Using coal for electricity produces CO2, and climate policy aims to prevent greenhouse gases from hurting our habitat. But it also produces SOx and NOx and particulate matter that have immediate health dangers. A University of Wisconsin study was able to put an economic value on just the immediate health benefits of enacting climate policy. Implications of incorporating air-quality co-benefits into climate change policymaking found coal is really costing us about $40 per each ton of CO2. In climate policy discourse, the cost/benefit analysis of the health benefits has not till now been a consideration, but there are air quality co-benefits of climate policy. Read more of this story »
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Each Ton of CO2 Worth $40 in Health Costs
Pick up some tips for a more environmentally friendly clothes washing practices that reduce chemical, water and energy consumption with little or no extra effort – and save you money!
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Earth friendly clothes washing
Last week, Elizabeth reminded you how much fun you can have reacquainting yourself with eye shadow. Eye shadow is the first area of makeup application that captured my interest (well, that and the teal mascara I wore when I was 11 – it was, like, totally rad), because I truly felt like an artist, working with various colors to create wildly different looks with the same face. Call it experimenting with optical illusion. When I first got my grubby little hands on a handful of Couleur Caramel eye shadows , I knew I had found a new playground, one the likes of which I hadn’t seen since my MAC-lovin’ days. The more shades I added to my collection, the giddier I got. Rich pigments, a variety of finishes (matte, pearly, and downright glittery), and a ridiculously extensive selection of colors (eighty, to be exact) give you free reign to create any look you can imagine. These long-lasting, 100% natural shadows run the gamut from natural taupes, greys, and beiges, to bright pinks, blues, and purples. Some tips for making the most out of your shadow play: Read more of this story »
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More Fun with Eye Shadow: Couleur Caramel Gives You 80 Shades to Play With!
Suniva, Inc. , a solar manufacturer based in Georgia , is aiming to bring a commercial, grid-connected, stored solar energy system to the state for the first time. The company has just announced a partnership with Georgia-based GS Battery USA Inc. , that will combine Suniva’s solar modules with high tech batteries on a 30 kilowatt solar plant at GS Battery’s headquarters in Roswell, Georgia. To make it a trifecta, a third Georgia-based company, First Century Energy of Atlanta, is the designer of the solar array. It’s an interesting sustainable energy threesome given that GS Battery is a subsidiary of GS Yuasa Group of Japan , which is a global battery technology leader that has just contracted with NASA to assemble lithium ion battery cells in Roswell — and there’s a couple of other U.S. government connections, too. Read more of this story »
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Stored Solar Energy Just Peachy with Georgia’s Suniva, Inc.
That’s right, the US government is “ the single largest energy consumer in the U.S. economy .” In 2008 alone, it spent $24.5 billion on electricity and fuel. This 28% reduction target Obama is ordering is equivalent to $8-11 billion in avoided energy costs. Additionally, it is far beyond the 17% reduction Obama has pledged to the international community for the US as whole , making the US government a leader by example on this issue. Read more of this story »
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Obama Orders the Largest Energy Consumer in the Nation (US Government) to Cut GHG Emissions by 28% by 2020
Hollywood, as a whole, is one of the most powerful entities (can I call it that?) in the world. Some of its biggest stars are getting involved in the politics of climate and clean energy now. A great new video on the web featuring Leonardo DiCaprio, Felicity Huffman, Forest Whitaker, Ed Norton, Justin Long, and others nails the key points of climate and energy legislation with the most popular language . One of the stars even decides to drop his pants because of the heat (climate change). Read more of this story »
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Hollywood Getting into the Action [Video]
Aspergillus fumigatus – a common but sometimes lethal soil fungus Aspergillus fumigatus is a fungus found commonly in ordinary garden soil. When the spores of the fungus are inhaled, It can also cause disease–sometimes fatally in those with already compromised immune systems and respiratory disease such as COPD. Doctors who treat the illness have long-recognized that in some patients, the fungus is resistant to standard treatment with chemicals called azoles . The problem becomes potentially worse as azoles are also heavily used as farm fungicides. A team of Dutch researchers (Verweij and Kema), reporting in last December’s edition of the medical journal The Lancet Infectious Diseases suggest that over-use of the farm fungicide may be contributing to the growing resistance of this fungus to the disease-fighting chemicals. Read more of this story »
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Common but Lethal Soil Fungus Becoming Resistant to Antibiotics
Probably the biggest news piece this week was Obama’s State of the Union address. David Roberts of grist seemed to hate it . Whereas often like-minded and equally critical Joe Romm of Climate Progress actually seemed to love it . Dan Harding of CalFinder had mixed reactions , first “feeling passion stir deep within [him] and tingles of inspiration buzz beneath [his] skin,” then thinking that “[Obama's] speeches have grown more and more centrist.” Immediately after reading those first two reviews (David and Joe’s), the idea for this article came to my mind. Who’s more powerful than the President of the United States of America? Read more of this story »
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Who’s More Powerful than Obama?
Well, it’s finally happening. Ferrari is officially making a hybrid…or at least officially showcasing one. At the Geneva Motor Show in March, Ferrari will display a hybrid variant of their 599 GTB Fiorano. Details on the car are still a mystery but it will likely utilize the all-wheel drive hybrid system that Ferrari patented in June of last year. Read more of this story »
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Ferrari to Unveil Hybrid Sports Car at Geneva Motor Show
This is a guest post by John Simonetta, owner of Proforma Simonetta Freelance, an eco-friendly promotional items consultancy (see proformagreen.com ). John’s blogs are designed to keep us up to date on the “greening” of his industry. Like other promotional items suppliers, for 2010 All-In-One is both reducing costs on their eco-friendly line while also increasing the number of eco related items in their inventory. For me this is another sign of the marketplace getting what it wants when it comes to eco-friendly promotional items, namely more choice and lower prices. A stand out here is the Eco Max Recycled Pen ™. Eco Max Recycled Pen™ is a click style pen with a 100% recycled plastic barrel and an EQP price of just $0.36 with one color imprint. This is nearly a $0.10 reduction on the 2009 price of the Eco Max, but other than price, nothing else has changed, it is still the same sturdy unit. With over 5 billion pens sold a year in the USA, this is a great, basic place to start to green the office. As a variation on this theme All-in-One line also offers the Eco Grip Recycled Pen ™ at EQP $0.46, which has a contour-molded plastic grip section. Again, a good sturdy pen. The Eco Max Recycled Pen™ and Eco Grip Recycled Pen™ are both samples of the new generation of plastic pens made from recycled content. In that respect they are taking materials out of landfills. However these pens are not themselves recyclable, nor are they biodegradable. If you are an ASI member Steve Smidt is the contact to talk to at All-in-One. If you are interested in these items to promote your own business, contact your local promotional items vendor or email info@proformagreen.com for information and pricing.
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All-In-One Lowers Cost On Eco Max Recycled Pen™
