the gap

RGGI: LOL?

RGGI cannot CO2 in the northeast unless its emissions permits are reduced by 25%. Get serious

Self-Suficient Cities

A book with 708 proposals from 116 countries about creating self-sufficient cities gets the mind working. Re-imagine that

Bringing It All Back Home

Live in a coastal city? This is what rising sea levels could have in store for you. Get adapted

Climate Q&A

Revkin asks, Lomborg responds. You think

November 12, 2010

Green Is The New Rainbow

When it comes to what it will take to make environmental and economic progress, brown, black and white are all in it together. Join in

Grid Upgrade

Why the US needs a 21st century super transmission grid for reliable and clean electric power and how to get it done. Get connected[Subscribers only]

Tilting At Windmills

The lack of a national energy policy dims job prospects for retrained workers in a tough economy. Learn more

November 11, 2010

UK 's Conservative Climate Commitment

Rolling out its Green Deal, the Conservative Cameron government sets its sights on raising home energy efficiency performance by attracting private investments. What's the deal?

November 10, 2010

Who's Sorry Now?

The US Department of Transportation tells New Jersey to refund $271 million spent on the rail tunnel project canceled by Governor Christie. You had your way, now you must pay

Moses v Jacobs

Not again! you might say. Now, revisit this debate over shaping the city with an eye toward forging a low-carbon energy future. BYO challenges

November 08, 2010

No Earthly Reason

Earth's two previous great global warmings had geological causes. The great warming starting in 1970 has none. Pay attention

First Glimpse Of LEED 2012

The US Green Building Council opens the public comment period on its draft of LEED standards for 2012. Peek in

Think Conservative On Climate

Using the precautionary principle as a guide for taking climate action now is consistent with conservation political principles. Here's why

November 05, 2010

A Smaller Carbon Footprint

New York City's annual inventory of its greenhouse gas emissions and trends since 2005 is big! Step this way

Slow Tech Transfer Keeps Coal King

The slow pace of new technology transfers to industry in South Africa keeps it dependent on coal to supply energy. Why?

November 04, 2010

What Makes News?

Typologies for media coverage of climate change include working scientists, heretics and Potemkins. Each tells a different story

Sue the B*****s

Deutsche Bank reports on current trends in US climate change litigation. Fine print

Politics In Motion

The outcome of New York's elections could reroute the state's transit future. Stay tuned

Green Grows On Trees

Private firms profit from planting trees to improve water quality through shading and preventing erosion. Dive in

Can Global Cities Be Sustainable?

Taking Chicago as a case study, the broad measure of a global city's sustainability is troubling. Look into it

November 03, 2010

Faster, Cheaper & Greener

If faster and cheaper were the keys to earlier industrial revolutions, now it's time to add energy efficiency to the keychain. Open more doors

November 02, 2010

Ready To Rumble?

Scientists mull over prospects of climate oversight hearings run by hostile Congressional committees. Stay tuned

Better Than Grand Theft Auto

The computer gamer Red Redemption develops a game for saving the planet from the ravages of global weirding. Wham! bam!!

Exxon Likes A Carbon Tax

What's the link between Exxon's support of a carbon tax and its plunge into the natural gas business? Find out here

Where (Expletive Deleted) Are Green Jobs?

For Election Day, a lament over the failure to find good green jobs. Read on

November 01, 2010

Cuomo's Greener New York

After Election Day, this could be the eco-road map for New York. Unfold it here

October 29, 2010

What's Your Plan?

Environmental advocates send a letter to New York gubenatorial candidates Andrew Cuomo and Carl Paladino, urging them "to share with the public their vision for conservation and environmental protection." See here

How To Succeed Without Winning

Cold Speeds Up Evolution

Research suggests that when the Earth is colder, animals evolve faster. Learn more

October 28, 2010

Science - The New Public Enemy

Despite furor over the vulnerability of on-line polling to organized manipulation, Scientific American's data that 42% of respondents support keeping science out of politics has real meaning. Watch out!

Shadow A Solar Builder

Wonder what it takes to to to develop a 370 MW solar thermal project? Meet John Woolard

October 27, 2010

Mea Culpa?

Revkin asks if media coverage of climate change is boring and challenges us to find new ways to report on it. Stifle that yawn!

A Pleasant Surprise: Ray LaHood

Environmental advocates, once barely lukewarm on the appointment of Ray LaHood as US Transportation Secretary, have found a real green champion. Here's why

Scientist Stumped By PA Climate Denial

While the crop of 2010 candidates running as climate change deniers is hardly news, a scientist finds it a puzzling phenomenon. Meanwhile, science educators reach out to hunters and anglers.

October 26, 2010

From Gray To Green On CSO

New York City seeks to shift from steel and concrete answers to water pollution problems toward green ones that also have cooler city capacity. Dig in

Smarter Mischief & Mayhem

Are smart meters an invitation to steal your electricity? Is the smart grid vulnerable to manipulated blackouts? Look into it

October 25, 2010

2011 Forecast: Un-Green

If the Republicans capture Congress what to expect on the environmental front. Some specifics

Worth Fighting For

Words matter. Results of the competition to define what is green or sustainable across a wide band of products will have major market consequences. Start here (full article not free)

Model Green Law

Columbia University issues a model municipal green building ordinance based on analysis of common practices and impediments to resource efficiency gains. Legal eagle alert!

October 22, 2010

Incentives Toolkit

Consider the range of financial incentives for CCS presented here and how they could be applied to other carbon-cutting projects. Work on it

Post Mortem Or Resurrection

Friends and foes diagnose the death-by-Senate of the Kerry climate bill and look ahead to EPA rule-making. E&ETV

Gold, Passive & Living Buildings

Tour this portfolio of LEED Gold, Passive Haus and Living Buildings.

October 20, 2010

Sitmulus Funds - Behind the Headlines

Want to get a handle on the results of DOE stimulus spending for clean energy projects? It's complicated

Class Action Action

Will the class action suit brought against the USGBC over its LEED standards have its day in court? What's a class? & What's a monopoly?

Berlin Plugs Into Its Roofs

Berlin advocates of rooftop solar power provide facts, figures & projections. Think 3D

October 19, 2010

From Climate To Commons

Think conventional climate politics has failed? Time to rethink and renew

The Next Carbon Frontier

Public lands have great potential as clean energy sources. Can we succeed?

October 15, 2010

We Don't Know! Do We Care?

Researchers find 52% of their US survey sample would flunk Climate 101, only 8% would get A's or B's. Mind the gap

Ask Secretary Chu

Watch this interview with Department of Energy Secretary Chu where he answers questions submitted via Twitter and Facebook. See here

2010 Energy Efficiency List

California is first and Mississippi is last in the ACEEE fifty state rating of energy efficiency. Where does your state stand?

October 14, 2010

Storm Magnets

The tall towers of New York and other coastal attract hurricanes. Think of what more frequent storms would mean. Pay attention

Growing Greener Business

Making a business greener isn't about being less bad. That's good

Green Can-Do: Compare & Contrast

Compare New Jersey's cancellation of a cross-Hudson mass transit tunnel with Google's plan to build an offshore wind transmission system. Potent anecdotes

October 13, 2010

Do It WIth NSPS

Legal scholars consider the New Source Performance Standards of the Clean Air Act to be the best carbon regulatory tool for the EPA. Fine print

Say It Ain't So

Contrary to some claims, research finds immigration does not grow the size of the US carbon footprint. Here's why

October 12, 2010

US Climate Skeptics - A Breed Apart

American political conservatives are unique in rejecting the findings of climate science. Got a reason?

For Salt's Sake

New York City's plan for a $10.25 million green salt shed sparks a critic's ambivalence. Cover it

October 11, 2010

Mediating Climate

Has the rise of new and social media made an impact on public awareness or engagement around climate change? Look into it

October 07, 2010

Be Efficient & Save A Bundle

A suburban homeowner spends $375,000 in utility and transportation costs while paying off the mortgage but could save 50% if the property was energy efficiency. Really?

States Of Importance

With 50 states and many more local governments in the US, 'sub-national' climate actions can have robust impact beyonds their borders. Fine print

Chunk Strategy Skeptics

President Obama's proposal to pass chunk-sized bills rather than full-sized federal global warming legislation gets a cool response. Food for thought

Climate Action For Everyman

A small business owner in California finds effective and affordable opportunities to cut his carbon footprint are "ever present" How about you?

Unstimulated

Why hasn't $31 billion in Department of Energy stimulus money had much economic impact? While this will be grist for ongoing debate, here's one opinion.

October 06, 2010

Power To the People

With the collapse of plans for additional electric transmission lines into NYC, it's time to ask Who needs it?

The Rockefeller Makeover

Rockefeller Center gets smart meters, an energy efficiency upgrade and a "virtual power" plant. Here's how

October 05, 2010

Ignorance Found In Senate!

Based on reports of the Senate's failure to pass a climate law, it seems even bill supporters were less than well-informed. No irony intended

The Basics of BASIC

What are the climate negotiating interests of the BASIC four, Brazil, South Africa, India and China? Learn more

October 04, 2010

Amsterdam & San Francisco: Eco-Maps

Want to "compare & contrast" or "measure & manage" urban environmental performance? Start here

They Blew It

Here's the grim story of just how the White House and Senate Democrats failed to pass a climate and energy bill. RIP?

Green Tech Levers

Siemens reports on energy infrastructure technologies for urban sustainability, spotlighting London and a NY case study. City lights

Get Accountable

Sustaining the sustainability movement will mean measurement and monitoring. Manage that!

September 30, 2010

The Wegman Tool

Get the backstory on the Wegman Report, Senator Barton's tool to attack climate science. Drill down

September 28, 2010

How To Follow The Money

Exactly where is big money flowing to fight against climate action? It counts

Do More With Less

Historically low interest rates can finance green job growth to cut historically high unemployment rates. Spend some time

Melting Away

Scientists are shocked by how fast glaciers and ice-sheets are melting and could more than double estimates of sea level rise by 2100. Dive in

September 27, 2010

RES-olution

Here's the latest debate on whether the US needs a Renewable Energy Standard and what it should say. You decide

September 24, 2010

Prop 23 in California

CA voters will decide whether or not to suspend AB 32 aka the Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006 What if?

September 22, 2010

Fate of the World

Can leading environmental game maker Red Redemption in collaboration with Oxford University climate experts jolt complacent minds into taking action? Get your game on

September 18, 2010

More Expert

Revkin captures the tenor of what scientists say about other scientists when it comes to climate change. Mind that domain

September 17, 2010

Red White & Green

A poll sponsored by the NRDC finds Americans are positive about the EPA and the work it does. Just ask

Weatherization Is Women's Work

Portland, Oregon is an innovative epicenter of home weatherization jobs for (not only) women. Here's how it's done

September 16, 2010

PBS Science: True Or False?

The PBS ombudsman examines whether a Nova science broadcast was skewed by its sponsor, David Koch. Must read

THe Urban Honor Roll

With more than half the world's people living in cities, smart, urban green innovation really counts. ICLEI's US top 10

September 15, 2010

Big Problems, Small Planet

Dean Kammen looks into a new generation of climate and energy development challenges facing the World Bank, while the World Energy Council explores how megacities can lead on energy and urban innovation.

What's Good For China?

Does China's economy benefit from a US failure to enact climate change legislation? Climate Wire & CFR

Doing Climate Science

Explaining the link between warming oceans and 21st century hurricanes is still a work-in-progress, but the risk of living in low-lying coastal areas is clear right now. Kerry Emanuel

How Do We Know It's Hotter?

The heat waves of summer 2010 made headlines and here's how scientists got the data to back them up. Fine print

September 14, 2010

In Case You Misssed It - Optimism

David Goldstein makes the case for energy efficiency as a key to environmental and economic success. Open here

September 13, 2010

Heat Seekers

Get the latest data on global temperatures for 2010 and draw your own conclusions. Read all about it

Imagine That!

Launched five years ago, what's happened at GE's Ecomagination program? Immelt reports

September 10, 2010

Polar Science Right Now!

Follow the Cape Farewell IX Arctic science expedition over the next four weeks. Start here

Green Guide To Florida Race

While Florida voters don't put environmental issues high on their issues list, Grist thinks a look at the green positions of candidates for Governor is still worthwhile. Do you?

CA: Is Repeal Appealing?

How would a November vote for California's Prop 23 to overturn the state's Global Warming Solution law affect its economy? Look into it

September 09, 2010

Play It As It LA's

With apologies to Joan Didion, peer into Los Angeles' smoggy climate-changed future. Go west

What's Wrong With Wind Power?

Since the federal government has no say on electric transmission siting, developing a viable interstate system is a long shot. Plug in

September 08, 2010

Climate Facts On File

Want to have the facts at your fingertips when engaging with a climate skeptic or someone seeking the science behind the headlines? Start here

More than One Risk

Revkin weighs in on weird weather and climate change. Cold comfort

Loading the Dice

Why asking if this summer's extreme weather events were caused by climate change is the wrong question. Here's why

September 03, 2010

Some Things Don't Change

A new history examines how defenders of industrial pollution developed, deployed - and continue to use - the same techniques developed a century ago. Reviewed here

September 02, 2010

The Gates Debate

Bill Gates' call for a carbon tax to fund a new generation of climate-friendly R&D sparks a riposte from the Tellus Institute and a return. Follow that thread!

September 01, 2010

Learn The Right Thing

Based on the policies of ten leading states, CAP calls for a federal policy to upgrade the energy efficiency of 50 million buildings, create 625,000 jobs and save Americans $64 billion in energy bills. Start here

NJ: Guide To Sustainable Growth

A university white paper calls on New Jersey leaders to link global demand for green products and practices to the state's core strengths in order to succeed. Learn more

Pricing A Carbon Tax

When asked "how much?", carbon tax supporters offer a wide range of dollar values. Here's an argument for the high end. Fine print

August 31, 2010

The Energy Descent

Wade into the raging debate over what should come after the Oil Age and whether current green ideas are good enough. Enter here

Needed: Cooler AC

Air conditioning was invented early in the 20th Century. Now it's time for something better. Get updated

Don't Waste Heat

Computer chip and nano-technology could vastly expand our ability to use waste heat for making electricity. Here's how

August 30, 2010

Parting the Clouds

Satellite data offers clues about the impact of clouds on climate change. Peer in

August 27, 2010

HUD: Stop Burning $$!

HUD could save $1 billion every year by installing energy efficient appliances, boilers and insulation in its low-income housing. Learn more

An LED Dark Spot

Based on historical data, research concludes that ultra-efficient LED lighting will not cut overall energy use. Some turn-off

August 26, 2010

Cities On The Front Line

Cities must retool for resilience as the climate gets weirder. Get specifics

Glacial Retreat

View photos of Asia's shrinking glaciers in the USGS atlas. Chilling

Obama's Stalls Out On Green

Obama's failure to deliver on domestic climate legislation and global leadership will make the environmental impact of the coming economic contraction even worsel. Feelin' gloomy

August 25, 2010

Koch Brothers: Climate Denial "Kingpins"

The super-rich David and Charles Koch support many things, including the climate change denial campaign. Follow their money

August 24, 2010

Going Green & Getting Results

EPA's Energy Star program offers on-line resources for getting started and succeeding in making buildings energy efficient. Learn more

Green For Less

Want to increase your home's energy efficiency and cut costs? Federal tax credits can help. Look into it

August 23, 2010

NOAA Knows

Looking for up-to-date data from NOAA's 2009 Climate Accessment? Enter here

August 20, 2010

Winning Counts

If you're interested in climate action, watch these five election contests around the nation. The list

Green Brass

Could the US military become a driver of US energy and climate policy action? Look into it

August 19, 2010

Does LEED Ignore Public Health?

Some argue LEED building guidelines ignore public health, others take exception. See column & comments

What's Up With The Weather?

Whether you call 2010's weather weird or extreme, get the climate science behind the headlines. Read all about it

August 18, 2010

Hung Out To Dry

Energy expert Charles Komanoff wants to correct the advice recently offered about what Americans could do to become more energy efficient. Dear Sir

Ready, Aim...

The climate movement should make use of the NRA's play book if hopes to succeed in politics. Fire up

August 17, 2010

Guilt By Association

Let's name climate disasters after climate deniers. A modest proposal

August 16, 2010

Do The Right Things

When polled, Americans gave the wrong answer about what they could do to become more energy efficient. Think fast

Energy In Albany

The New York State Deputy Energy Secretary sets out a menu of policy and public funding options. Get it here

August 13, 2010

From Song To Schmutz

Contemporary Chinese artist Zhang Hongtu draws a comparison between the pristine and the polluted. See for yourself

Embodied Energy

What is embodied energy and why should advocates of low carbon cities care? Consider Suzhou

August 12, 2010

Energy - Not A Level Playing Field

The US has supported fossil fuels for decades and today the scale of it support for other power sources pales in comparison. You betcha!

What Would Brune Do?

Sierra Club chief Michael Brune reflects on the failure to pass federal climate legislation and lays out a near-term action agenda. Look into it

What To Do When It's Too Hot

Extreme heat is a known health risk and developing urban adaptive capacity is a must. Start here

August 11, 2010

Cook With Goldberger

Architect Richard Cook speaks with architectural critic Paul Goldberger about the tangibles and intangibles for making buildings "regenerative" and cities sustainable. Listen in

August 10, 2010

I'll Take Manhattan

In case you've got doubts about big city life in the middle of August, here's a reminder why Manhattan or Tokyo have the density the sustainability-minded should crave. Honest!

We've Got A Problem Here

Sultry summer weather and utility consumer dislike for smart meters and grids is a recipe for trouble. Got a solution?

Climate Failure Fallout

Announcement of federal funding to restart the FutureGen coal-burning power plant project, but without costly CCS technology, could be a sign that without a climate law, big investments in carbon technologies are off the table.

August 09, 2010

Remaking Michigan

With an unemployment rate of 13.2%, can a green revolution save Michigan? Ask the Governor

August 07, 2010

Andy's House

Get a tour of the energy efficiency upgrades at Andy Revkin's house. Welcome

August 06, 2010

A High Line For Harlem

Adapt aging infrastructure, create open space and bring new retail action and food markets -- all in one East Harlem project. Remaking La Marqueta

Plug In To Save The Planet

Here's a simple proposal to create the energy we need and end our addiction to foreign oil. Use your hybrid!

Snowmaggedon Not!

Scientists explain how last winter's heavy snow is consistent with climate change. Take off the gloves

August 05, 2010

Put A Price On Failure

Soul-searching begins after Dems and environmentalists fail to deliver a Senate climate bill. Re message

Let's Cool Manhtattan, The Bronx & Staten Island Too

New research on what works to shrink on the urban heat island effect. Get the facts

August 04, 2010

Texas To EPA: Drop Dead

The state of Texas tells the EPA that it will not comply with federal GHG control rules come January 2011. Just try!

Free Legal Advice

Interested in practicing green building law? Read this

August 03, 2010

The Heat Is On

According to Munich Re, a major insurance firm, a planet that gets 2 degrees C hotter "should not be regarded as safe". Chilling

August 02, 2010

The Opposite Of 'Level Playing Field'

While the global renewable energy industry got $45 billion in subsidies, the fossil fuel industry raked in $557 billion in subsidies. Trough it up

Reacting To A New Reactor Design

The NRC raises safety questions about the new design of 14 nuclear reactors currently under permit review. Learn more

Climate & The CA Governor's Race

Jerry Brown, running for Governor of California, calls support of the state's climate law a defining issue in his race against Meg Whitman. Look into it

July 30, 2010

How Science Advances

Good science is about ongoing learning, testing and relearning. It's not a closed-end undertaking. A climate lesson

July 29, 2010

Is There A Pulse?

Since the politics will have to change before the US gets a climate bill, are there any signs of life on the climate front now? Thump

Control Carbon: Embrace The Alternative

What is "fee and dividend" and who would support it now that "cap and trade" has collapsed? Learn more

July 28, 2010

Future: A Lot Different Than Now

The National Academy of Sciences report on adapting to climate change grapples with how to plan for some big unknowns. Dig in

Green Starchticture

Find out who's on the G-List of the top green buildings and ask yourself about the lack of overlap with conventional architectural A-Lists. Start here

July 27, 2010

We're The Canaries

Photos of a world at risk. Home here

None Like It Hot

With prospects of ever-hotter weather, learn about the impact of heat on human health. Cold comfort

July 26, 2010

The Enthusiasm Gap

Was the death of the climate bill the result of tepid support or fear of the unknown?

Sea Ice & Us

A warming Arctic can cause weird weather elsewhere on the planet while sea ice is thinner than ever. Learn more

NYSERDA Plans Ahead

The New York Energy Research and Development Authority has a new strategic plan for a secure, sustainable and reliable energy future in challenging times. Fine print

July 23, 2010

Could Be

The Senate's failure to act on a climate bill could be the start of something great. Join the conversation

July 22, 2010

Behavior Counts

Understanding residential energy use behavior is one way to improve home energy efficiency in the absence of a price on carbon. Study here

Climate Bill: RIP

Two EPA staffers savage the offset provisions of Congress' climate bills, calling them fatally flawed. Nothing's better

Suicide By Coal

Just saying "no" may no longer be a bullet-proof strategy for the US coal industry. Dig in

July 21, 2010

Make It Legal

An economist's argument for passing federal cap and trade legislation rests on this fact: without legislation dirty energy will remain cheap energy. Count on it

July 19, 2010

BEST For Buildings In The Bronx

Green collar workers at BEST for Buildings go door to door in the South Bronx seeking property owners interested in weatherization and saving money. Greewire [Subscription firewall]

CSS: Green - As In Not Ripe

The GAO reports carbon capture and sequestration is not a mature technology and the Department of Energy should provide more information on the current state of climate-friendly technologies. Fine print

July 16, 2010

Let Us In!

The latest wrinkle in climate legislation might be a cap and trade opt-in provisions for manufacturers. Uh-oh

Moore's Curse

Unlike Moore's law, which states that microchip capacity will double every 18-24 months, don't expect global green energy capacity to do any such thing. But don't tell these scientists at work

Reframing Disaster

Reframe the lessons we need to learn from the BP oil disaster to get real change. Learn from Lakoff

Make Overs For Suburbia?

The new urbanism, making suburbs and cities denser and building mass transit that attracts riders, faces ongoing hurdles. Start here

July 15, 2010

Romm's World Cup

Get Joe Romm's take away on the World Cup, where China advertised a green technology company and the US advertised MacDonalds. Gooaal!

July 13, 2010

The Newer Normal

With polls showing falling support for fighting climate change, more conventional climate-as-interest-group politics could take its place. And then?

A Friend Of Fracking

A Pennsylvania geoscientist makes the case for using hydrofracking to obtain natural gas. Drill down

July 12, 2010

Learning By Loaning

Six case studies of government and utility clean energy loan programs paint a complex picture. Fine print

News To Me

In an era of multiple and disaggregated news media, is there one right way to report on climate science? Discuss

July 09, 2010

A New Normal

As a hotter, different world becomes the norm, will people think that's just how it is rather than act to contain climate weirdness? Mull it over

Location Counts

Notice that last year's media coverage about charges of shoddy climate science were front page news, but recent findings that disproved the allegations were not? Look into it

Bloom Servers In Service

Tennessee gets its first Bloom energy servers, fuel cells with ultra small carbon footprints that can make electricity out of any gaseous fuel. Plug in

July 08, 2010

Green Leasing In Portland

New Yorkers talk about green leases, in Portland Oregon they're inking them. Go west

Climate Bill Would Cut Deficit

The Congressional Budget Office reports that with passage of the Kerry-Lieberman climate bill, the federal deficit would decrease $19 billion while discretionary spending would increase by $48 billion. Here's how

July 07, 2010

Climate Bill Soon? What It Needs

If the Senate acts on climate and energy, here are ten ideas to include. Read on

No Climate Bill, Now What?

Seven observers ones weigh in on moving past a failed Senate climate bill to actions that can make a difference. Think hard

July 06, 2010

To Act Or Not To Act

How should a society decide which future risks to confront or how to calculate the costs of inaction? Start here

Economists Don't Do Energy

What do economist have to say about what's coming in an energy constrained world? Not much

Teach-In

Looking for a more compelling, clear and effective way to explain the greenhouse gas effect? Model talk & comments

Samso: The Little Island That Could

The Danish island of Samso launched a self-sufficient, renewable energy project in 1997. Progress report

July 04, 2010

Green Rx: Take For Financial Blues

Carbon taxes or cap and trade can be a powerful cure for the Great Recession amd help reduce long-term deficits. Learn more

July 02, 2010

Off Gas

Should the environmental cost of obtaining natural gas should rule it out as the transition fuel of choice? Look into it

July 01, 2010

Not-Smart-Enough-Meters

Households with smart electric meters show modest consumption cuts, but for deeper cuts, utilities will have to do a lot more. Wise up

Denmark's Energy Portal

Check out this interactive green energy resources map from Denmark. Head north

June 30, 2010

Benchmarking Power

Every year, CERES reports on the emissions performance of the largest power producers in the US. Get the latest!

June 29, 2010

Cloudy Thinking

Catch up with the latest scientific thinking about the impact of clouds on climate change. and how hot things could get.

Travel Plans?

While the promise of eco-tourism is great, the learning curve is steep. Visit Peru

June 28, 2010

What's Next?

With climate legislation stalled in Washington, now is the time to ask what kind of legislation would be worth passing. Think hard

June 25, 2010

Retro-Greening

What is retro-greening and who's doing it? Losers are winners

Celebrate Summer Efficiently

Now that it's summer in the city, catch up with the latest ideas on making building HVAC systems energy efficient. Get technical

Meet The Author

Eric Pooley, author of a new book on Washington climate politics, is interviewed by the The American Prospect. Q&A

ESCO's Grow In MUSH

ESCO's provide multi-year energy efficiency services and do well in the MUSH market that is made up of municipal government, universities, hospitals and other long-term institutional property owners. Plug in

June 24, 2010

What Do Climate Contrarians Know?

A National Academy of Sciences survey of scientists who are climate deniers finds that they lack the expertise in climate sciences. Get the facts

Setting A Commercial PACE

What are the top issues for commercial building owners thinking about PACE bonds? Look into it

Australia: Target Zero

By using wind and concentrated solar power, the Zero Carbon Project proposes to free Australia from fossil fuels by 2020. Look ahead

June 23, 2010

Waste Not, Want Not

In the US, waste heat from industrial processes is an untapped source of energy and a way to save jobs. Get it

June 22, 2010

China: More Than Coal

A research visit to China reveals the economic, scientific and environmental strides being made on the energy front. Learn more

Outlining Offsets

WRI analyzes the offset provisions of the Kerry-Lieberman climate bill. Fine print

All Fracked Up

Been too busy with the BP oil spill to catch up with the Marcellus Shale gas hydrofracking story? It's not too late

Scientific Seals

Seals equipped with heat sensors gather data about sources of heat that melt Antarctic ice. Dive in

June 21, 2010

Media Matters

Learn the lessons a science reporter brings to his climate change reporting. No hype

Search Me

True or false: rising use of the internet spells bad news for climate change? Log on

Picture This

View the National Geographic photo gallery that illustrates how we live now and what life on the 21st century electric grid could look like. Click

June 17, 2010

Fool Proof

Will new, simpler standardized nuclear power technology make reactors less risky? Look into it

At The Crossroads

Tellus research lays out four contrasting global paths to follow in the 21st Century. Which way to sustainability?

June 16, 2010

Making Book

Grist reviews The Climate War, an up-to-the-minute book about Washington climate policy and asks, if current efforts fail, what's Plan B? Get an answer

Trouble In Mind

Why should the Gulf oil spill and responses to it should make us worry about climate change? Find out

Green Building Ideas Advance

Get a sneak preview of legislation the NYC Council will consider this month to improve energy efficiency and water use in local buildings. Here

June 15, 2010

Lose To Win

Want to win at cutting home energy use in Brooklyn? Take the Lander challenge. Yes you can in the 39th District

June 14, 2010

Baby It's Hot/Cold Outside!

A warming arctic could mean colder, snowier winters in other latitudes. As predicted, weird!

Financing Our Future

Pratt Center briefs New York homeowners and renters on how to pay for energy retrofits. Coming soon

June 11, 2010

A History Lesson

Q: What do lung cancer and climate change have in common? A: Opponents to government action. Learn more

Back To Square One

The BP oil catastrophe ought to put an end to calls for "energy independence" as a proxy for federal action on climate change. Think hard

Murkowski Vote: The Morning After

Reactions to the defeat of Senator Murkowski's move to strip EPA's authority to regulate CO2. FT, CP, TNR & More

June 10, 2010

Inside Washington

Dot Earth covers "The Climate War", a new book about what climate politics looks like in Washington. Don't despair

June 09, 2010

Rising Risk For Business

Insurance research warns that the world has entered a time of deep uncertainty about energy sources and costs, regardless of short-term politics. Think ahead

Climate Pollster On Polling

Get an expert tour behind the headlines on public opinion about climate change. Enter here

Think Global, Act Granular

The Brattleboro Vermont Coop creates a hundred year sustainability strategy. Start here now

June 08, 2010

Cut That Tax

If money makes the world go round, would bigger tax deductions for making commercial buildings energy efficient, save it? Could be

Cure LEED?

Follow this lively discussion about whether LEED building standards slight human health goals. Rx

June 07, 2010

Washington Watch

Stay up-to-date on Washington climate and energy politics. Here & Now & Toast?

June 03, 2010

From Farm & Forest To Tank

Research on the indirect carbon emissions from biofuels raises questions about their offset value. Learn more

June 02, 2010

Grist For Thought

Is the Senate American Power Act better than the alternatives? Think about it

Attention Must Be Paid

While BP's oil gushes into the Gulf of Mexico, our profligate personal decisions also add to the energy and climate crisis. Pay attention

Arctic Tipping Point

Arctic permafrost stores a vast quantity of CO2. As warming temperatures release the gas into the air, the warming could speed up. Phew!

June 01, 2010

Just Ask!

It's time to bring women's perspectives into making sharp tools for effective climate actions. Yes she can

Think Global/Act Jackson Heights

Residents of Jackson Heights in Queens, NY help create a green agenda for their neighborhood. Get it here![19MB]

May 28, 2010

Any Detectable Impact?

An investment analyst makes the case for the positive economic impact of the Kerry Lieberman climate and energy bill. Tap tap

Be Prepared!

The New York Academy of Science reports on how New York City can start now to prepare for the impact of climate change. It is less expensive than rebuilding after a catastrophe. Fine print

May 27, 2010

No Fly Zone

Aviation industry CO2 emissions, now 2-3% of the world's total, are expected to treble by 2050. Any alternative?

May 26, 2010

When Did You Stop Beating Your Wife?

Romm ruminates on why the New York Times keeps printing climate denial stories. Take that!

May 25, 2010

Bite-SIzed Climate Papers

The RSS climate policy reader assembles 18 pithy policy pieces ranging from treaties, to carbon taxes, to adaptive capacity. Dig in

Can Data Move NY?

The goal of the BTA, an encyclopedic spread sheet of transportation data in NYC, is reinventing public policy. Stop & go

May 24, 2010

Turn Like A Fish

Researchers learn to build a better wind power farm from how schools of fish move . Fluid, dynamic

Measuring Up: Behind The Headlines

Changes in instrumentation makes data on warming oceans more accurate but poses some interpretive challenges. Details, details

May 21, 2010

What's It Worth?

The Stavins argument for the value of free CO2 emissions allowances. Here

May 20, 2010

Rx For Sluggish Buildings

Building commissioning, a good way to check up on the inner workings of new or older buildings to see if they are performing as designed is not difficult to do, but it's rarely done. Learn more

May 19, 2010

The Case of The Vanishing Glaciers

As Himalayan glaciers melt, clues about the impacts add up. Look downstream

What's In It For Me?

The federal government asked for public comment on the smart grid and who should pay for it. Responses & responders

Speak Up, Be Heard

The National Academy of Sciences launches a project to determine how climate science can effectively communicate to decision makers. Stay tuned

Splitsville

What's at stake in the deep divide among greens over the Kerry-Lieberman climate bill? Look into it

May 18, 2010

Don't Get Railroaded

A skeptic looks at plans for intercity high-speed rail in Britain. Queue up

Building Branding

Calculate the value of US office buildings with LEED or Energy Star labels in terms of rents and occupancy rates. Start here

American Power Act NAY!

Why you should oppose the Kerry-Lieberman American Power Act.

American Power Act AYE!

Why you should support the Kerry-Lieberman American Power Act.

May 17, 2010

A Better Brick

Forget brick-making in CO2-spewing kilns. Now microbes can do the work. Think different

EJ Groups Demand Charter Reform Now

Environmental justice organizations urge the NYC Charter Reform Commission to enhance fair share and community planning powers. Learn more

See CCS In Your Future?

CCS, carbon capture and storage, is far from a sure thing, but that could be changing. Look into it

Look Closer

Climate science is advancing by looking at data from small geographic regions in big time frames. Here's how

May 14, 2010

NYC: Growing Green Jobs

A May 2010 report spells out green job types, emerging markets, growth drivers and targeted educational needs for New York City. Get to work

Oily Ideas

Wonder what the Kerry-Lieberman bill looks like from the perspective of the oil & gas industry? Dip in

May 13, 2010

UK: The New Green Agenda

Conservatives and Liberal Democrats in the UK have a different environmental agenda than conservatives in the US. Look into it

NYC: A Greener Greater Energy Code

A greener, greater NYC requires top-notch Energy Conservation Code rules. A public hearing on the draft rules is scheduled for May 18. Text & information

Goodbye To All That Coal

Hansen & Mazria believe the US can ends its reliance on coal by 2030. Here's how

May 12, 2010

The PACE Quickens

With California leading the way, PACE financing for energy efficiency and clean energy laws are booming. Learn more

What Works At Work?

Delve into a study of six federal workplace energy efficiency projects. Be more productive!

April 23, 2010

For The Birds

Brooklyn's grungy Gowanus Canal is being lined with bird houses designed by local architects for swifts and kestrels. Fly by

Greener@Three?

New York City rates its progress in meeting the goals of plaNYC2030 on its third anniversary. 1, 2, 3

April 22, 2010

Making Lemonade

Some businesses see opportunities in the myriad impacts of global climate change. Look into it

Climate Change Could Up-End US Politics

NOAA reports climate impacts could lead to massive immigration and domestic relocation that would transform US politics by 2035. Relocate

Cantwell Makes It CLEAR

Senator Cantwell spells out the argument for her climate bill, CLEAR, and why the Kerry cap and trade bill is not the answer. Get clarified

April 21, 2010

The Energy Habits Of Efficient Corporations

The Pew Foundation's case studies distill corporate strategies for leading the way on energy efficiency. Here's how

Profiles In High Performance

ASHRAE profiles the energy renaissance in leading US office buildings. Fine print

Antarctica: Trouble Ahead?

New evidence from Antarctic ice finds vulnerability to sudden, alarming changes. Drill down

April 16, 2010

Senate Sausage-Making

Who gets what with a Kerry, Graham, Lieberman climate bill and what's negotiable? Romm weighs in

Getting Over Copenhagen

Hope is not a plan and it's time to abandon the Copenhagen model. Here's an economist's four-prong path for climate action that must include the US, China and India. Look ahead

April 15, 2010

Earth Day Politics

Reflecting on Earth Day at 40, Denis Hayes argues SOP pragmatic politics is a failed path to climate action in Washington. Rx

Hybrids Are The New Red White & Blue

Former CIA Director James Woolsey calls on Americans to make the nation safer by demanding cars that don't run on gasoline. Re-energize

April 14, 2010

The Hidden Cost Of Suburban Life

People who opt to live further from central Boston because housing is cheaper spend what they save on transportation. Priced out

EU: The New Normal

Deutsche Bank reports that energy efficient building can become ubiquitous in the EU and recommends ways to move markets faster. Read on

April 13, 2010

Australia In 2050

Forget barbeques and Bondi Beach, by 2050 Australia will be densely urban and coping with climate change. Model futures

Better Behavior

Behavioral science has tools more potent than price signals for changing people's energy use . Nudge, nudge

April 12, 2010

Urban Greenery

Is the Mayor's green plan for New York City taking root? Dig in

April 09, 2010

Looming Labor Shortage

Research points to an emerging gap between growing market demand for clean energy and energy efficiency skills and the nation's current training capacity. Learn more

April 08, 2010

Eco Home Economics

Here's a no-nonsense guide to green consumer product claims. Read up

Smoothing The Wind

The reliability of wind power can be enhanced by linking power sources through underwater cables. Plug in

The Electric Apple

Who is the target market for electric vehicles in NYC and what drives it? Find out

April 07, 2010

Here On Earth

Take a minute to see an evening sky in spring. That's better

Brooklyn Bridge Park: What's Next?

Get a jump on dates for rolling out the next phases of Brooklyn's newest waterfront park. Come in

Green Shoots: Credentials Count

COWS, a think-and-do-tank, forges a framework for human capital development in a greening economy. Fine print

April 06, 2010

Carbon Crystal Ball Gazing

Could the Obama administration be ready to regulate carbon emissions rather than make a move on climate legislation? Look into it

Wet, Warm & Local

Find out what's in store for NYC as climate change impacts kick in and what some New Yorkers think about it. Op-Ed & Comments

Don't Need A Weatherman

Climate deniers are having their day and public support for climate action contracts. Look out kid

April 05, 2010

Too Cheap To Matter?

The social cost of carbon could be 'the most important number you never heard of'. Count on it

Call This News?

Print media bloopers about basic climate science catch flack. Read on

April 02, 2010

Get A Life (Cycle)

A new study estimates the GHG life cycle costs of natural gas and finds there are few hard numbers to use. Explore

NY Auto Show

Scientific American take Ford's new all-electric compact van out for a spin in NYC.

Metropolitan Innovation

Where do innovative ideas for cities come from and how do they become realities? RPA interview

March 30, 2010

Energy Stars In Your Eyes

Take a quick tour of some of America's Energy Star winning buildings. See here

Thunder & Lightning

Climate Progress storms at the New York Times coverage of the rift between forecasters and climate scientists. Umbrellas up

March 29, 2010

Teach Old Homes New Tricks

Yes, preserving old homes while improving their energy efficiency is possible. US & UK

Collins Spells Out CLEAR

Senator Collins explains the climate bill she co-sponsors with Senator Cantwell and compares it to the Kerry-Graham-Lieberman approach. Got it?

March 26, 2010

Building A Green Building Market

Real estate industry research creates an index of eco-friendly urban market conditions. National & NYC Midtown

The Discomfort Zone

Have we passed the point of no return in altering biological systems supporting life on Earth as we know it? Watch the video

CPV? CPV!

A new rooftop technology, the concentrated photovoltaic array, is said to produce electricity at a cost competitive with nuclear power and closing in on coal. Plug in

March 25, 2010

Reporting On Climate Science

The Guardian defends its reporting on the leaked climate scientists' e-mails and what it means for climate science. Work the green beat

Fading Green

A recent Gallup Poll finds Americans don't rank climate as an important concern. Read reactions in the National Journal and post your own.

March 24, 2010

Home In The City

The EPA finds that home building trends from 1990-2008 point toward metropolitan areas. Density is destiny

Eco-Tourism

The northern German city of Hamburg promotes green options for visitors. Stop by

Climate Progress=Economic Progress

Deutsche Bank reports that post-Copenhagen, policy progress must come from the national and regional levels and leaders will be economic winners. Dig in

A CLEAR Winner

Research finds that household dividends will compensate for higher fuel prices under the Cantwell-Collins climate bill. Lower income households could gain higher net benefits. Fine print

March 23, 2010

Climate Collaboratorium

Save the planet at MIT. Create a climate plan or vote for the plan you like best. Enter here

March 22, 2010

Either/Or - Not!

If the latest federal climate bill tries to strip the EPA's authority to regulate CO2 to gain political support, watch out. There's a better way. Look into it

Climate Bill On Deck?

Grist takes a swing at the inevitable question, what does passage of health care reform predict about getting climate legislation? Play ball

March 19, 2010

The Truth Is Scary Enough

The Economist derides climate skeptics and IPCC bashers. It says the truth is scary enough and it's time to act. Read all about it

No Nice Price

Grist urges Congress to put off carbon pricing and beef up the clean energy and energy efficiency provisions of climate legislation. Rethinking

State's Rights on Carbon Controls

The prospect of EPA giving states the power to impose carbon emissions control technology standards gets a mixed reception. See BACT

March 18, 2010

Pessimists On Parade

Could it be the culture that prevents the US from acting on climate weirding? Look into it

March 17, 2010

CO2: Location Matters

New research finds carbon dioxide domes form over cities and they magnify the health risks of other air pollutants like ozone. Get situated

Green=Better Bank Rating

Can lending to green apartment projects help banks get a better rating during Community Reinvestment Act reviews? Look into it

March 16, 2010

Here's Looking At You Earth

Photos from the 1970's that remind us why it is important to save the planet. Time goes by

How To Seal An Envelope

Learning from Massachusetts, superinsulation is key to thermally sealing a building envelope and saving energy. Open and shut

March 15, 2010

Home Of The Brave

Which is tougher, fighting in petrodollar funded Mid-East wars or voting for a clean energy climate plan? asks VoteVets.org

The Green Rider

Insurance firms offer riders on property insurance for rebuilding greener at premiums of 2-5%.

March 12, 2010

Poll Finds Climate Deniers Trend Right

A Gallup Poll finds waning public belief in climate change, with the greatest shift among conservatives. Q & A

Nuclear Power: Think Small

A new generation of modular (under 750 MW) nuclear reactors could be feasible, but GE's Jeff Immelt sees only a small role for nukes in the energy mix. Look ahead

Build Better Walls

DOE funding produces new ways to build energy efficient homes with high R-value wall systems. Get the specs

March 11, 2010

An E-Ducated Consumer

E-book or print, which is the greener choice? Look into it

March 10, 2010

Who's Grid Smarter?

Businesses rather than home owners could be more welcoming to the smart electric grid. Plug in

The Great PV Debate

UK policy swings behind rooftop PV, although not everyone's on board. The pro position

In Support of Intermittence

From an energy system perspective the on and off nature of wind and solar power is not a problem. Here's why

Why Breakthoughs Break Down

The impact of so-called energy technology breakthroughs is is shaped by the realities of the built environment. Read on

March 08, 2010

Which Way On Wind

Are 'Buy American' provisions for federal wind power programs misguided? Yes. No.

Methane: Headlines & Science

Delve into the scientific context behind last week's headlines about methane escaping from Arctic Ocean sediment. Fine print

Plan Ahead

Do NYC's recent rezonings redirect new residential development into transit-rich areas? Zone in

March 04, 2010

Who Is Jairam Ramesh?

India has a new Special Envoy of the Prime Minister on Climate Change, Jairam Ramesh, and re-orienting the nation's climate policy is a top priority. Get acquainted

Swinging At Gates

Bill Gates sees a breakthrough in nuclear power technology as the solution to the climate crisis. Based in the economic history of technical innovation, Gates' bet is a long shot. Here's why

Make It Green

The New America Foundation floats a four point program for growing a clean energy domestic economy in competitive global marketplace. the US. Listen up

March 03, 2010

Krugman's Toy Model

Paul Krugman constructs two toy economic models of climate policy: act now or act later. Come play

FHA, Foreclosures and Lemonade

Words and pictures about how the FHA could create new energy-efficiency value from the calamity of home foreclosures. Start here

February 26, 2010

Life In the Fast Breeder Lane

Fast breeder reactors solve the problem of spent fuel disposal, but have other big problems. Any solutions?

Inside DOE

Despite disappointingly slow disbursements, DOE has big plans for energy funding to boost the green economy. Learn more

February 25, 2010

IPPC: Is It Doomed?

The debate over the quality and integrity of the IPPC's climate science rages on. Watson v Pielke

PACE Setting

DOE and investment professionals look into financial factors for making PACE bonds marketable. Fine print

February 24, 2010

The Bloom Box Backstory

Just what is this latest thing in clean energy, the Bloom Box? Find out

In A FOG? ((Friend Of Gates)

Read a ringing endorsement of Bill Gates' call for breakthroughs in clean, cheap energy for saving the planet and ending poverty. Mum on nuclear power

February 23, 2010

Made In NYC

Much of the iron used for NYC's well-lit and airy cast iron buildings was made in the Big Apple. Look back

EPA CO2 Regs: Tough or Toothless?

There is more than one environmental view on EPA's proposed rules to regulate carbon dioxide emissions. Sheppard v Johnson

February 22, 2010

Reading Tea Leaves

Is there any connection between climate skepticism and industry opposition to a climate bill? Look into it

February 19, 2010

Be Disruptive

The 20th Century model of the electric utility is becoming obsolete with the emergence of disruptive technologies, argue Hansen and Lovins. Get ready

Chu's First Year

Steven Chu, head of the US Department of Energy, is interviewed by the Financial Times. Far from Berkeley

February 18, 2010

Quinn Seeks Greener Apple

NYC Council Speaker Quinn calls for PACE bond legislation to finance energy efficiency upgrades as part of her vision for a green economy of innovation. SoC address

Capturing Attention

With President Obama's nod to CCS technology for coal-burning power plants, visit the West Virginia Mountaineer. Start here

February 17, 2010

What's Up With That? {Media-Wise]

Media outlets in the English-speaking world are awash with climate stories that now embraces the furthest denier fringes. Read the column & the comments

Gimme Shelter

How does a Brooklyn building go from a burned out-shell to super-natural green homes? Borough in

February 16, 2010

Waste Not, Want Not

CUF finds NYC small business misses out on easy energy efficiency savings, while voicing concern over utility costs. Why's that?

Snow Job

Record snowfalls blanket record warm winter temperatures. Sled in

February 15, 2010

Warm Snow

Sounds counterintuitive, but it snows more when it's warmer. Here's why

The IPCC Goes Through The Spin Cycle

Need a recap of the IPCC climate science flap in the media? Get it here Get an historian's view too.

Doing Climate Science: Part 4

Watch climate researchers at work in Wilkes Land, Antarctica. Very cool

February 12, 2010

Obama's Economic Report

Read the chapter on energy and climate change. Fine print

In For The Long Haul

A clean energy industry and the jobs it will bring need long-term powerpurchase agreements. Plug in

February 11, 2010

New & Improved!

In the wake of damaging disclosures of IPCC problems, friendly critics offer suggestions for improving this scientific enterprise. For your consideration

Certainty As Sideshow

Andy Revkin and his readers weigh in on how public policy should relate to climate science's levels of certainty. Cover it

No Losers Here

Media stories about the battle between China and the US for global climate economic supremacy have it wrong. Reconsider

Social Climate Science

Just what are social scientists saying about public mobilization for climate change? Beyond the nudge

February 10, 2010

Who's Smarting Now?

Early roll-outs of smart elecrric grids are proving to be bumpy learning opportunities.

A Rising Sea Of Troubles

Public faith in climate science is eroding. What can be done to restore trust? To arms!

February 09, 2010

Tell Me A Story

Like any art form, the news has rules for telling a story. Here's how it's done for climate change. And then

Cities Threaten Forests

New scientific research reveals that in the 21st century urban growth is a greater threat to forests than small-scale farming and logging. Learn more

Oh That Audi Ad!

Audi's Super Bowl ad is sliced and diced. Watch out

February 08, 2010

Green Expectations

Look into what the EPA can (and can't) do to regulate CO2 emissions. Rules rule

February 05, 2010

Power Up

Read this interview with two US experts on China's electric power sector. Connect here

February 03, 2010

Gray Power Now!

How to save the planet by using waste energy from manufacturing and farming to make electricity for the grid. Something new

February 02, 2010

Obama Saves The EPA

The President also beefs up OSHA and the SEC after an onslaught of neglect. Organizing powers

Carbon Offsets - Really?

Under the Kyoto Protocol carbon offsets are supposed to be a mainstay for cutting GHG emissions, but in the real world it's more complicated. Start sleuthing

Scientists At Work

What are climate scientists doing in Antarctica this month? Watch Penguin TV

What Will $54 Billion Buy?

President Obama's proposal to triple federal loan guarantees for building new nuclear reactors gets a skeptical review. Look into it

Code Green - The Text

The Urban Green Council reports on how to make NYC's building codes greener, healthier and more efficient. Fine print [19.8MB]

February 01, 2010

The Senator Reconsiders

Instead of worrying about damaging the US economy by passing a climate bill, Senator Graham is worrying now about US inaction. Here's why

The Lite Green Decade

The Aughties talked the climate talk, but evidence of the climate walk was mixed. Time travel

Oil & Gas: Get A Grip

A major management consultant advises the oil and gas industries about cutting their carbon footprints. Start here

January 28, 2010

Hot About The Weather

A claim that faulty US weather station data led to overestimating the temperature is refuted by a new study that found the faulty data was too cool. Measure & verify

Lion or Kitty?

Will Obama's climate agenda meet the same fate as Jimmy Carter's energy policy, called the moral equivalent of war [MEOW]?

Anemia In The Oceans

With climate-induced ocean acidification, one-cell marine organisms could have less ability to absorb the iron they need. Research it

January 27, 2010

Taking A Swing At Gates

Joe Romm doesn't think much of Bill Gates' views on climate action. Wham bam

Iceland Is #1

The annual Yale Environmental Performance Index gives Iceland it's highest rating. The US, at #61 is just behind Paraguay. Learn more

January 26, 2010

Q: What's Green & Rare & Smart All Over?

A: Energy efficient homes. Find out why

Off-The-Shelf Answers

Smart use of of existing technologies will go a long way toward saving energy finds new McKinsey study. Here now

News From Sundance

Variety gushes over GasLand, a documentary about drilling for gas in the Marcellus Shale. Get it here

January 25, 2010

It's A Byrd, It's A Plane...

West Virgina Senator Byrd comes out swinging against the coal industry's stance on climate change. It's kryponite!

The Coming Climate

McKinsey & Co. flags drivers and opportunities for global business in the post-Copenhagen climate arena. Learn more

January 21, 2010

It's OK By Exxon

While Exxon says it has no worries about 'fracking' for natural gas, critics are making their mark. Drill down

Nature Looks At Climate Science

Like all good science, climate science is not a finished product. What are the knowledge needs?

Not The SOS

What's on the cutting edge for high performance building materials? Find out

January 20, 2010

That Ain't All Folks!

Grist ticks off what Senator Murkowski's been doing to zap climate controls. Not done yet

Get Mapped

Today, maps aren't just pictures, they are interactive. Check out this solar NYC sample. Re-orient

Forget Eco-Conspicuous Consumption

To cut the carbon footprint of new and old buildings steer clear of solar cells or wind turbines and focus instead on energy efficient materials and building systems. How sensible!

January 19, 2010

Pay The Price

Thinkers meet to save the planet by putting a price on natural systems. Add it up

What Does Hot Mean?

2009 tied for the second hottest year on record. Consider what goes into measuring global temperatures and assessing trends. Ask Jim Hansen

January 18, 2010

Tomorrow Is Today

Climate scientists and supporters should study Martin Luther King's I Have A Dream speech and learn something about how to change the world. Start here

A Dream Takes Root

The success of Melrose Commons in the South Bronx testifies to the power of grass roots visionaries. Get sustained

January 14, 2010

The Six-Part Solution

Social psychology offers no-cost tips on getting folks to act in climate-friendly ways. Make a difference

Blaming Obama

Is the President guilty of magical thinking about the solution to climate change? Get serious

What's Happeing In The Southern Ocean?

Another font-line story about climate scientists at work. Dip in

It's Hard To Connect

Researchers report that technical and administrative barriers make it hard for NYC solar PV to connect into the Con Ed grid. Unplug

January 13, 2010

Hearing Science

How do environmental scientists draw media attention to an issue? Here's one way

The Conflict Within

The debate heats up inside the green movement over the impact of developing large scale clean energy projects. Face it

January 11, 2010

183 Clean Tech Winners

183 clean energy tech manufacturers will share $2.3 billion in tax credits awarded by the Obama administration to stimulate green economic growth. Grist comments

RGGI Auction Update

RGGI carbon emissions auctions have raised more than $155 million for New York. What's in contract and what's been spent? Start calculating

January 07, 2010

It's Only Weather

Let's be clear. Cold winter weather is not an argument for climate skeptics. Look into it

January 06, 2010

COP-15: The Process Was The Problem

The Copenhagen climate meeting failed. Now a observer proposes alternatives for future international negotiations. Look ahead

January 05, 2010

Stimulated By Mass Transit

USPIRG reports that federal stimulus money spent on public transit created two-times more jobs than funding for highways. How calculating

Lessons Learned

A sprint, with links, to recent climate science publications. Click, click

Build A Better Heat Pump

Now there's an EPA Energy Star rating for geothermal heat pumps and a 30% tax credit for home owners. Drill down

January 04, 2010

Science v Media

Following the flap over the leaked climate science e-mails, it's clear that scientists have a lot to learn about facing the media and reaching the public. Start here

Some Expectations

Was 2009 the climate prologue for 2010?

Watch and wait.

December 29, 2009

Beyond Window Shopping

Grow veggies in your windows! This is not a news story or a plug, just an irresistible idea. Fenestrate

Steam Heated!

Ever wonder how radiators heat your home and why they're found under windows? Warm up

December 23, 2009

China Did It

A British eye witness charges China with blowing up the Copenhagen climate talks. Look into it

December 22, 2009

Count Your Carbon Blessings

Whether for last minute shopping and travel plans or buying home appliances or investing, a company's climate efforts might count in making your choice. Get informed

Will Bloom Work It Out?

Ron Bloom, Obama's manufacturing policy advisor, will be faced with the complexities of green tech. Think Chinese turbines in Texas

December 21, 2009

Andy Revkin: Hail & Farewell

December 21 is Andy Revkin's last day at the New York Times [Kate Galbraith is leaving too]. A good moment for reflection. Moving on

A Plethora Of Post Mortems

Before shifting to holiday cheer, take a look back at Copenhagen with interested observers. Reflect

What's That In Your Boiler?

Some 9,000 buildings in NYC use highly polluting #4 or 6 oil in their boilers. The Environmental Defense Fund calls for a decade long phase-out of this dirty fuel. Start here & check out an Interactive map

December 18, 2009

Scientists At Work

Jim Hansen writes about the nitty-gritty of engaging in climate science. Go to it

It's Alive!

What tops a green building? A living building and the first one is in Rhinebeck, New York. Drop in

December 17, 2009

New Arctic Science

Scientists report more grim findings on arctic warming. Even the cooling models are bleaker. Look north

December 16, 2009

Polling The Public Climate

This public opinion poll on American's views of climate science, policies and costs reveals a lot about how questions are posed. Just ask

December 15, 2009

Mega Green

Look behind the headlines for a detailed picture of China's clean energy crash program. Enter here

Deep Water Soundings

Scientists recognize the need for a deeper understanding of the role of ocean currents in climate change. What's new now?

Bloomberg In Copenhagen

NPR interviews Mayor Bloomberg in Copenhagen. Jet in

Climate Law: A Student Blog

Here's what the Copenhagen meetings look like from a law student's perspective. No the final

December 14, 2009

Passive In Philly

A passively heated house is being built in Philadelphia with good design and economy in mind. Details

December 11, 2009

Copenhagen: PoMo Spectacle

Feeling cheerful? You won't after reading this posting from Copenhagen. Shred or spin?

Climate Change & Culture Change

Think anew about climate, culture and the communications media. Ponder here

December 10, 2009

Build A Better Infrastructure

McKinsey offers a menu of ideas about better ways to invest in smarter infrastructure. Start here

EU Can Do Better

The World Wildlife Fund looks at the EU's proposed carbon cutting targets in Copenhagen and finds too much wiggle room. Three holes

Lacerating Leaks

A UK journalist argues the storm over leaked climate e-mails has been a public relations disaster for both science and policy. Study the case

Al Gore Talks About You-Know-What

Slate interviews Al Gore about climate deniers, those leaked UK e-mails, US politics and Copenhagen. Read on

December 09, 2009

EPA: The 1.5-2% Solution

EPA reports the cost impact of climate legislation on energy intensive, export oriented industries like cement and steel is the the 1.5-2% range. Very fine print

December 08, 2009

States Ahead Of Feds On Climate

With President Obama in a political bind, even bold state climate action can reach only so far in Copenhagen. Stay tuned

Mr President, Go For The Green Gold

Are low-interest energy efficient mortgages the best way to boost green jobs and green homes? Look into it

December 04, 2009

A Nickel For Your Thoughts

Seattle's outgoing green guru Mayor Greg Nickels reflects. Read on

Hot Framing

A UK climate scientist reflects on why the fights over the science and the politics are so fierce. Look into it

Climate Science Isn't Settled

The state of good science is never settled. Think about what's wrong with the WSJ's wholesale attack on climate science. Fine print

December 02, 2009

As Good As Brand X

An EPA audit finds that most Energy Star products meet or beat energy efficiency requirements, but so do many brand X appliances. Label that!

What The Poll Found

A new poll finds support for action on energy and cutting carbon emissions, confusion over details of federal climate legislation and, despite the need for some explaining, a preference for taxing carbon over trading it. Just ask

December 01, 2009

Roll Over For Russia?

Environmentalists are alarmed over a Russian demand to roll over its carbon account surplus into any hew global climate treaty. Learn more

November 30, 2009

Be Prepared

In case you meet a climate contrarian at an upcoming holiday party, here are some conversational pointers. Hello

Look Into The Sun

Get a glimpse of how climate science works. Analysis & Responses

Reviving Daylight Management

"At the flick of a switch" is so 20th century when it comes to indoor illumination. Look brighter now

November 27, 2009

Decoding East Anglia's Climate Crisis

After an uproar over the hacked e-mails of climate researchers at the University of East Anglia, a Guardian columnist reflects. The New York Times posts reactions.

November 25, 2009

Italy's Smarter

Italy is the first country to install a nationwide system of smart electric meters. Here's how

Making Faster Tracks

With plans afoot to build high speed rail lines around the US , what's needed to succeed? All aboard

November 24, 2009

Have A Good Day, Not

Updating the 2007 IPPC climate report, 26 scientists find the planet is changing faster than projected just two years ago. No denying it

November 23, 2009

Can't Buy Me Love

Scholars warn that just putting a price on carbon won't stimulate new ideas and investment in energy-efficient innovation. What to do?

November 20, 2009

Disclose That Risk!

The Securities and Exchange Commission is gearing up to require corporate disclosure of risks they face related to climate change. When the party of the first part...

Working Science

Fascinated by climate science methodology debates? don't miss this essay. Fine print

Rating Euro Cap & Trade

It appears that the EU's CO2 market does cut emissions. Details & devils

November 19, 2009

Green Map: Capetown S.A.

Going to the World Cup in South Africa in 2010? Now you can travel with a Green Map of the spectacular Capetown region. Get it here

November 18, 2009

Close The Clean Energy Gap

The Breakthrough Institute reports that the US suffers from a dangerous gap in public sector funding for clean energy technologies when compared to rising Asian nations. What to do? [5.3MB]

NYS Green Law: The Back Story

Ever wonder how environmentally friendly bills get passed in New York? Here's some background on the 2009 home weatherization law. Action 101

Smart Plugs For Smart Consumers

Now utility consumers can monitor and control their energy use by plugging a gadget into a wall outlet says GreenUpgrader. Measure & manage

November 13, 2009

RGGI Lessons

Amid the furor over carbon cap and trade, the RGGI program in ten northeast states shows that fair and open carbon markets do exist. (Whether emissions are reduced is another matter.) Read on

November 12, 2009

NJ: Solar Power Pays

New Jersey's photovoltaic boom is directly linked to its marketable credits program. Very SRECS-y

November 11, 2009

The Gentle Art of Persuasion

A psychologist's guide for scientists, journalists and educators on how to persuade the public about the importance of taking action on climate change. Start here

Mapping Green Collar Jobs

Interact with the Apollo Alliance map of new opportunities for green collar jobs. Look around

The Burbs, So 20th Century!

Energy efficient eco-districts are the 21st century's response to last century's suburban sprawl. Evidence abounds

November 10, 2009

Cool, Yes. Climate-Conscious. ?

New York City's been lucky to get new public buildings with design pizazz, but are they carbon friendly? Measure the media's climate consciousness

November 09, 2009

We Can Do Better

The EPA orders two of its own attorneys to take down their YouTube video, which trashes cap and trade and calls for a climate policy based on carbon fees and rebate. See it here

November 06, 2009

German Program Tops The List

Two environmental organizations give top honors to Germany's support for energy efficient buildings, which fight climate changes and creates jobs. Who's hot, who's not?

November 05, 2009

Economists Agree!

A survey of US economists finds consensus on the benefits of climate protection outweigh the costs. Can't discount it

Latin America's Climate Challenge

The impact of climate change in Latin America is already evident, although the region's nations have not coalesced on any policy. Think beyond borders

November 02, 2009

O Oregon!

Portland, Oregon posts an ambitious climate action plan for a sustainable city. 40x30

October 30, 2009

Green Financing Handbook

NYC compiles a resource list of programs which offer financial support to businesses that want to go green and grow. Fine print

Climate Science Advances

Climate scientists discover that methane, especially when it interacts with aerosols, is a more potent GHG than previously understood. Learn more

Freakonomics - Get Your Facts Straight

A geophysicist writes an open letter to Freakonomist Steve Levitt and relies on facts to make his case. The envelope please

October 29, 2009

Will The Climate Change Faster Than We Do?

A classic debate over cultivating social change: alter the institutions, innovate the technology, send different price signals or transform human behavior gets aired in a World Bank Study about taking action on climate change. Don't skip readers' comments. Dive in

October 28, 2009

Hit The Road

The NYC Apollo Alliance releases a strategy for growing a green economy that creates prosperity for all. Follow the map

Trouble Ahead?

How well are NY metro area cities and counties preparing for climate change impacts. Find out

October 27, 2009

(Too) Easy Being Greenest

By most measures, NYC is far-and-away the greenest, the most energy efficient city in the US, just not on purpose (says Sallan). Think

Climate Gazing

The National Journal asks for readers views on the Kerry-Boxer climate bill and how it might be changed. Read & react

October 26, 2009

Installing A Learning Curve

This is one family's experience with getting solar PV installed on their roof. Who learned what?

Oil's View On Climate Legislation

High profile climate change-related law suits have captured the attention of the US oil industry. Peer in

October 23, 2009

FIght Climate Change With Whiter Clouds

Here's a bright idea! Increase the albedo effect of maritime clouds by spraying them with sea mist. Reflect solar heat away from the Earth's surface. Be dazzled

Native Americans v Exxon Mobil

A federal court dismisses the climate change suit brought by a Native American tribal village against Exxon Mobil. Click for decision

October 22, 2009

Will Saving The Planet Kill The Economy?

A new study weighs in on the hot debate over the economic impact of cutting CO2 concentrations back to 350 ppm. Jump in

October 20, 2009

VP Seeks Recovery Through Retrofit

Vice President Biden issues a study on how home energy efficiency retrofits can combat climate change and grow good jobs. Municipal energy financing is a key recommendation. Fine print

A (More) Modest Proposal

Harvard scholars call for a portfolio of domestic climate targets if Copenhagen fails to produce a global agreement. Start here

PSC To Con Ed: Cut Peak Demand

New York's Public Service Commission okays a plan for Con Ed to reduce peak electricity use, cut emissions and save ratepayers money in one Brooklyn neighborhood. Plug in

October 19, 2009

Talk Back To Kerry-Graham

National Journal readers respond to last week's Kerry-Graham climate Op-Ed in the NY Times

Whose Wood Would You Want?

LEED gives points for using FSC-certified wood, but now,other sustainable forest product groups want in. Touch wood

October 16, 2009

Throwing Punches Over A-Plants

Lovins slams Brand's position on nuclear power. Wham!

Yes They Are!

A new study finds jobs in renewable energy and efficient buildings are good paying and lists the top 15 US metro areas for clean tech job growth. Work on it

Density Is Destiny

Want to save the planet? Live in a city. Some urban attitude

October 13, 2009

Wowee Maui

A smart Hawaiian resort will get smarter with its smart power grid. Another stimulus-backed project

October 12, 2009

On-Line Green Law Data Base

Columbia University launches a database on energy and green building legislation in New York's cities. Start searching

October 09, 2009

Market Failure?

What, another essay on cap and trade v. carbon taxes? Yes

The Gentle Art of Compromise

Love it or loathe it, Waxman-Markey language about what to do with the value of free emissions allowances, made Congress' yes vote possible. Parse it

Enter The Chamber

Headlines focus on the departure of brand-name companies from the Chamber of Commerce over its stance on climate legislation, but what goes on inside the organization? Knock, knock

October 08, 2009

And The Answer Is...

Alternate fuels? don't bother! Nuclear power? fuggedaboutit! Want to save the planet? opt for efficiency. Check it out

MIA: Great Communicators

Scientists are failing to make climate change a public hot-button issue. Romm's alarmed

October 07, 2009

States Stepping Up

Researchers see state level, utility ratepayer-funded energy efficiency efforts taking the lead over the next decade, while federal goals lag behind. Look ahead

Ask Umbra...

About offsets. Go on! and then read the Stockholm Environment Institute report

October 06, 2009

It's Not Easy Being Smart

Designing a smart electric power grid that saves energy and saves consumers money is a work in progress. California's on it

Can USCAP Change The Climate?

USCAP, a coalition of major corporations and environmental groups, urges the Senate to pass a climate protection bill. Dear Harry

October 05, 2009

A Cellulostic Skeptic

Here's a blogger who's got no faith in the potential of cellulostic ethanol to become a major fuel. Look into it

More News From Rio

Even before the Olympics 2016 decision, a regional development conference in Rio di Janeiro heard papers on climate change and sustainable development. Get them here

October 02, 2009

Looking For Money

Getting from bright clean energy ideas to viable clean energy businesses means finding the right investors. What's that like?

Plug-In Cars & Smart Grids

If plug-in electric cars become wide-spread, the grid will face the challenge of getting smart enough to reliably serve this new power demand. Look ahead

October 01, 2009

Texas CO2 Down. Why?

A detailed study explains what drove down CO2 emissions in Texas . Charts! graphs! answers!

Rating Carbon Offsets

Get the lowdown on the good, the bad and the dubious. Just click

September 30, 2009

Urban Wind

San Francisco reports on a plan to promote urban wind installations. Turn here

Fighting Climate Change With ICT

Get the latest on the role of information and communications technology in cutting GHG emissions in many economic sectors. Read on

September 29, 2009

Storage Solutions

Viable electric storage technologies will be key to large-scale use of intermittent energy sources. Where are we now?

Wouldn't It Be Nice

With dramatic climate changes just over the horizon, a call for US action at December's Copenhagen meeting. Stay tuned

September 28, 2009

Making Climate Models

Predictions about climate changes are based on scientists' models, but what should go into them and what should be measured are open to constant refinements. Work hard

September 25, 2009

Burying Progress

Get an update on the West Virginia power plant being built with CO2 sequestration capacity. Dig in

September 24, 2009

Nine Tipping Points

Scientists identify nine crucial tipping points toward catastrophic global change. We've passed three of them already. Going, going...

Green Ranks

Newsweek ranks the 100 greenest large corporations in the US. Get the list

September 22, 2009

China, US & Climate

Without an international treaty, how could China cooperate on climate change? Learn more

Proposal For A Chinese Carbon Registry

Getting serious about climate in China means developing a carbon registry that's up to the task. Start here

September 21, 2009

Court Finds CO2 Is A Nuisance

In a long awaited decision, the Second Circuit finds on behalf of plaintiffs who argue in Connecticut v AEP that CO2 emissions are a public nuisance. Read the decision.

September 17, 2009

What RGGI Funds

NYSERDA reports on program funding that comes from RGGI carbon emissions permit auctions. Follow the money

The Conservation Of Matter

What happens to dead electric-car batteries and what parts of them can be recycled? Find out

London's Low Carbon Zones

London's Mayor launches projects in ten communities to cut carbon emissions. Explore

September 16, 2009

Grist Disses Obama Oil Idea

Grist uses a leaked letter from the Obama administration to cast doubts on the value of ending certain domestic oil subsidies. Click here

Listed?

DOE has awarded $323 million of an available $2.7 billion in Energy Efficiency and Conservation block grants to states, localities and tribes. Check it out

Going Going

Watch the ice melt.
Balog-at-TED.png
Going Going...

September 15, 2009

The Solution Not The Problem

A federal climate bill will cure - not cause - fuel price volatility. No price caps or collars needed. Read Romm

Can The CDM Be Saved?

Harvard researchers propose fixes for the Kyoto Protocol's Clean Development Mechanism. Learn more

September 14, 2009

The Most Inconvenient Truth

There will be no global ban on burning coal for electricity. Now what?

Does a Dow Green Rating Matter?

Dow Jones has a tool for rating corporate sustainability. There are at least two schools of thought on whether it works. Learn more

September 10, 2009

Commissioning: Get Smart!

A report finds real savings and quick payback times in 643 new and existing buildings that went through commissioning. Problem solving [5.3MB]

Adaptationn Beats Apocalypse

A hotter climate will force changes on NYC. What's on the Adaptation Task Force agenda? Wade in

No Grid, No Go

No 21st century, climate friendly energy policy is possible without overhauling the nuts and bolts of the nation's electric power grid. Plug in

Meteorologists At Work

A proposal to provide 'climate services', information for planning responses to climate change at the regional and local scales, was spelled out at a gathering of meteorologists. Learn more

September 09, 2009

Count On It

The value of avoiding the costs of climate change far exceeds the price of carrying out Waxman-Markey requirements according to an NYU Law School report. Fine print

Wht Kind Of Green Is NATO

NATO's new-found environmental interest raises eyebrows. Look into it

September 08, 2009

Van's Her Man

Huffington shouts out for Van Jones. Take that Glenn!

Greenworks Philadelphia

New York's not the only city with a plan. Dig in [10.3MB]

Make An IMPACT

IMPACT, passed as part of the Climate bill in the House, grows new green jobs and supports current jobs too. Consider the numbers nationwide and for NY. Work it out

September 03, 2009

Banking On Cities

Cities from around the globe gathered at a World Bank Roundtable to talk shop and lessons learned about urban energy policy. It adds up

EAT It

Cities can lead the way on climate change with comprehensive energy consumption taxes and fees. (EAT=Environment Added Tax, my acronym). Dig in

September 02, 2009

Moving Clean Power

A Duke University report looks at obstacles to growth of an electric transmission system that supports renewable energy, not expanded fossil-fuel use. Fine print

September 01, 2009

Choose A Plan That's Best For You

In a climate and fossil-fuel constrained world, countries must adopt energy plans that fit their physical, demographic and life-style facts, but they must start now. Opt in

August 31, 2009

I Like Bikes

Hate cars? Get a bike and ride safely. Get in gear

What Wind Needs

Is new storage technology or expanded transmission ability what's needed to make wind power a US major power player? Plug in

August 28, 2009

Wanted: Adult Supervision

Kolbert's book review wonders what the author achieves by living without a refrigerator, and other self-imposed eco-rigors, for a year. You will too

August 27, 2009

Leave It Underground

A economist asserts the best way to combat climate change is to stop mining for fossil fuel. Look into it

Can Information Change The Climate?

If Congress passes a climate bill this year, it might set low goals. But stronger 'scientific look back' language and a regularly updated global climate index could be the key to higher ambitions. Read on

August 26, 2009

Get In Gearboxes!

A growing domestic clean power industry will thrive with domestic production of components like gear boxes and workers with the skills to make them. Work it out

August 25, 2009

Through A Green Lens Darkly

Forget a rosy future. A greener world is unlikely to be a safer world. Here's the argument

Educating Consumers

Check out this European county-by-country rating of top energy efficient appliances. Learn more US ratings in development. And more

Southern Efficiency

Researchers report that the south, a region of growing population, can cut its energy use 9% by 2020 with available cost-effective measures. Here's how

August 24, 2009

Fight The Federal Deficit, Save The Planet

An economist makes this claim: A climate bill based cap-and-dividend would not add to the federal deficit but it would pay for energy efficiency. Think hard

A Back To School List

Check out this top-ten list of university environmental studies programs. Learn more

When Cool Isn't Cool

Environmental sleuth Eric Goldstein investigates stores with open doors that let the air-conditioning escape. Cool!

August 21, 2009

He'll Take Manhattan

Urbanist Tim Halbur fights sprawl, likes Manhattan and has a wait-and-see take on what Obama will do for cities. Go metro

Tangles In Net Metering

Join the fray over whether utilities should charge customers who feed energy into the power grid. WSJ article & Reader comments

August 20, 2009

Probing The China Paradox

How can China be both a global leader on renewable energy and the world's greatest air polluter? Look into it

August 17, 2009

New, Improved, Really!

Higher efficiency standards for appliances and equipment are reliable tools for saving energy and cash. More, more

August 14, 2009

Discounting Uncertainty

An IPCC member argues that combating climate change costs too much. What's the problem

August 13, 2009

Mirror Mirror On The Grid

A new 24,000 mirror array generates 5 megawatts of electricity in southern California. More on the way. Holy heliostats!

Memo to President

Find out what John Holdren, President Obama's chief science adviser is advising. On message

August 12, 2009

PSC: Energy Program Changes

The Public Service Commission revamps New York's energy efficiency program for apartment buildings. Legalese

Learning From Others

The EU-ETS offers lessons for the US on setting up a carbon trading market. Take note

The Energy Numbers

Love crunchy numbers? Here's the EIA's latest report on energy use now and in the near future. 10, 9, 8

August 11, 2009

Green Money Map

Get this graphic of where $5.5 billion in federal funds for greener government buildings will go. Interact!

August 10, 2009

Movement Yes. Conspiracy No

Responding to right-wing attacks, the Apollo Alliance lays out the argument for green-collar job legislation. Read on

All Or Nothing

An economist's argument for a climate bill that rests on a carbon tax or no bill at all. Here goes

Dogs Of A Different Color

NRDC hears Senate 'brown dogs' barking, but doesn't see them biting climate legislation. Learn more

August 06, 2009

LEED: An Assessment of Potential

While LEED green design standards have become popular, critics charge that the actual energy performance of certified buildings is, at best, unknown. Part 1& Part 2

Experiment On Us

Global warming will lead to the disappearance of some species and the rise of others. Stick around

August 04, 2009

The Solar Blogger

Follow an Everyman's adventures with roof-top solar panels. And then

August 03, 2009

Do You Believe In Magic?

Roger Pielke dismisses most advocates of climate change action as victims of magic thinking, calling himself the realist. Into the fray!

More Troubles Bubble Up

Methane, a potent GHG, is appearing in Pennsylvania drinking water near the source of 'fracking' for natural gas. Drill down

The Energy Efficiency Key

A McKinsey report finds that the US can save $1.2 trillion by 2020 through investing $520 billion in energy efficiency starting now. Look into it [6.37MB]

July 24, 2009

Travel Tips

Got vacation time? Why not visit top-rated high performance building destinations! Click and go

What's A Microgrid?

Not on-grid, not off-grid, but microgrid could be this century's energy breakthrough. Connect

July 23, 2009

Building Support For Climate Bill

Buried in the bulk of the Waxman Markey climate bill is a section on a climate friendly federal building code. Learn more

July 22, 2009

A Concept For Copenhagen

Still searching for new international climate agreement? This proposal tackles the problems of binding international participation and leakage. Read on

White Is The New Green

Read the comments posted on a Dot Earth column about experiences with white roofs and saving energy. Join in

July 21, 2009

What's Under The Asphalt?

Brook Park and its Mill River in the Bronx could see the rebirth of what was there before the asphalt. Find out

Captured & Competetive

Harvard researchers put a price on new and mature CCS technologies for coal-fired power plants. Start counting

July 20, 2009

Footprint In Mouth

Every wonder about the carbon footprint for getting bananas and coffee on your breakfast table? Find out

July 16, 2009

A Hellish Climate

Every wonder what a warmer Hell might be like? Come on down

No Sun, No WInd, No Problem!

The traditional problem facing alternate power from sun and wind was intermittence. New battery technologies and micro-grids related may lick it. Learn more

July 15, 2009

Lease It Green

What everyone needs to know about green leasing and solving the split incentive problem. Legal eagling

July 13, 2009

Climate Scientists At Work

For scientists, climate change data makes sense on a decade scale. A pause in global warming is not a sign of global cooling. Fine print

July 09, 2009

Memo To Copenhagen

A new global climate agreement should use a carbon cap equivalent to define a country's entire emissions portfolio and measure its emissions reductions. Look into it

Global Oil Production & Projections

Does the latest EIA data on current and projected oil see a peak? Get the graphs

What NOAA Needs To Know

With a marine biologist heading NOAA, what tops her top science research list? Read the interview

July 08, 2009

Be Prepared

The Big Apple studies what it could be like to become the Baked Apple. Start adapting [1.7MB]

July 07, 2009

Passive On The Cutting Edge

Passive houses are the ultimate in ultra-energy efficiency. Get active

Wind & Taxes

Historically, wind power investment was tightly linked to federal tax policy. What's happening now?

It's Debatable

Follow the debate, the vote and the responses on the motion "This house believes that sustainable development is unsustainable". Join in

Income Distribution Is The Key

Researchers propose that income distribution targeting "high emitting" individuals instead of national wealth should be the global strategy for combating climate change. "Many of the lowest-cost opportunities for CO2 emission reduction over the next few decades in all countries, especially in the developing countries, will be found in the middle of the emission distribution, associated with billions of people of modest means. Many of them will be moving into cities for the first time and, in a CO2-responsive economy, would be housed in well-built apartment buildings equipped with efficient appliances and served by efficient mass transit systems." Fine print

July 03, 2009

Trap That Carbon

Scientists work on devising porous solids to trap CO2 emissions. Rockin!

Neutralizing Acid Oceans

A US effort to regulate ocean acidification linked to climate change could be on the way. Dive in

Useful Knowledge For Greener Cities

Enter the EPA's green building portal and discover a wealth of useful on-line information. Just click

July 02, 2009

Germans Lose Their Green Groove

GHG emissions in Germany are rising and its alternative power sector is falling behind. Learn more

Science At Work

Roger Pielke's attacks on current climate science rebutted. Join in

Can't Blame The Cosmic Rays

Recent astronomical research does not support the hypothesis that fluctuating levels of cosmic rays hitting the Earth causes climate change. Fine print

July 01, 2009

2009: More Inconvenient Truth

The recent government report on climate change impacts in the US makes for scary reading. In NYC, the once-in-100 year coastal flood could occur every decade Summary here

New LEED Needs

USGBC advances high performance measurement and verification with new energy and water consumption data reporting requirements for LEED certification. How validating!

June 30, 2009

Look Back & Look Ahead

What are the pluses and minuses of the ACES bill approved by the House and what are the big issues for a Senate climate bill? One view

June 29, 2009

Thumbs Up For ACES

For Joe Romm, Congressional passage of the American Clean Energy and Security bill is a stunning political achievement. Here's why

June 24, 2009

Make It Cheaper, Stupid!

The bad boys of the environmental movement pooh-pooh cap and trade and carbon taxes. Their solution to climate change is big bucks for clean tech. Nordhaus & Shellenberger

What Will It Cost You?

Compare and contrast the EPA and CBO estimates for the cost of the Waxman climate bill if it becomes law. Makes sense

Gold-Plated Power

A new study totes up the costs of new nuclear power plants and concludes that they are no clean-energy bargain. Fine print

June 23, 2009

Waste Not

IBM research may lead to warming your workplace with waste heat from your PC. Cool

June 22, 2009

Clarifying Copenhagen

The June Copenhagen climate report raises the warning level but that doesn't mean all is lost. See here

June 19, 2009

Eco-Math

New studies support the equation that climate protection + clean energy = economic growth + good green collar jobs. Links here

June 18, 2009

A Sign Of The Times

Take a stroll near Madison Square Garden to catch a real-time LED sign that displays how much GHG is in the atmosphere. But will measurement lead to political management of climate change? Stay tuned

A Great Debate

Since it ain't over til it's over, this debate over the Waxman Markey climate bill is essential reading. Start here

June 17, 2009

It's Not A Giveaway!

Grist revisits the Waxman-Markey bill and says it's not a free handout of carbon emissions permits after all. Follow the money

Who's Chu?

Rolling Stone profiles Obama's Nobel Prize-winning Energy Secretary, Steven Chu. Plug in

June 12, 2009

The Science & The News

Delve into the science behind the headline about slowing wind speeds over the US and the implications for wind power. Take data!

June 10, 2009

Carbon Cuts Create Economic Growth

California researchers find energy efficiency and renewables power both job growth and economy-wide payoffs. Get the link and while you're here Get another

Trading Carbon: Permits & Deriviatives

Under a US carbon cap and trade scheme, design and regulation of financial markets for emissions permits and derivatives are necessary for success. Duke's carbon primer

June 09, 2009

The Climate In Congress

Will Congress pass climate legislation this year? Get Grist's prediction

Picture Perfect

Here's what renewable energy looks like. The slide show

Oil Shock & Economic Crisis

Brookings Institute research argues that record oil prices in 2007 contributed to the economic melt-down of 2008. Fine print

June 08, 2009

Chu's Choice

Energy Secretary Chu's chosen path on climate and energy would be paved with game-changing technologies. Your choice?

June 04, 2009

Eco-Blogs

Scroll through this digest of observations and ideas ranging from glacier science, to GM, to nuclear and solar power. Fine print!

June 02, 2009

Working It!

Green Cities assembles the ingredients for growing high performance cities with good green collar jobs and energy efficient buildings. Fine print

June 01, 2009

Next Up, The Senate

Senate Democrats are gearing up for a climate change bill that tracks the Waxman-Markey bill in the House. Stay tuned

The Fifth Facade

Diana Balmori leads the way on green roofs in NYC and around the world. Heads up

May 29, 2009

Waxman-Markey Uncapped?

Provisions in Waxman-Markey that allow for the sale of extra emissions permits as a market 'safety valve' could negate the imposition of a carbon cap. Fine print

May 28, 2009

Making It Murky

The Economist predicts any cap and trade program that gets through Congress will be murky, complex and less effective than a carbon tax. And that's not all

Adapting To Adaptation

Experts are talking about how nations and populations can adapt to climate change, but what's being done? Find out

May 26, 2009

Frack That

Congress might require disclosure of the chemicals used in hydraulic fracturing, 'fracking', to drill for natural gas near water supplies. Learn more

May 22, 2009

Why Waxman's The Way

The ever climate-vigilant Joe Romm supports the Waxman-Markey bill. Here's why

May 21, 2009

How Accomodating

An energy economist looks at the Waxman bill and doesn't like what he sees. Check it out

May 20, 2009

Urban Arithmetic

Simple math shows that big cities are greener than small ones, but also that elephants are more resource efficient than mice. Go figure

It Might Be Worse

MIT research predicts a much hotter world by 2100 without changes in global climate action. Much hotter!

May 19, 2009

Waxman Bill Fails The Test

The acid test of good climate policy is supporting new energy technologies rather than making the cost of old energy higher. Nordhaus & Shellenberger

Get Efficient

The NYLCV posts a primer on energy efficiency and how to get it in the Empire State. Start here

May 15, 2009

DOE's Nuclear Short List

DOE considers four new nuclear reactor projects for billions in federal loan guarantees. Who's listed?

May 14, 2009

Fat Nation

Why are cars sold in the US so much heavier (and less energy efficient) than cars sold elsewhere? Get the skinny

May 13, 2009

Unadaptable

The World Bank reports the potential havoc of climate-related sea level rise and storm surges will be much greater in some developing regions than others. Ready?

Media & Climate Change

With the prospect for federal action on climate change, how the media covers the issue become critically important. Drill down

May 11, 2009

Managing Future Energy Risks

McKinsey reports that risks posed by volatile energy prices can be manged by adopting cost-effective energy efficiencies. Fine print

Gainesvilles' Solar Gains

Gainesville Florida is a solar boomtown, bucking dimmer PV prospects elsewhere. Find out why

What's Up Down Under

Existing Australian office buildings are improving energy efficiency, safeguarding against rising costs and attracting new tenants. Good on ya

April 24, 2009

The Red-Hot Green Jobs Debate

One front in the climate wars is what it will cost business, another is whether climate policy will produce a wave of new work. Here's a sample of the red-hot green jobs battle. Yes! No!

April 23, 2009

Why Wind's A Winner

Energy maven Charles Komanoff marshals his facts for wind power. Gale force!

April 22, 2009

Green Collar NYC

Here's what green collars jobs in NYC look like right now. Work on it

Carbon Tax v Cap & Trade: The Next Round

A carbon tax supporter compares the Larson (tax) and Waxman-Markey (cap and trade) federal climate change bills. Take notes!

SEQRA & Climate Change

A Municipal Art Society report finds that New York's current environmental review law is up to the job of evaluating climate impacts of proposed actions. Fine print

April 20, 2009

Climate Heat v Political Heat

Democrats in Washington are split over climate change legislation. Is there a way to unite? Consider this

April 17, 2009

Green Jobs 101

What are green jobs and what will help them grow? The Pew Center has some ideas. Charts & links

April 16, 2009

Behave Yourself, Save The Planet

Peer pressure can be a powerful agent for meeting climate change goals says behavioral economist. Tweak it!

April 15, 2009

Solar Industry: City v City

A good-news bad-news story on the domestic solar power industry. Read all about it

April 14, 2009

CCS, Yes?

Carbon capture and storage is an emerging technology for the coal-fired power industry. It's controversial and it's complicated. Look into this array of Scientific American resources.

April 13, 2009

Feed-In Tariffs 101

Feed-in tariffs aim to grow the renewable energy supply. It's an idea with fans and foes. E&E News [Subscribers]

Gaming The Tax Code

Follow the twisted tale of how a federal tax credit for reducing fossil fuel use was used by the paper making industry. Get pulped

April Is The New May

In Early Spring, ecologist Amy Seidl provides a fact-filled portrait of climate changes in the world around us. Consider lilacs

April 09, 2009

Easy To Be Green

The key to energy efficiency in one Victorian house was adjusting the pressurtrol. The what?

April 07, 2009

Nudging

For Obama advisor and law professor Cass Sunstein, a nudge is a small shove that leads to big changes. Behave better

Promises, Promises

The promise to create gleaming new eco-cities in China is going nowhere. What happened?

April 06, 2009

Zeroing In

A Massachusetts study points the way to new and renovated zero net energy buildings. Fine print [5.8MB]

The Green Rose

Jonathan Rose, a real estate developer with green goals, does well by doing good. Profile here

April 03, 2009

Another Look at Waxman Markey Bill

Did you know that EPA would be responsible for enforcing transportation provisions of the Waxman Markey climate bill or that greenhouse gases would not be regulated by the NSR program? Dig more

Markey: Republicans Flunk The Truth Test

Congressional climate bill co-sponsor Markey gives Republicans an "F" on the accuracy of why they oppose his legislation. Dig in

April 02, 2009

How To Rate Great?

If great social policy is 'remedial, serial and exploratory', how does the Waxman-Markey climate change bill rate? Read on

Google's Renewables Map

Google and greens team up on a map of sites in the US west for renewable energy generation and transmission. Keep clicking

March 31, 2009

Climate Roulette

MIT posts a game of climate roulette to grasp the idea that risk management is the way to approach the climate challenge. Take a spin

March 30, 2009

Follow the $3.2 Billion

The federal stimulus statute created a $3.2 billion Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant Program. Cities and counties could be big winners, with $1.9 billion in the offing. Lots of links

March 28, 2009

Tipping Pointers

While use of the tipping point notion in climate science is open to debate, Revkin's latest DotEarth column is loaded with useful links. Point & click

March 27, 2009

$10 Billion For Energy Efficiency

A bill now in Congress would provide $10 billion over four years to fund energy efficiency alterations in existing homes and commercial buildings. Legal-eyes!

Scalable Solutions: Green & Global

Even bigger than calls for green collar jobs, global green reindustrialization could offer scalable solutions to climate, energy and economic needs. Fine print

March 26, 2009

Romm v Owens

Joe Romm calls 'Climate vs Economy' by David Owen in the current New Yorker 'irresponsible' and 'disinformation'. What's riling Romm?

March 25, 2009

Fact Checking

Just who are the folks that signed a Cato Institute climate-denier ad? Meta-analysis

March 24, 2009

Is Either/Or The Right Question?

Delve into an analysis of the latest Gallup poll which asked whether protecting the environment or economic growth was more important. Just asking

Watch This

Breathing Earth is a moving image of where we're headed. Click

March 20, 2009

What Do Amerians Want?

Unlike a recent Gallup poll, a Yale/George Mason University survey finds strong citizen support for fighting climate change. Learn more [3.4MB]

March 19, 2009

Global Green Stars

Although just 2% of commercial buildings and .3% of hew homes are rated green in a recent report, photos and facts about seven of the world's high performers still thrill. Start here

What's Phenology?

Phenology is the relationship between physical conditions and the timing of ecological event; it's where the impact of climate change shows up in the biosphere. It gets weird

March 17, 2009

Home Green Home: Romm v Revkin

Looking for handy tips on greening your home? First read the debate. Right or wrong

Does the Cost of PV Add Up?

A PV user spells out the costs and policies behind the price of power from the sun. Learn more

Payroll Taxes & Climate Change

What's the argument for cutting payroll taxes and (BTW) creating a carbon tax? Read on

March 16, 2009

Mike's Stimulus Tracker

NYC's got a website for tracking federal stimulus dollars for infrastructure, energy efficiency & more. Follow the $$

Mazria Testifies

Architecture 2030's Ed Mazria responds to Senators' questions about making buildings energy efficient. Here here

March 13, 2009

What, We Worry?

A new Gallup poll tallies Americans' environmental anxieties. "Not only does global warming rank last...it is the only issue for which public concern dropped significantly in the past year." Going, going

The Green Facade

Green urbanism is just a facade charges this erudite critic. Get deep

March 12, 2009

Legal Eagles Turn To Green

Lawyers examine the legal risks of building green and how to avoid problems. Set the bar

Kolbet's Climate

Environmental journalist Elizabeth Kolbert weighs in on the media, politics and climate scientists. It's dynamic

March 11, 2009

How To Get There From Here

A new report argues that by expanding use of available alternative energy and energy efficiency , the US can shrink its carbon emissions 23% by 2020 and 85% by 2050. Start here [1.4MB]

Van's The Man

Grist interviews Van Jones, the new White House good green jobs go-to guy. Look ahead

March 10, 2009

DOE's Rising Energy Star

Energy Secretary Chu targets efficiency as the best way to cut energy use today and move toward a sustainable future. E&E PM [Subscribers only]

March 09, 2009

Moving Carbon Around

Pipelines to transport captured CO2 to deep underground storage are not currently available in the US but the technology exists. Learn more

What's A Sector Solution?

Track this typology of three sectoral approaches to a post-Kyoto climate agreement. Fine print

March 06, 2009

Up, Up, Up

The EPA's annual greenhouse gas inventory finds emissions rising 1.4% from 2006 to 2007, for an overall increase of 17.1% since 1990. Cold winters and warm summers blamed. Data here

March 04, 2009

Manufacturing Climate Solutions

A new report commissioned by the AFL-CIO and the EDF highlights how to reuse industrial waste heat and cut 400 million metric tons of CO2. Blue & green

Nearly Neutral

Yale University misses its goal of building a carbon neutral structure but see how far Kroons Hall goes! Study up

March 03, 2009

Drill Baby, Drill

Drill for geothermal power as research finds it could be cheaper than coal power. (Psst - energy efficiency is cheaper still.) Hot stuff

Them's Fightin' Words

Ed Mazria, green building advocate, takes on the business-as-usual establishment. Gloves off!

February 27, 2009

VP Confabs On Green Jobs

Guess who's coming to the first meeting of Joe Biden's Middle Class Task Force with its green jobs focus. A list

February 26, 2009

Beware The Climate Cynic

Climate cynic John Tierney meets his match, a Cornell U. undergrad. Kapow!

February 25, 2009

What To Do With RGGI $$?

New York issues a draft plan for investing $525 million in RGGI auction proceeds. For public comment

February 23, 2009

It's Rebateable!

Can a US climate policy be consumer friendly? Could be

February 20, 2009

Make A Connection

How do scientists link global climate change with local environmental changes? Click in

Cap & Trade v Tax - Again

For those who can't get enough of this debate, here's the latest NRDC position. Fine print

The New Carbon Debate

Should the EPA regulate CO2 emissions now or wait for new federal legislation? Think

February 19, 2009

MisLEEDING

Green buildings are so popular that some projects are claiming LEED status without actually being certified. Caveat emptor

Green Transmission

New FERC chairman Jim Wellinghoff sees renewables, demand side management and distributed power ahead for the nation's electricity grid. That's powerful

Blueprint For A Greener NY

The NY League of Conservation Votes has a plan for a more sustainable state. Start here

Coal-Fired Civil Disobedience

Why is Bill McKibben willing to face arrest to stop America's coal addiction? Powershift here

February 13, 2009

National Grid v Eminent Domain

Building a 21st Century national electric grid could be harder than building the 20th century's interstate highway system. Go BANANAs

It's Melting. So What?

A glacier and ice sheet expert delves into the specific impact of Antarctic melting and rising global sea levels. Hot stuff

February 11, 2009

Do You Wanna Dance?

Who's up and who's down on passing a US climate bill and what that's got to do with public opinion? Start here

The House Climate On Climate

See this February portrait of House member sentiments on passing a climate change law. Come closer

February 10, 2009

Not So Smart Grid

A skeptical take on the smart national grid idea from an environmental perspective. Plug in

Revkin's Nightmare

Andy loses sleep over a world where limitless solar energy could fuel limitless appetites on a finite planet. How about you?

February 05, 2009

Fish Getting Lost

Scientists find evidence that acidifying sea water resulting from elevated atmospheric CO2 levels can impair fish navigational abilities. FInd out more

February 04, 2009

Far-Sighted Or Near-Sighted?

How the President's clean energy goals look depends on where you look from. Start here

Obama To OMB: Change

President Obama launches a make-over of the Office of Management and Budget. Scientists are optimistic. Fine print matters

February 03, 2009

Stimuli: Compare & Contrast

Get a graphic comparison of House and Senate stimulus funding for energy efficiency and alternative energy. Surprised?

January 29, 2009

Needs Improvement

US DOE starts a rule making for greener light bulb standards that would save 9.6 quads of electricity, but it could do better. Attention EEs!

No More Excuses

The soaring GHG emissions rates of countries like Indonesia, Israel and South Korea means it's time for them to sign on to the next global warming treaty. Learn more

California Data

Green job growth, investment and energy productivity are booming in California, but numbers are small compared to the newest economic data. Media here Report here [8.9 MB]

January 28, 2009

Down The Drain

The consequences of failing to slash GHG emissions are poorly understood by the public. Just stabilizing emissions is no solution. Serious stuff

Shovel Along

The shovel-ready stimulus mantra is shortchanging mass-transit and research on clean energy development and deployment. Get it right

The Media Climate

Get the back story on reception of the media's attention to findings about Antarctic warming. Hear here

January 26, 2009

ITC? PTC?

Get the latest thinking on what the tax code can do for the halting alternative energy sector. QED

Lighten That Plugload!

McKinsey studies data centers and serves up ways to cut both costs and carbon footprints. Centralized responsibility and a single efficiency metric are key. Good advice

January 22, 2009

From The IRS

Learn about Clean Renewable Energy Bonds from this IRS circular. (To readers: Is the CREB program operational now?) Tax man

Kyoto Spurs New Technology

Based on analysis of new patents, researchers find that the Kyoto Protocol has spurred 13 types of new climate abatement technologies, with the US and Australia lagging. Fine print

Sacrifice Is No Solution

The Sierra Club sees market reforms and public investment of carbon auction proceeds, not sacrifice and austerity, as the straightest path a a climate friendly planet. See here

Cap & Trade It!

The debate ranges on over cap & trade or tax as the key to saving the climate Get a summary of NRDC's position. Read up

What's The Green State of Your State?

Check out this list of California cities with high performance building laws. Rate your state

January 20, 2009

Climate Economics For You & Me

This book review about climate economics for non-economists has a lot to say, not all of it positive. Go figure

January 16, 2009

Romm Rips The CAP

Joe Romm tears into the USCAP's proposed climate bill and he's merciless on the lessons learned from the EU's Clean Development Mechanism experience. Stomp & shred

January 15, 2009

Who's On First?

EU infighting and domestic politics could open the way for Obama to be the game-changer on global warming. Up next

New York's Ticket To Ride

The MTA's in transit to 21st Century transit sustainability. Synopsis here

January 12, 2009

Solar Economics

Learn who's investing in solar power and who's buying into it. Adds up

The ABC's of Green Home-Electronics

A friendly reminder that what you do at home can change the world. Start here

The Office Carbon Footprint

Australia is working to shrink the carbon footprint of commercial buildings and their tenants. Here's how

January 10, 2009

And Then There Were None

Central Brooklyn could become a "net-zero" source of CO2 emissions. Down please

January 09, 2009

Tell Me Why

Why is gathering information on green building performance hard and what can be done to make it easier? Find out

January 07, 2009

Own A Building? Plan Ahead

Now is the time for building owners to consider what CO2 regulations will mean for their portfolios. Start here

January 06, 2009

Watch Out For Water Vapor

Second installment of our 2009 climate science tutorial. Get acquainted with new concepts and refinements of old ones. Read on

Paramterisation And More

First day of our 2009 climate science tutorial. Get acquainted with new concepts and refinements of old ones. Fine print

January 05, 2009

When Brighter Is Dimmer

New thinking about how to light your way at night. See here

Words Matter

Reporters on the climate beat must understand their subject and write accurately about it. Get it right

January 02, 2009

Get Mapped

Explore the planet by way of a green, social mapping platform. Start traveling

Plan Ahead Again

A 2002 road map for a national sustainable development strategy is more relevant than ever in 2009. Onramp here

December 30, 2008

Needed: A 21st Century Energy Sector

The failed climate, financial and reliability legacy of the 20th Century's fractured electricity sector must be overhauled to meet 21st Century demands. Listen here [MP3]

December 29, 2008

Indexing Innovation

Now's the time to track economic and environmental progress on combating climate chaos. California can [1.5MB]

It's Counterintuitive!

Economic analysis reveals that 'energy efficiency gets cheaper the more you spend on it.' Think again

December 23, 2008

Get RETI

In California, RETI's goal is to supply answers about how to upgrade the power grid to serve renewable energy suppliers. Fine print [4.5 MB]

December 22, 2008

EJ On The Way

The Obama administration seems poised to deliver on the promise of environmental justice. Stay tuned

Will The Atom Make A Comeback?

Peer into the future of nuclear power development in the US. Come on

December 19, 2008

An Infrastructure Agenda For Obama

Catch up with best bets for reviving the economy by greening the infrastructure. Start here

December 18, 2008

A Green Building Agenda Fo Obama

Eco-architect offers a program of green residential mortgage write-downs and accelerated depreciation allowances for commercial buildings to combat climate change and pay for it with taxes linked to a booming jobs market. Keep reading

A Green Agenda For Obama

Eco-advocates and analysts agree that a massive move to renewable energy should top Obama's climate and economic recovery to-do list. Learn more

December 16, 2008

If Green Tech's The Answer

For some, government policy that favors investment in green technology R&D is the best strategy for combating climate change. Here's a chance to learn more about it. Lots of links

Either/Or Or Other?

Andy Revkin gets a blizzard of replies to his questions about the right paths toward climate and energy solutions. Read them, add your own

December 15, 2008

Measured Goverment

Chances for an economic recovery will grow if the new Administration devises and then uses a green project scorecard. Get the facts

December 12, 2008

California Changin'

Scope out what's behind the headlines on California's new climate action plan. Think large [2 MB]

December 10, 2008

Don't Discount It

The climate policy debate could be resolved by economics and how to calculate the discount rate. Start here

Defined Benefits

In 2007, "renewable" energy got $4.9 billion, the lion's share of federal energy subsidies. Of that sum, $3 billion went to the ethanol industry. What's in a name?

H2O's Critical Infrastructure

Supplying clean drinking water and treating sewage are essential to the nation. It's important to make sustainable infrastructure investments and to keep climate impacts in view. Liquid assets

Yes They Can

An NRDC report on the auto industry finds that GM and Ford vehicles could meet California GHG emissions standards nationwide by 2012. That's efficient!

December 09, 2008

Super-Smart Grid

Catch up with the latest thinking about smart electric grids and the role of high temperature superconductivity. Fine print

December 04, 2008

Stop Fiddling

The EIA reports that US GHG emissions increased another 1.4% in 2007. GHG intensiveness declined 0.6%, the smalled decrease since 2002. Learn more

Salt Water Power

Catch up with the latest developments in making electricity from never-intermittent tide and wave power. Dive in

December 02, 2008

Spend, Not Tax, Is The Answer

Nordhouse & Shellenberger launch their latest attack on their version of conventional climate change thinking and prescribe deficit spending as the solution. Either/or?

December 01, 2008

Connect The Dots

Transportation revolutions are embedded in larger infrastructure revolutions. Track the implications. Start here

November 28, 2008

Concentrate On The Sun

This could be the dawn of solar thermal power. That's bright

Pass A Climate Law Now

"A recession isn't a bad time to get started on climate legislation." True or false?

November 26, 2008

GHG Records Shattered

The WMO reports that atmospheric levels of CO2, methane and nitrous oxide reached all time highs in 2007. Break down here

NYC Transported

NYC's innovative Transportation Commissioner hasn't been stopped by the congestion pricing fiasco. Green light

Keys To An Urban Agenda

A recent conference, "Imagining Cities: Urban Design After the Age of Oil" spotlighted sustainable transportation, infrastructure and money as keys to greener cities. Open here

November 25, 2008

Crisis, Climate And The Media

The media looks at itself in this moment of political transition and economic crisis to see what's happening to coverage of the climate crisis. Don't despair

LEED-ND & Preservation

Draft LEED standards for neighborhood development (ND) are available for public comment. Here's a preservationist perspective. Learn more

November 24, 2008

On The Grapevine

Obama's transition team may be reading this climate blueprint that makes do without a new climate law. Check it out

Light Up

Beyond CFL's - bright ideas for energy efficient lighting. Seek illumination

Cap & Trade v Tax: Graduate Level

The debate rages over whether cap & trade or taxation is the best way to cut carbon emissions. Take notes

November 21, 2008

Do Green Buildings Do It?

Find out if LEED-rated commercial buildings deliver on their promises. Start here

Store CO2 In Brine

Engineers find potential for efficiently capturing CO2 emissions in salty water. Learn more

November 20, 2008

Delay is No Longer An Option

How to repower America and fix the economy. It's not either/or

Less Carbon, More Jobs

Analysis of five low-carbon technologies by Duke University researchers sees major economic growth potential. Read it

November 19, 2008

Those "C&S" Words

Analysts argue that carbon capture and sequestration are within our technical reach. The key will be in what kind of climate policy is adopted.Look into it

November 18, 2008

Taking The Temperature

Get a glimpse of how climate scientists practice their calling. Fine print

Taxing Thoughts

Ever wonder about the best way to finance renewable energy projects? Start here

Going For Green Infrastructure

Private investment researchers call for a green national infrastructure bank as a smart strategy for hard times. Spend time here

November 17, 2008

Not A Pretty Picture

For the first time, Energy Star rates tvs' energy use when the sets are on. Guess what? Even the best flat-screen tvs are energy hogs. Plug in

No New Coal Now

EPA halts construction of new coal-fired power plants for now. Read the fine print [1.5MB]

Look (Far) Ahead

Based on Joe Romm's review, it looks like the Dingell-Boucher climate bill gets traction in 2026. ASAP?

November 13, 2008

It's Not The Sun

New research find that sunlight is responsible for just 10% of the Earth's recent warming. Learn more

November 11, 2008

Weighing Our Energy Options

Read Michael Klare's thoughtful piece on the tough choices facing the new president - and all of us. It's not either/or

Learn From Labels

How do carbon labels on supermarket products influence UK consumer choices? Check it out

November 10, 2008

Travel Plans

Arctic warming has revived age-old dreams of sailing through the Northwest Passage. Learn what scientists are saying. Brrrr

November 07, 2008

Calling For Energy Innovation

Heard on the grapevine - Obama's staff is reading this report. Yes, you can too [4.3MB]

Start At The Top

Global warming impacts in the Arctic mean rethinking the fundamentals of national security policies. Start here

November 06, 2008

On Obama's Short List?

There's buzz that Robert Sussman is on Obama's short list for EPA chief. In 2007, Sussman testified before Congress about coal and carbon sequestration. Learn more

Get Smart

What's the difference between the dumb electric grid we've got now and the smart grid we could have? Find out here

November 05, 2008

What Should Obama Do?

Climate activist Bill McKibben offers a domestic and global agenda for the Obama administration. Take notes Other views in the news. Here

'Feed-In Tariffs' Trashed

This UK critic holds a dim view of 'feed-in tariffs' as a tool in the renewable energy kit. Small isn't beautiful

November 03, 2008

Stock Up?

Although it's tough on Wall Street now, experts look ahead to the potential role of 'securitization' to finance alternative alternative energy and infrastructure. Plug in [2.7 MB]

Greenroots For A New Green Deal

Here's a strong statement of where the US could be going and how to get there. Van Jones

October 31, 2008

Picking Winners

Effective energy policy requires governments to support specific sustainable technologies. Here's how

Methane Chimneys In The Arctic

Since 2003, methane, a potent GHG, has been bubbling up from the warming Arctic Ocean floor. Not good news

October 30, 2008

Too Cheap To Meter?

Or is nuclear power too expensive to matter?. Read the essay and don't skip the comments. Wham bam

The Day After Tomorrow

Fact or fiction? seven scenarios for a climate-changed future. Look ahead

Shrek and Climate Science

Shrek's a stretch, but it's good to be reminded how science works. Enjoy

October 29, 2008

McKibben On Friedman On Climate

Bill McKibben thinks Tom Friedman's new book about the climate crisis comes late to the scene and is too upbeat. Review the review

October 27, 2008

Want A Revolution?

Read the second edition of the Greenpeace/EREC outlook for renewable energy. Start here

Want A Revolution?

Read the second edition of the Greenpeace/EREC outlook for renewable energy. Start here [9.5 MB]

October 24, 2008

Q: What's Hot & Cold?

A: A solar-powered refrigerator. Get smart

October 23, 2008

Deep Geothermal

Australians dig geothermal energy. You could too. Drill down

Great Expectations

By focusing on effects not causes, the environmental failure dooms itself to failure. Gus Speth argues that what we need now is a new popular political culture. Refocus

October 22, 2008

How Things Work

What is solar power and how does it work? Glad you asked

Not A Sure Thing

Game-changing deployment of carbon capture/sequestration technology will need a 'dramatic shift' in public policies and, without great strides on energy efficiency, won't be enough to stop climate change. Start here

October 21, 2008

Eco-Nomics For the 21st Century

Global warming and the global financial meltdown are two good reasons to reinvent the "gloomy science". It's not marginal

October 20, 2008

Rising Tide of Power

Dive into new developments in technologies to harness wave and tide power. Wave hello

October 17, 2008

Inspectors OK First RGGI Sale

The performance of RGGI's first carbon emissions allowances sale gets a thumbs up from the market monitors. Fine print

50 Ways To Combat Climate Change

Florida announces fifty ways to slash its GHG emissions while saving $28 billion and demand reduction is high on the list. Start here

Oceans' Acid Trip

CO2 is turning oceans acidic at an alarming rate. Ahoy

October 15, 2008

Climate Riddle Solved

Scientists solve tropical warming-gap mystery. Hot stuff

October 14, 2008

Get Energized

Looking for a citizens' guide to sustainable energy actions? Start here

October 09, 2008

Margaret Kriz - Pessimist

A seasoned environmental reporter places long odds on near-term passage of federal climate legislation. Here's why

Tom Friedman - Optimist

The world's getting hot, flat and crowded, but things could improve. Read this

The Atomic Solution Illusion

Amory Lovins lights into the promise of a revived nuclear power industry. Slug it out

October 08, 2008

Climate Science: A Refresher Course

The summary you need on current climate science. Here

Japanese Lessons For China

Popular protest and macroeconomic forces propelled Japan toward environmental clean up in the 1970's. Can similar forces solve China's GHG emissions problems today? Study it

October 07, 2008

Chinese Coal

MIT research finds that new Chinese power plants have up-to-date technology but suffer from operational and management deficits. Look into it [1.1.MB]

Cap & Trade Next Year?

Congressmen members and Dingell have a carbon cap and trade bill that aims to cut GHG emissions 80% by 2050. Summary here

October 06, 2008

EIA Energy Forecast: Up Only

The EIA projects a 50% rise in global energy demand by 2030, with an 85% increase from non-OECD states. Fine print [1.2 MB]

October 03, 2008

Cap & Invest Strategy Slammed

A carbon tax advocate takes off the gloves in reviewing NRDC's cap-and-invest-in-technology proposal. Wham, bam!

What Investors Like

An Ernst & Young study finds that clean tech investments soared by in 2008 but will that meet demand? Spend some time [6.7MB]

October 02, 2008

Cap and Trade Unjust?

A major California environmental justice alliance charges that the State's cap and trade GHG emissions reduction plan is unfair and recommends carbon fees instead to meet climate protection goals. Learn more

October 01, 2008

In Defense of Carbon Offsets

Often derided, carbon offsets can make sense. Here's how

September 26, 2008

Cutting Carbon Economically

A carbon price is the least-cost policy for cutting emissions and an R&D subsidy is the most-cost approach. Advance your economics

September 25, 2008

Green Cities Rising

Global cities incubate eco-projects. They leap forward, but aren't perfect. See what's new

Austria Nixes Nuke Power

Austria says no to nuclear power and yes to energy efficiency and renewables. Here's why [4.5 MB]

September 23, 2008

LEEDing Forward

As a sign of the times, the USGBC updates its LEED Strategic Plan for 2009-2013. Learn more

September 22, 2008

Times They Are A Changin'

Researchers assess the climate change business and risk potential of six key industrial sectors and estimate their potential business cash flows against future scenarios in which governments and consumers shift toward a low-carbon economy. Who's a winner? [4.1MB]

Who's The Greenest Of Them All?

Once again, Sustain Lane rates Portland Oregon the greenest city in the US, but this year, NYC breaks into the top five. Here's what the ratings mean

September 19, 2008

Chicago's Green Building Blueprint

Chicago's got a plan for making energy efficient buildings its new normal. Fine print [7.22MB]

September 18, 2008

Making Connections

Energy-ethanol-corn-agribusiness-politics. Look into it

Everything Changes

Need something else to worry about - try the science of abrupt climate change. Fine print

September 17, 2008

What Moves Markets?

A report by the American Physical Society finds that federal climate action is key to bringing existing and emerging low-carbon technologies to mass markets. Efficiency's the thing

What's The Discount Rate Got To Do With It?

Setting a discount rate in the economics of global warming economic policy is one hot topic! Here's the speed-dating version of the debate. Love it

September 12, 2008

Pricing Carbon: Deep Thoughts

A new study of carbon cap & trade predicts both differential impacts on emissions and significant revenues. Fine print

African Rainfall & Climate Change

Scientists see links between drought in central Africa to climate change by way of ocean warming. Connect here

September 11, 2008

Deep Green

Tom Friedman once wrote, "Green is the new red, white and blue". Now, listen to a conversation with Tom on NPR's Fresh Air with Terry Gross about his new book and America's current color.

Tougher Tidal Turbines

Scots researchers are testing a new contra-rotating tidal turbine. Spin in

September 10, 2008

2008: How Cool

What to make of reports about plunging global temperatures? Think in patterns

September 09, 2008

Chew On This

Researchers find the climate impact of food choices is greatest for red-meat eaters not for those who eat food grown at a distance. Dig in

Numb To Drilling

The media got the facts wrong when reporting on offshore oil drilling and its impact on the price of gas. That's right

September 05, 2008

Will Your Feet Get Wet?

Here's a review of new scientific papers on sea level rise and global warming. Jump in

September 04, 2008

For Loss Of A Tax Credit...

Congress' failure to extend tax credits for renewable energy isn't getting much coverage now, but it should. Read more

September 02, 2008

New Mayor New Plan

London's new Mayor issues his urban climate adaptation plan. Fine print [2.8MB]

August 29, 2008

Russia's Climate Impact

Russia's energy interests could pose a bigger challenge to the next US administration's climate control policies than China. Here's why

August 28, 2008

Climate Wargames

Emerging climate impacts have major national security implications and wargames are a strategic planning tool. Explore this website

Too Picken' Big?

The stirring T.Boone Pickens energy plan may be unrealistically ambitious under current conditions writes energy scholar. Think about it

August 27, 2008

New Nukes - Risky Business

Does the economics of new nuclear power for the UK add up? Look into it

August 21, 2008

Wetter & Drier

Satellite data suggests that IPPC climate change models might lowball both future storm and drought severity. Dip in

August 20, 2008

NRC: Licensing The Future

A Nuclear Regulatory Commission report explores how to license the 'very high temperature gas-cooled reactor'. What's that?

August 19, 2008

LEED 2009

LEED is evolving. Get the summary.Start here

August 14, 2008

Benefit Of Carbon Seqestration In Doubt

Researchers claim the energy needed to sequester CO2 emissions from power plants could lead to more pollution problems than the process solves. Look into it

Once We Know It Could Be Too Late

Damage to the oceans' phytoplankton resulting from climate change is hard to see now, but once detectable it could be irreversible. Dive in

August 12, 2008

Twin Cities Blue-Green Mission

A report by the mayors of Minneapolis and Saint Paul sees growth opportunities in local green manufacturing. Good for jobs good for the environment. Twin-win

August 08, 2008

Getting More Diligent

Due diligence reviews, a staple of real estate transactions for polluted properties, could become a necessary tool for determining a property's carbon footprint. Here's why

Risks High, Act Now

A World Bank/UN report finds the societies and economies of East Asian cities face grave climate change impacts and must plan now to protect their populations. Project resilience [4.5MB]

August 06, 2008

Green & Affordable

Energy efficient, affordable housing is catching on around the country, but smart public policy is needed to make this trend the 'new normal'. Details here

Define That Collar

Despite the popularity of the phrase "green-collar jobs", not everyone is talking about the same thing. Says who?

August 05, 2008

Greening The Corporate Supply Chain

Research finds that even climate-aware companies have not adopted climate-smart purchasing practices that include upstream energy efficiencies. Link up

August 01, 2008

You Can't Ignore Today

Far-sighted energy policies won't succeed if they ignore people's immediate needs argues a TNR columnist. Click on the arrow below







July 31, 2008

It's Solar Time

Riding high on technical breakthroughs and dropping production costs, solar power is poised for the big time say industry analysts. Read up

July 29, 2008

But Can It Work Here?

A US utility industry report, based on a fact-finding tour of solar power in Germany, sees both potential and problems for growing a domestic program.
Look into it

July 24, 2008

True Then, True Now

In 2006, an academic study on jobs and the energy industry concluded, "Across a broad range of scenarios, the renewable energy sector generates more jobs than the fossil fuel-based energy sector per unit of energy delivered." Renewable jobs

New Math Unmasked

A climate skeptic's latest claims turn out to be based on odd arithmetic and odder assumptions. Fine print

What Should Dems Do About Gas Prices?

Polls find that the public wants government action now on high gas prices. Gore has a deploy-new-tech response, but where's Obama's? Stay tuned

July 18, 2008

Energy Attitude In California

Poll results find that high gas and fuel prices are leading Californians to drive less but staying committed to strict auto emissions standards. As well, they're taking a second look at nuclear power and LNG terminals. Data here

Smarter Money

Research finds that current funding mechanisms for climate projects in developing countries are not delivering on their promises. Change needed. Fine print

July 17, 2008

Curb Your Enthusiasm

Carbon capture and storage technologies for coal-fired power plants get a chilly reception here. Learn more

Efficiency In No Fantasy

Amory Lovins argues that the most effective energy path means adopting a wealth of available technologies. Start here

July 15, 2008

Burned By Bush

The EPA releases the analysis by government scientists of the human health and related impacts of climate change. Dig in [2.2MB]

July 14, 2008

Clearing The Air

Errors riddle recent media reports on aerosols and European climate change - and that's not all. Clarify that

July 11, 2008

Window Power

Window glass can become a source of solar power if it's coated with a special light-trapping dye. See here

Summer Reading

Summer's in full swing - time to catch up on the hottest climate-change books. Turn the page

July 08, 2008

NYC's Roadmap To 30x17

Mayor Bloomberg launches his plan to cut NYC government's carbon footprint 30% by 2017. Start now

July 07, 2008

The Short-Run & The Long

Ever wonder about the impact of short-term events like El Nino and long-run climate trends? Charts, graphs and links to monographs will give you answers. Fine print

July 03, 2008

The Ozone-Climate Connection

New research finds that higher atmospheric ozone levels in Antarctica could raise regional temperatures. Fine print here

Bring Back Science

Looking toward the next Administration in Washington, a call to restore scientific integrity in federal environmental work. Start here

July 01, 2008

Focus On Green Work

Here's a state-by-state portrait of jobs needed to grow the green economy and six related strategies to fight climate change. Picture that

June 30, 2008

A More Perfect Union

When Congress gets down to business on climate change, the experience of twenty-seven states could lead the way. Look ahead

June 27, 2008

Urban Developments

With California and Texas cities at the opposite ends of the sustainability spectrum, northeast cities like Boston fall midway, with more differences between the center city and the suburbs. What are the policy implications? ABC's here

June 26, 2008

Solar Power Economics

By 2020, a McKinsey study predicts that the price of solar power in several big markets will be close to the price of electricity from fossil fuels. Still, solar power will be just 3-6% of total generation capacity. See more

June 25, 2008

What To Do With Carbon Revenues

The Congressional Budget Office offers options for using projected revenues from the sale of carbon emissions permits, with an emphasis on household tax incentives to keep affordable housing affordable. Read up

June 24, 2008

Catch The Updraft

Here's a vision of a Solar City Air Filtre that would be a carbon negative power generator. See?

Coding Faster

Architecture 2030 devise an 'interim' energy efficiency guidance for use until local building codes can catch up. Get guided

June 20, 2008

Extreme Weather-It's Here

Scientists find that trends toward extreme weather conditions due to climate change change are already here. Ready?

Waterworld

Scientists find that since 1961 sea levels have risen 2 inches, 50% greater than estimated. Wade in [6.4MB]

June 19, 2008

Too Darn Hot!

Get immersed in the science of measuring oceanic temperatures. Plunge

June 18, 2008

NIMBY

Macro-scale climate modeling tools aren't designed to predict the weather in your backyard. Expand your mind

June 16, 2008

EJ Group Calls For Carbon Tax

The Climate Justice Leadership slams climate cap and trade schemes; endorses an equitable carbon tax. Tax advocate Komanoff comments.

June 13, 2008

Making Climate Policy In A Federal System

With one federal government and 50 states, forging climate change policies isn't simple. Pew reviews

June 12, 2008

The New Green Eyeshade

Traditional economic accounts like GDP don't account for the environment. How can these metrics be greened? Mother Nature counts

GAO Climate Policy Survey

A GAO survey finds that experts agree on the urgent need for a price on carbon emissions, but differ on how to set it. Dig in

Wedge Writer Weighs In

We wanted to stop the political stalling on climate change and the proposals for blue sky technology grants. Stephen Pacala

June 11, 2008

Cap It!

Denis Hayes takes a dim view of the Warner-Lieberman cap & trade scheme. Urges producer level caps, not emitter level caps on GHG emissions. Use permit revenues for smart infrastructure and tax equity. And more

June 10, 2008

Dethroning Old King Coal

The World Resources Institute foresees huge challenges to creating a national carbon capture and storage system. The pre-condition for success is putting a price on carbon emissions. Look into it [1.2MB]

June 06, 2008

What's Your Size?

The Brookings Institute finds metropolitan America 'poised' for climate leadership and sizes the carbon footprint of America's 100 biggest cities. Get metric

June 05, 2008

Looking Beyond Kyoto

Consider these ideas for structuring the next global climate agreement. Fine print

You Bet

Will the authors of a scientific paper on 'decadal' temperature fluctuations accept a €2500 bet about their predictions? Stay tuned

June 04, 2008

Protecting NYC's Liquid Assets

Find out if NYC's ambitious watershed protection program is succeeding. Watch the video

Going Their Way

States have been leading the way on climate action so federal action won't be a shot in the dark Watch the film! Use the links! Get energized

May 30, 2008

Wind Power Soars

Installed wind power in the US exceeds predictions. Catch up with DOE's 2007 annual report. Plug in [3.9MB]

What's The Right Thing?

Confronting climate change means facing thorny ethical issues, including our relationship with future generations. Delve in

China Growing Green Ideas

While China's environmental record is grim, innovations are springing up; think green cement. A must read

May 29, 2008

Learning By Doing

The cost of recycling in NYC is now just slightly higher than the cost of waste disposal. That's sustainable

May 27, 2008

Don't Discount It

Follow the thread of this critical comment on Freeman Dyson's climate views. Start

May 23, 2008

Update On Wedge Theory

Time to review the idea of solving the climate crisis by deploying a host of available technologies. Author's assessment

May 22, 2008

Climate Price Tag: Do Nothing-Pay $1.9 Trillion

A report done for NRDC puts the annual US economic cost of climate change inaction at $1.9 trillion. Adds up

Infrastructure & Climate Change

Delve into NYC's plans to adapt it water supply and sewerage system to climate change impacts. It's deep [7.9MB]

May 13, 2008

Carbon Tax Is Best

A Congressional Budget Office study finds that the most efficient way to price carbon in order to reduce CO2 emissions is to tax the carbon rather than cap and trade it. Read it here

Continue reading "Carbon Tax Is Best" »

Trade v Tax: Another Round

While revenue projections are virtually identical for cap & trade and carbon tax schemes, the politics are not. Keep score

Continue reading "Trade v Tax: Another Round" »

April 30, 2008

Reading Paleo-Tea Leaves

Climate scientists peer into the past to help grasp current climate change agents. Study it

One Year After

Find out what NYC's done over the 365 days to meet its PlaNYC 2030 goals. Check in here [7.2MB]

April 28, 2008

Coal On Capitol Hill

Senator Voinovich proposes a coal industry-friendly, state action-hostile climate bill; no co-sponsors yet. Summary here [1.2 MB]

April 25, 2008

Go Upstream

What would an ideal, effective and equitable GHG cap and trade program look like? Here's one model. Test drive it

April 21, 2008

The Future Is Coming

With 18 months remaining for the Bloomberg administration, how should PlaNYC 2030's agenda be prioritized? Look ahead [2.1MB]

April 18, 2008

Weekend Science

Now's your chance to understand the melting of Greenland's icesheet. Go fast

April 17, 2008

Greener Down Under

Australian commercial property owners respond to market, regulatory and climate risks by cutting emissions linked to their existing building portfolios. Here's how

April 16, 2008

MTA Greens Itself

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority Commission on Sustainability recommends clean energy targets and more transit oriented development. Get moving

Better Business

Experts find that it's only prudent for businesses to assess possible physical impacts of climate change on their facilities and operations. Plan ahead

April 14, 2008

Climate Agreement Beats Treaty

A former US climate negotiator argues that the President and Congress should enter into a global warming agreement. It would work like a treaty, but be more bi-partisan and pack a greater punch. Look into it

April 11, 2008

Global Climate & Domestic Competitivenesson

The Pew Center on Global Climate Change responds to a Congressional White Paper and draws different conclusions. Dig in

April 10, 2008

Scenarios and Forecasts

IPCC work models ranges of future scenarios. Pielke's work does not. Deep stuff that matters. Fine print

April 08, 2008

PlaNYC & Jobs

A NYC government study predicts the number of new jobs that could by generated by PlaNYC goals. It is silent on potential green construction and climate change-related jobs. Fine print here

April 07, 2008

Over The Long Term

Wow your friends by using climate terms like "Charney sensitivity" when debating Earth's paleo-record and what it means for the future of the planet. Fine print

April 04, 2008

Science Blogging

Does blogging undermine science? Take a short tour of a subject with many ramifications. Join here

April 01, 2008

Beyond 'Thou Shalt Not'

The first wave of environmental rules relied on prescriptive formulas. But now, rule makers contending with climate change must think differently. Move on

Resolving Split Incentives

When landlords and tenants lack a common interest in energy efficiency, it's called the split incentive problem. Consider the solutions

March 31, 2008

See For Yourself

Use meta-modeling to explore assumptions and consequences of the economic impact of US climate change policies. Look in

March 27, 2008

Kansas Coal Plant Risky For Customers

A financial analysis of the coal plant proposal rejected by the Governor of Kansas reveals that it would have put ratepayers at risk. Fine print here

Bad News & Good News In New England

New England lags in cutting GHG emissions, but emissions did fall and might be falling faster now. Get the news

March 24, 2008

Censoring Science

Read or hear the interview with James Hansen and author Mark Bower. Click

March 20, 2008

Wave Hello

Wave and tide power are generating renewable energy right now but when will there be more? Plunge in

March 19, 2008

Past The Comfort Zone

A draft study by James Hansen finds that current atmospheric CO2 levels of 385 ppm exceed a climate stability level of 350 ppm. Rapid action is urged. Read it here [1.1MB]

March 17, 2008

The Ex-Emerald Isle?

A joint Irish and American report finds that since 1980 Ireland's temperature has soared three time faster than the global average and shifts in rainfall could undermine its agriculture. The Irish at home and abroad must mobilize to combat climate change. Start here

March 14, 2008

Growing A Green Urban Economy

The promise of green collar jobs puts US cities on the edge of major changes, but skilled-labor shortages could be a risk. This Apollo Alliance report offers solutions. Read on

March 13, 2008

Watch Out For Leaks

Economists assert that up to 50% of RGGI's projected CO2 emissions cuts could be lost to leaks. Leaks occur when a utility buys lower cost power from a utility in an non-RGGI state. Their solution is a suite of harmonized state taxes on energy consumption to lower demand. [Psst: A national carbon cap policy is another solution] Study it LINK REPAIRED

March 10, 2008

A National Security Energy Strategy

High demand for battlespace fuel combined with the military's reliance on the commercial power grid creates unnecessary risks for national security. A Defense Department report recommends five solutions. Yessir

Latin America & The Energy Transition

Petro-politics studies the intersections of political power and carbon-fueled power. Compare & contrast

March 06, 2008

NYC: The Climate Poll

The good news is that New Yorkers think global warming is a very serious problem. The bad news is they are right. Drill down

March 03, 2008

Measuring LEED

An analysis of 121 LEED-NC buildings finds that 'on average' they save energy. Get the nitty-gritty

Talkin' About Adaptation

The risks and costs of climate change impacts are on the way. The time is now for adaptation planning. Start here [1.3MB]

February 28, 2008

Climate Change Petition

Three environmental advocacy organizations filed a petition with the President's Council on Environmental Quality seeking amendments and guidance documents that would direct all federal agencies to perform climate change analysis as part of their National Environmental Protection Act review. Read it

February 27, 2008

Bar Calls For State Energy Policy

A report by the Energy Committee of the NYC Bar Association recommends creation of a State Energy Policy Board. Fine print

February 25, 2008

Coal Options

Some say no more coal, others look to carbon capture and sequestration programs. Peer in

February 22, 2008

Why Buy A Hybrid Car?

A new policy study finds that sales taxes, gas prices and social preferences are the most powerful incentives in consumer decisions to buy hybrid fuel cars. Drive in

February 21, 2008

PV, Not Yet

For an array of reasons, this academic study finds that solar photovoltaic power isn't ready for prime time. Plug in

A Brief History of Hurricanes

Take some time to get acquainted with the new science of paleo-tempestology. Get started

February 14, 2008

Carbon Sequestration 101

What to do with all that carbon? Here's a primer on how to put it someplace secure and long-term. Enter here

February 04, 2008

Meta-Model Science

Here's a look at climate scientists working to coordinate models, funds and research. The newest thing is the Meta-ensemble

February 01, 2008

Dingell/Boucher Climate White Paper

This Congressional think piece explores how domestic climate legislation could "encourage" developing nations to curb GHG emissions in a framework of international trade that meets WTO rules. Tariffs, standards, or markets?

January 31, 2008

A Conservative Carbon Cutter

"Rewards" not "subsidies" would spur research & development of climate friendly technologies. But who'll pay for the research?

January 28, 2008

Fair Trade?

Governors of ten states urge the Federal Trade Commission to impose stricter standards for carbon offsets and renewable energy credits. That's fair

January 24, 2008

Hot & Cretaceous

Ever wonder what made the Cretaceous Era so hot and what's different now (besides no dinosaurs)? Science at work

Working For Green Roots

Sustainable communities need good jobs and there's great potential in the green, clean energy economy. Dig in [3.1MB]

January 22, 2008

Could Macy's Test Gimbels?

How and when market competition can spur testing for toxics in consumer electronics. [Q: Could it work to improve the energy efficiency of consumer products?] Read on

January 17, 2008

15 Climate Briefings

Dig into this encyclopedic assessment of US climate policy options. Kopp&Pizer

January 16, 2008

Delivering On The Promise

High performance building design holds out the promise for sharply reducing energy consumption--but does it deliver? Measure it

January 15, 2008

The Limits Of "Social License"

Social pressures and norms may have limited power in driving environmental policy to regulate certain industries. Here's a case study of the trucking business. Look into it

January 11, 2008

Noisy Weather

When modeling climate change, how to capture the "signals" without being distracted by weather "noise". Buzz in

January 10, 2008

Bridging Decongestion

A report on options for cutting Manhattan's traffic congestion, raising revenues too, now available. Read it

January 09, 2008

Read The Fine Carbon Print

If you're wondering about those carbon credits you got, read the rules proposed by the Federal Trade Commission. Now comment

Bali-Beyond The Climate Headlines

This analysis of the recent Bali climate conference rates it as a qualified success. Look into it

January 03, 2008

UK: High Performing Office Buildings

New British office buildings can become zero-carbon emitters. Here's how[2.6MB]

January 02, 2008

Solar Plans-The Comments

Scientific American posts hundreds of comments on its grand solar plan for the US. Keep on scrolling

December 31, 2007

The Age of Consequences

What do social scientists and national security experts foresee for 21st Century climate change impacts? Sober stuff [2.1MB]

December 28, 2007

The Risk Business

Insurance, the business rooted in calculating risk, is feeling the climate change heat. Got a policy?

December 26, 2007

Sun Rise

The potential for solar power to solve our energy and climate problems is "off the charts". Here's how

December 21, 2007

Learn From Experience

Let's look at the record of the EU-ETS. Advanced political-economy

December 12, 2007

California Court Upholds Car Fuel Rule

California's right to impose higher vehicle fuel efficiency standards than federal CAFEs is upheld by a federal court. This decision closely tracks a recent Vermont court decision. Read it here

Who's In The Driver's Seat?

Commuters who drive to work in NYC's proposed congestion pricing zone are, on average, relatively affluent suburbanites. Stop & go

December 05, 2007

Decongestion Aid

Critics of the Bloomberg congestion pricing plan offer no credible alternatives report finds. Stop by

Good Jobs/Green-Collar Job

The NYC Apollo Alliance finds that economic benefits and good green collar jobs can play a big part in making the Big Apple a sustainable city. Work on it [14.8MB]

December 03, 2007

McKinsey Report: Save 28% Now!

The US is rich in "negative cost opportunities" for cutting its GHG emissions. Fight inertia[4.1MB]

November 30, 2007

Bigger & Better?

Think that economic growth and environmental progress can be compatible, but looking for reasons why, start here.[2.4MB]

November 29, 2007

Update: One Recovering Pol

Catch up with Al Gore's adventures in venture capitalism. He's here

November 26, 2007

Setting The Right Price

A new report finds that British business gets the climate challenge and wants public policy that will set market-changing carbon prices by 2020. Read it here[1.3MB]

November 13, 2007

Rethinking Urban Infrastructure

Can we get from NIMBY to civic pride with a sustainable approach to infrastructure? Here's how

November 12, 2007

Back To The Future, Again

Looking back at Detroit's history of cleaner car promises raises doubts about the future. Take a spin

November 08, 2007

Fire Signs

The fires in southern California fit climate model predictions, while adding GHG's to the system. Learn more

November 05, 2007

What's That Coming From Your Tailpipe?

Catch up on recent books about the US auto industry. Inhale here

November 02, 2007

Say CCS To Coal?

While some say no to coal, others propose to capture and store carbon emitted by power plants. Hot stuff

Signs Of Sluggishness

Are ocean carbon sinks filling up? Look into it

November 01, 2007

Climate: Uncertain & Sensitive

Global climate trends are inherently "uncertain" because the climate system is "sensitive" to many factors. Why is this important?

October 31, 2007

What New Yorkers Need to Know

Focusing on energy generation and consumption, NYSERDA maps out its five year research agenda. Find it here[2.9MB]

October 30, 2007

Climate Q/A

Bill McKibben answers climate change questions. NYRB

October 25, 2007

Earth: Experiemental Subject

Geo-engineering has its fans-and its detractors. Join in

October 22, 2007

PlaNYC 2030 Update

Read the first status report on Mayor Bloomberg's plan for a sustainable city. Click

October 15, 2007

Climate Econ 201

An economics argument for making a quick transition to carbon neutral electric power. Plug in

Climate Econ 101

Pricing carbon makes economic sense for current and future generations. Setting a discount rate does not. Here's why

October 04, 2007

Breaking Up

Learn about new mass-balance polar ice sheet measurement methods and findings. Click

September 28, 2007

Energy Star-EPA Annual Report

Catch up on EPA's premiere climate protection programs. Click [1.5MB]

September 24, 2007

Carbon Disclosure Report 5

Read the complete fine print. Summary [1.8 MB], S&P [1.9 MB], FT [3.0MB]

September 20, 2007

Focused Research

NYS sets its research agenda on pollution linked with energy generation and use. See more [2.9MB]

September 13, 2007

Congressional Carbon Control

Contrast and compare the cap and trade programs under Congressional consideration. Click [3.6MB]

Capturing The Carbons

Much research and investment lies ahead to make carbon capture and storage a reality. Way to go?

September 12, 2007

Court To Car Makers: Cut Carbon

A federal district court decides in favor of Vermont's and New York's CO2 emissions standards for new cars. Read the decision

September 11, 2007

Allocating Ideas

If Congress passed a cap & trade-based climate bill, how should it distribute carbon emissions allowances? Get the options

September 10, 2007

Beyond 2012

Read the UN Foundation's proposal for a post-2012 climate action framework. Don't delay

September 05, 2007

Take A Green Building Tour

Although the US didn't sign the Kyoto Protocol, its green building movement is growing. Join up

September 04, 2007

Tax Carbon? Yes!

Read this strong pro-carbon tax essay. It tells you both why and how. It's economic

August 31, 2007

Growing Clean Tech

What kind of public policy would stream venture capital into the clean tech industry? Look into it

August 22, 2007

Summer Reading

Energy efficiency investments pay off. Catch up with the latest studies. Click & link

August 10, 2007

EU ETS Isn't Working

A new study finds that despite its ambitions, the EU ETS has been undermined by short-sighted decisions and the CO2 price is near collapse. Read it

July 31, 2007

Decoupling Power

This one's for wonks. Read the NYS Public Service Commission order for proposals to decouple utility rates from electricity and gas consumption. Sexy, no, significant, yes. Just click

July 27, 2007

Keeping Up With Congress

The 110th Congress has a number of climate bills in circulation. Compare and contrast

July 20, 2007

Change The Corporate Climate

Effective corporate action on energy efficient building demands both leadership and the right organization. Create demand

July 12, 2007

Who Gets What

The operation and rationale for allocating carbon emissions allowances stirs up debate. Join in

No Regrets

How much we should invest now to minimize climate change and consider the cost of delay? Think hard

July 04, 2007

In Case You Missed It

Last year, William Nordhaus delved deeply into the Kyoto Protocol's conceptual problems and concluded that price-type instruments are needed to combat climate change. Catch up

July 02, 2007

What's The Score?

New York ranked seventh for energy efficiency in the nation based on the eight part ACEEE scorecard. While the Empire State did well overall, it came in fifteenth for utility spending on energy efficiency and its building codes didn't shine. It adds up

June 29, 2007

Straighten Up & Drive Right

Go straight to sustainable solutions. The keys are fuel efficiency and the right biofuels. Get moving [1.2 MB]

June 19, 2007

Beware The Albedo Flip

James Hansen warns in a new report that decisive action on climate must occur in the next ten years or an irreversible crisis is certain due to things like the "albedo flip". What's that?

June 18, 2007

Congress & Climate Change

What can US climate legislators and business communities learn from the European ETS experience? Allocations & allowances

May 29, 2007

Carbon: Tax or Trade?

Spend some time with a free-market, pro-tax answer and the LA Times

May 24, 2007

Silver Buckshot

We can't wait for cap and trade to save the planet. It may be necessary, but it's not sufficient. Take aim

Rules Of The Game

Time to change the rules that underwrite Big Carbon. Got game?

May 23, 2007

What's Left Is Right, Right?

Snapshot author Charles Komanoff navigates the rapids of climate change alliances. Ahoy

May 16, 2007

Decongestion Remedy

London's congestion pricing expert shows us how to do it. NYAS eBriefing

May 08, 2007

UN To US: Be Prepared

In the age of carbon-constraints, winners in the global market place must innovate-or else we'll all lose. Listen to Dr. Rajendra Pachauri's audiocast

May 07, 2007

Feds For State Leadership on CO2 Cuts

State regulations to control autos' CO2 emissions praised by US IPCC negotiators. That's news

May 03, 2007

Not Just California Dreamin'

Now that California's committed to get GHG emissions down to 2000 levels by the year 2010 and slash them 80% below 1990 levels by mid-century, this scholarly analysis of cap and trade programs is a must read. Get serious

April 30, 2007

A Guide For The Perplexed

The worst carbon offset schemes are like the sale of religious indulgences in the Middle Ages. Here's a report card on the carbon offset market in the Carbon Ages. A Consumer's Guide(1.1MB)

April 20, 2007

We're Not There Yet

April 16, 2007

To Whom Much Is Given, Much Is Required

A panel of retired senior military officers and national securiy experts spell out links between national security and the threat of climate changes in this must read report. (1.2MB)

April 09, 2007

IPCC 4 Report-Impacts The Scientists' Version

In light of the controversy between scientists and diplomats over language in the latest IPCC 4 Report, here's what the scientists wanted to say. Compare & contrast

IPCC 4 Report-Impacts The Final Version

Here's a link to the Summary for Policy Makers of the IPCC's second report on Climate Change Impacts, Adaptation & Vulnerability

April 02, 2007

Build A Cooler Planet

Making high performance building the world's new normal will go a long way to fight global warming. Read Buildings and Climate Change-Executive Summary

It's Official-C02 is a Pollutant

In a landmark 5-4 decision in Massachusetts v EPA, the US Supreme Court found that the EPA has the legal power to carbon under the Clean Air Act. Read it here

High Performance Ideas Needed

Innovation and access to a new generation of enegy efficiencies are must-haves to combat climate change. Earth Institute Report

March 18, 2007

Hotter Faster?

Although there's strong evidence of accelerated global warming, authors of the recent IPCC report lacked the necessary consensus to report on it. Get the facts

March 16, 2007

Tomorrow's Power Supply

A new MIT study sees clean coal technologies as fundamental for a carbon-constrained world. Read on

March 14, 2007

Tax Or Trade?

Here's a sharp white paper on the raging debate over how to reduce carbon emissions. Read the fine print

March 13, 2007

Is Gore Wrong?

February 28, 2007

Kicking the Habit

February 13, 2007

Move Over Oscar

February 02, 2007

IPCC 4 Report

January 31, 2007

Investing in Low Carbon Utilities

January 23, 2007

Court Order on California's Carbon Emissions Rules for Autos

November 29, 2006

US Supreme Court Transcript: Massachusetts v EPA

September 21, 2006

Isn't Carbon Taxing!

Continue reading "Isn't Carbon Taxing!" »