Archive for August, 2010

So, you have a business and you are upgrading the computer systems. What do you do with all the old equipment? Trashing it is one solution. But, you want to be green and recycle it. How can you find out how to do that? A new proprietary website might just have the answer you are looking for. Read the rest of this entry »

Americans are generally without a clue when it comes to energy savings, it turns out. This is according to a new study conducted by Columbia University’s Earth Institute and Center for Research on Environmental Decisions. For the research project, 505 individuals in 34 U.S. states were asked their perceptions of a host of energy-savings related-issues surrounding household energy use, recycling and transportation. The result? Most Americans are largely pretty devoid of knowledge – and confused, to boot — when it comes to both their own energy consumption and steps to take for energy savings. Read the rest of this entry »

Recognizing that environmental stewardship is a global responsibility, at the annual meeting of the Commission for Environmental Cooperation, EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson announced EPA’s six international priorities for working with global partners on environmental issues. “It is our vision that by working with global partners we can advance our shared priorities, including adapting to climate change, ensuring national security, facilitating commerce, promoting sustainable development, protecting vulnerable populations and engaging diplomatically around the world,” stated Jackson. Read the rest of this entry »

On the R&D front, Clarian Power Inc. is developing a solar power system that you just literally plug into an AC power outlet to automatically generate power whenever the sun is shining. Targeted for release in 2011, the Sunfish™ solar module is intended to help homeowners and small businesses slow down the power meter – it is expected that the 200W Sunfish™ will produce enough clean, renewable energy to offset the lighting in an average home, and the larger 1 kW version will produce enough electricity to power a home’s electronics or offset the power used by household appliances such as a refrigerator, dishwasher, or microwave oven. Read the rest of this entry »

There are efforts industry wide to find new, innovate and ecologically friendly packaging materials. Procter & Gamble has announced that they will be using a renewable, sustainable, sugarcane-derived plastic on selected packaging on its Pantene Pro-V®, COVERGIRL® and Max Factor® brands.

The sugarcane derived plastic will be produced by Braskem SA who makes the material using ethanol made from sustainably grown Brazilian sugarcane.  The new material is made in an innovative process that transforms sugarcane into high-density polyethylene (HDPE) plastic, a type commonly used for product packaging. It is 100% recyclable in existing municipal recycling facilities.

P&G expects the first products using this packaging material to be rolled out in 2011.

NetApp, Inc., a leading provider of data storage systems and software, was selected to receive the 2010 Infinity Arrow Award for Service and Take-Back. Presented by the California Product Stewardship Council, the award recognized NetApp for their innovative electronic waste recycling program. Read the rest of this entry »

UK publication Telegraph recently reported that efforts are under way to bring a new type of biofuel to market which can be used in ordinary cars without any special adaptations. Using two main by- products from the whiskey production process, this new biofuel is made from biological material and therefore more environmentally friendly than other biofuels. Read the rest of this entry »

New Boundary Technologies® has launched the PwrSmart™ Service, a web-based PC power management solution that promises to deliver energy cost savings by applying power management settings to PCs and enforcing those settings, even if end-users try to disable or change them. It allows users to schedule complete PC shut downs, hibernations, and wake-up events based on work schedules and maintenance. Analytic dashboards display graphs and charts showing energy savings calculations, ongoing optimization of energy usage, and provide comprehensive reporting for energy rebate and sustainability programs. Read the rest of this entry »

It’s generally acknowledged that it’s fairly difficult to get humans to change their bad behavior: witness the billions of dollars spent on weight loss and quitting smoking aids each year. Inducing people to go green in their household is another task for which gentle prodding, moralizing and even outright guilt are unlikely to produce results. But what about time-tested peer pressure? Read the rest of this entry »

An innovative packaging material from Ecovative Designs that is made from mushroom roots and agricultural wastes is looking to become even greener with the creation of a new sterilization technique. Read the rest of this entry »