GENERAL | Green power, energy and corporate transformation
ENN Some already established companies are proving to be particularly adept change artists, capitalising on the green and clean tech trends to craft and carry out corporate strategies that transform their organizations from the top-down and from the bottom-up. Many are found in Europe, where new EU laws and regulation are establishing new ground rules for the energy and power industries.
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| | Big business says addressing climate change 'rates very low on agenda'
The Independent A poll of 500 major firms reveals that only one in 10 regard global warming as a priority. Global warming ranks far down the concerns of the world's biggest companies, despite world leaders' hopes that they will pioneer solutions to the impending climate crisis, a startling survey will reveal this week.
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CONSTRUCTION | Romania: not ready to live green
IPS A simple architectural solution could ease housing and environmental problems in Romania and beyond. Clay houses could be an answer to houses in Romania which are regularly flooded and rebuilt say local architects.
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ENERGY | Energy department gives up plan to build clean coal power plant
ClimateBiz Facing ever-increasing costs to build what would have been the world's largest clean-coal power plant and carbon sequestration facility led the U.S. Department of Energy to scrap its plans for the Mattoon, Illinois site.
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| | Qatar eyes solar power to meet surging demand: report
Reuters via ENN Qatar is considering building one of the world's largest solar power complexes to help meet demand, which could increase four-fold over the next 30 years, the Middle East Economic Digest (MEED) reported.
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| | Record financing for biofuels, not food
IPS Biofuels have quickly turned from environmental saviour to just another mega-scale get-rich quick scheme. Countries and regions without their own oil reserves to tap now see their farms, peatlands and forests as potential "oil fields" -- shallow but renewable lakes of green oil. However, renewable does not mean sustainable, and in most cases the only green part of biofuel is the wealth they generate.
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| | Hawaii poised to become big green power player
GreenBiz Costco Wholesale boasts the distinction of having the two largest solar energy installations in Hawaii, a state that could become a major player in tomorrow's renewable energy market.
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| | UAE invests US$15 billion in future energy solutions
ENN The United Arab Emirates (UAE) are putting US$15 billion into an alternative energy and clean technology initiative to establish itself as the regional and global centre of future energy solutions.
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| | Go green, not dim
Business wire Incredibly, lighting accounts for between 40% and 80% of a typical commercial building’s electric bill. New initiatives taken by major California utilities companies, along with recently proposed congressional legislation, have been lighting the way toward more environmentally sound energy conservation. The California program subsidises the replacement of conventional incandescent bulbs with energy-efficient compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) that use approximately one-quarter as much electricity as incandescents and last several times longer.
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| | New solar panel technology stylish and sustainable
ENN The new cell technology combines nanoparticles and organic dyes that can be produced in any number of colors and designs. The key component of the new modules is an organic dye which in combination with nanoparticles converts sunlight into electricity
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FINANCE/INSURANCE | New report finds growing interest in green investing
Greenbiz Investing in the environment is rich soil to till, reports a survey released by Allianz Global Investors. Almost half of those surveyed said that in the next year they are likely to invest in a company or fund that is proactive on environmental issues.
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| | Canadian provinces eye carbon trading plan
Reuters via ENN Many of Canada provinces are pursuing a carbon trading plan to fight climate change, saying it was inevitable the country would adopt a such system, even if the current federal government is cool to the idea. British Columbia, Ontario, Quebec and Manitoba have been discussing adopting carbon trading, or emissions credit trading, in conjunction with the Western Climate Initiative (WCI) in the United States, an idea championed by California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.
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| | Banks set emissions standard for US power sector
Reuters via ENN Three Wall Street banks said on Monday they will set environmental standards that factor in risks posed by carbon emissions when lending to power companies that seek to build coal-fired power plants. Citigroup Inc, JP Morgan Chase & Co and Morgan Stanley will form "The Carbon Principles," guidelines for advisors and lenders to power companies in the United States.
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FOOD/AGRICULTURE | African, Asian crops 'to be hit hard by climate change'
ENN Crops in South Asia and Southern Africa are likely to be worst hit by climate change and need greater investment in agriculture development and adaptation strategies, say US scientists.
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TRANSPORTATION | Mexico to issue permits for biofuel production
Reuters Mexico has said it will issue permits to companies for the first time to produce biofuels in a bid to cut emissions from cars and boost incomes for impoverished farmers. The energy ministry said in a statement that companies will be allowed to produce ethanol and biodiesel, which can be used as additives in gasoline and diesel.
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| | Hydrogen-burning hypersonic airplane
ENN The proposed future of air travel is quite a marvel. One proposed aircraft that seems wildly impossible is actually on the slate for possible funding for testing. The concept hypersonic jet has been developed by Reaction Engine and it is aptly called the A2. It is capable of holding 300 passengers and produces ZERO emissions!
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| | Shoppers pass on diesel, hybrid acceptance continues to grow
Environmental Leader The vast majority of in-market new-vehicle shoppers do not see diesel as a likely mainstream fuel source in the future, according to the latest Kelley Blue Book Marketing Research study.The January 2008 results reveal that only six per cent of shoppers think diesel is most likely to succeed in becoming a mainstream vehicle powertrain type, compared with 40 per cent saying hybrids, 20 per cent saying hydrogen fuel cell and 17 per cent citing flexible-fuel systems.
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| | London launches low emission zone
Reuters London has become a 'low emission zone' as transport officials launch a campaign to cut traffic pollution and improve the capital's air quality, the worst in Britain and among the poorest in Europe. The 49 million pound scheme will use a network of cameras to monitor the emissions of large diesel lorries, later expanding coverage to smaller commercial vehicles, and impose heavy fines on those exceeding EU exhaust limits.
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| | In-car solar panels move a step closer
businessGreen Commercial cars fuelled partly by solar power could be a reality sooner than we think, thanks to two significant developments in the solar power market.
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I firmly believe that the engagement of the business sector in fighting climate change is crucial.
