GM Zero-Waste: Recycling Generates $1bn Annually GM’s 9-step landfill-free program General Motors (GM) recently announced that it is ramping up its waste diversion goals and now generates $1 billion a year from the reuse and recycling of byproducts the company generates at its manufacturing plants. With the massive impact a company such as GM has because of the size and scope of its operations as well as supply chain, the company’s recent achievements and future goals are an important step for other automakers to emulate. After all, while automobiles are among the United States’ most recycled products, with as much as 75 percent of their content reprocessed and reused, more improvements during the manufacturing phase could benefit more businesses, and of course, the environment. Currently, GM recycles about 90 percent of its manufacturing waste. So how does a stodgy Rust Belt company eliminate waste throughout its business? Engagement is also an important lynchpin in GM’s recycling and zero-waste programs.
Innovation by Public-Sector Solar Programs in the US – A Sampling of Approaches | States Advancing Solar Browse by topic: This webinar will highlight some of the innovative policies and programs being employed across the country by states and utilities to support the rapid acceleration of solar deployment in the U.S. This webinar will provide an overview of a variety of solar incentives and financing approaches, such as feed-in tariffs, solar RECs, and community-based programs for bulk purchases. Mark Sinclair, CESA Executive Director, will be the host. There will be time alotted for Q&A for the participants. Speakers: Tim Tutt, Sacramento Municipal Utiliites DistrictKacia Brockman, Energy Trust of OregonAndrew Brydges, Massachusetts Clean Energy Center Event Materials: You are here:Home » New Developments » Innovation by Public-Sector Solar Programs in the US – A Sampling of Approaches
The EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS) The EU ETS: operates in 31 countries (all 28 EU countries plus Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway) limits emissions from more than 11,000 heavy energy-using installations (power stations & industrial plants) and airlines operating between these countries covers around 45% of the EU's greenhouse gas emissions. For a detailed overview, see: EU ETS factsheet (466 kB) EU ETS Handbook (3.19 Mb) A 'cap and trade' system The EU ETS works on the 'cap and trade' principle. A cap is set on the total amount of certain greenhouse gases that can be emitted by installations covered by the system. Within the cap, companies receive or buy emission allowances which they can trade with one another as needed. After each year a company must surrender enough allowances to cover all its emissions, otherwise heavy fines are imposed. Trading brings flexibility that ensures emissions are cut where it costs least to do so. Key features of phase 3 (2013-2020) The main changes are: Sectors and gases covered
Greenhouse Gas Equivalencies Calculator | Clean Energy <p class="warning">This calculator requires JavaScript, which is currently disabled in your browser. To calculate the equivalencies manually, you can refer to <a href="refs.html"> the calculations and assumptions page</a>.</p> Did you ever wonder what reducing carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions by 1 million metric tons means in everyday terms? This calculator may be useful in communicating your greenhouse gas reduction strategy, reduction targets, or other initiatives aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions. There are two options for entering reduction data into this calculator. Please note that these estimates are approximate and should not be used for emission inventory or formal carbon footprinting exercises. **This calculator uses an eGRID non-baseload national average emissions rate when calculating “kilowatt-hours of electricity” to “carbon dioxide equivalent.”
Young Professionals in Energy - Energy Organizations and Young Professional Network Mission & Vision | Carbon War Room The Carbon War Room accelerates the adoption of business solutions that reduce carbon emissions at gigaton scale and advance the low-carbon economy. Carbon War Room focuses on the market barriers that reinforce the status quo and prevent capital from flowing to sustainable solutions with compelling returns. Often, strong policy is a necessary but insufficient condition, and technology is not the bottleneck: Capital has to flow to solutions in a well-functioning market-place. Our vision is a world where over $1trillion invested in climate change solutions is an annual occurrence, not a historic milestone (Bloomberg New Energy Finance). In this world, market barriers will not exist in any sector where profitable carbon reduction solutions exist; and entrepreneurs who are passionate about preserving our planet’s resources are simultaneously tapping in to the economic opportunity of our generation. There is no Planet B.
Beginning of a Groundswell: Role of Energy Clubs in Energy Innovation Challenges | Inga's Live Blog: ARPA-E Energy Innovation Summit 23 energy clubs (out of around 70 energy clubs total) shared a little bit about themselves with us this morning at the Student Program. “No one at the federal government will turn down a student,” says Shannon Yee, the first ARPA-E fellow and current PhD candidate at Berkeley. Contact fed representatives to come speak at your energy club! They love students! Asher Burns-Burg, an ex-co-president of BERC, says there are 3 problems facing students interested in energy, “No opportunities to work across disciplines, gaps in energy curriculums, and difficulty for students to engage and make an impact in energy.” Out of the world’s top 10 universities, the US has 7. The Thesis: Energy clubs provide a low cost way to increase US energy competitiveness by engaging students, fostering new companies, educating a new workforce and catalyzing energy innovation. What exists for energy students: Moving forward: Matching seed fundConsistent venue to share best practicesCoordination support (between clubs)
GHG and Carbon Accounting, Auditing, Management & Training | Greenhouse Gas Management Institute - Online Training National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners NARUC Commissioner Lead: Commissioner Rebecca Wagner (NV PSC) NARUC Committee: Committee on Energy Resources and the Environment Project Summary: NARUC is in the last year of a three year cooperative agreement with DOE to take on a project to engage a workgroup of commissioners and staff to explore rate designs, incentive structures, RPS, and other issues that relate to the deployment of solar energy in the United States. NARUC, through this project, is integrated into State and federal level solar initiatives through the DOE’s State Utility Technical Outreach group – a group consisting of representatives from the DOE, state associations such as NARUC and NCSL as well as solar energy advocacy groups. Activity since February 2011: Grants & Research staff led a webinar on June 30, “Sunny Days for PV: Streamlining Solar Development for the States”, on topics including interconnection, permitting, and application processes. Resources NARUC/DOE Technical Assistance Partnerships 12/2/2010
CO2 Now | CO2 Home Resource Center | States Advancing Solar An Analysis of the Effects of Residential Photovoltaic Energy Systems on Home Sales Prices in California by Ben Hoen, Ryan Wiser, Peter Cappers, and Mark Thayer, Environmental Energy Technologies Division, LBNL New research by the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory finds strong evidence that homes with solar photovoltaic (PV) systems sell for a premium over homes without solar systems.”We find compelling evidence that solar PV systems in California have boosted home sales prices,” says Ben Hoen, the lead researcher on the study and a Principal Research Associate at Berkeley Lab. This report was also funded with support from CESA. Download the Full Report File Format: PDF File Source: LBNL Download the Research Report Summary File Format: PDF File Source: LBNL The Solarize Guidebook: A Community Guide to Collective Purchasing of Residential PV Systems Prepared for and published by NREL, US DOE/EERE. the success of Solarize Portland. by U.S.
Basic Environmental Law Resources Home » This Research Guide focuses on resources for starting out on legal research about environmental law, and for finding technical or scientific literature that may be relevant to research on environmental law and policy. The guide focuses on print and online subscription resources available at the BerkeleyLaw Library, and also mentions some freely available Internet resources. Getting Startedtop Introductory Texts Roger W. Lakshman D. Philip Weinberg & Kevin A. To find other titles of introdutory material, try searching LawCat advanced search for key words from topic ("land use" or "hazardous waste")limit Location to "Patron Services" Reference Texts Environmental Law Institute, Environmental Law Deskbook (8th ed. 2007) KF3775 .E47 [Patron Services] available online via ELR > Federal Material > Statutes and Statutory Outlines > statutes available in "Full" (on campus or proxy server access required) Environmental Law Handbook (19th ed. 2007) KF3775.A75 E594 [Patron Services] William H.
Corporate Accountability Home » Getting Startedtop The new BSR issue brief is an Overview of Corporate Social Responsibility. Keywords: corporate responsibility, corporate social responsibility, business and social responsibility, business and human rights, corporate citizenship, corporate accountability, sustainability, ethical corporation, environmental responsibility, and international business enterprises - social aspects. UN keywords: transnational corporations, corporate social responsibility, business ethics, standards of conduct. Issues related to corporate responsibility: business ethics, community investment, environment, corporate governance, human rights, marketplace and workplace. Some Definitions Greenwashing From the CorpWatch web site... Oxford English Dictionary Definition: green*wash: (n) Disinformation disseminated by an organisation so as to present an environmentally responsible public image. CorpWatch definition: green*wash: (gr~en-w^osh) -washers, -washing, -washed 1.) Bluewashing Research Guides