News Archives - Page 27 of 31

State Tells University: No More Solar For You!

by Pete Danko Earthtechling Amazingly, in 2013 in some parts of the United States, the challenge isn’t about getting governments to do more to help renewable energy flourish – it’s about getting them to stop putting roadblocks in the way. Check this out: According to a story in The State newspaper in Columbia, S.C., Furman University has been installing solar energy on its Greenville campus, hoping to trim the pollution it causes and maybe save some money. “But Furman’s solar energy push has hit a wall,” the newspaper reports. “The university has reached a state limit that prevents it from installing more solar to heat and light campus buildings.” South Carolina, in its wisdom, limits nonresidential solar to 100 kilowatts. This is a net metering regulation that goes beyond protecting utilities’ ability to maintain a secure power supply; it’s about protecting a tired old business model. The good news here is that this story about Furman’s predicament seems to have wo…

Where Do Biofuels Fit Into Obama’s Climate Plan?

by Marianne Lavelle National Geographic Society When President Obama unveiled his long-awaited climate change strategy this week, he never mentioned biofuels. (See “Obama Unveils Climate Strategy.”) But with nearly a third of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions due to burning petroleum for transportation, a key and controversial question is what role plant-based alternatives can play in cutting the nation’s carbon emissions. As part of National Geographic’s Great Energy Challenge initiative, we brought together two dozen experts from industry, academia, and environmental organizations to discuss whether biofuel can be a sustainable part of a cleaner energy future. (See in-depth coverage at Biofuels at a Crossroads, and vote and comment here: The Big Energy Question: Are Biofuels Worth the Investment?“) The forum Wednesday at National Geographic’s Washington, D.C. headquarters was timely, not just because the group convened the day after the President’s long-awaited climate …

2013 Volkswagen Passat TDI achieves a Guinness record-breaking 78 MPG

Wayne Gerdes is an expert driver. Not because of his speed or race-track credentials, but for his Feather Foot. Or, to use the auto vernacular, he's an expert hypermiler: one who can achieve super mpg's from just about any car. This week Gerdes achieved an amazing 78 mpg, setting a new Guinness World Record for achieving the lowest fuel consumption in the lower 48 states in a non-hybrid car. After 8,122 miles and 16 days, Gerdes and co-driver Bob Winger's impressive economy numbers were witnessed by Guinness World Record representatives, sealing and official record. The team set off earlier this month, with the aim of beating a previous 68 mpg record for diesel vehicles. Gerdes himself also holds the equivalent hybrid record, set last year with 64.5 mpg in a Kia Optima Hybrid. "We felt we had a good chance of beating the existing record with a series production Passat TDI," Gerdes said after taking the record. "...But to smash it by averaging over 78 mpg is reall…

President Announces Climate Change Action Plan

President Obama may have campaigned in Ohio, Pennsylvania and Virginia as the Coal miner's brother...and even ran "Mitt Romney is anti-coal" ads, but today he removed his coat, rolled up his sleeves and gave the carbon fuel industry a 1-2 punch to the gut. In Georgetown before a crowd of exuberant but sweaty students, he announced his new National Climate Action Plan, "...And I'm here to enlist your generation's help in keeping the United States of America a leader -- a global leader -- in the fight against climate change." The 21-page plan would expand production of solar and wind energy and includes billions of dollars in loan guarantees to develop cleaner fossil-fuel and other energy technologies. It also funds new efforts to help communities fight against flooding, wildfires, and drought, and puts more emphasis on working with countries such as India and China to jointly lower emissions of gases that warm the atmosphere. Obama touted the achievements of "nearly a d…

Research: Calculating the Hidden Risks of Environmental Damage

A new analysis reveals that some business activities do not generate sufficient profit to cover their natural resource use and pollution costs, creating large, hidden risks that affect some industries operating in certain regions of the world. The analysis can help businesses and investors can take account of natural capital costs to help manage risk and gain competitive advantage. read more

Barriers and Benefits: Changing Behavior Through Social Marketing

Promoting behavior change is something that Lifebuoy knows well. Launched in 1894 by William Level in the UK as the Royal Disinfectant Soap to stop cholera in Victorian England, it went on to be known as the “red soap” throughout the twentieth century. Back in the early days, Lifebuoy launched programs in schools showing children the importance of handwashing at key occasions. read more