Environmental News

In the most recent P2 Pathways column, Natalie Hummel, US EPA, discusses how converting waste from one company into a feedstock stream for another can generate revenue while reducing virgin material and energy use. Source: GreenBiz, 5/14/13

The Vermont Agency of Natural Resources (VTANR) has been awarded Silver recognition from the State Electronics Challenge (SEC) --a Vermont-based national environmental stewardship program--for its achievements in decreasing the environmental footprint of its computer equipment. In its time in the SEC program VTANR saved enough energy to power almost 140 households per year, avoided greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to removing 210 cars from the road, avoided almost 1,500 pounds of hazardous waste from being created, as well as avoiding the generation of almost 38,000 pounds of trash. VTANR achieved these results by purchasing only computer equipment qualified by the Electronic Procurement Environmental Assessment Tool (EPEAT) standard, extending the life of its computer equipment, and by reusing computer equipment. Source: Vermont Business Magazine, 5/7/13

Scotts Miracle-Gro today said it has achieved its goal of removing phosphorus from its Turf Builder brand lawn food maintenance products. Source: Environmental Leader, 5/13/13

The European Union bans nearly 1,400 chemicals from personal care products because they are carcinogenic, mutagenic, or toxic to reproduction. But in the United States, the Food and Drug Administration entrusts safety regulation of cosmetics to a private entity that is housed and funded by the industry's trade association. To date, this entity has found only eleven chemicals to be "unsafe for use in cosmetics." Source: Washington Monthly, 5/6/13

The federal agencies and departments of the Great Lakes Interagency Task Force today announced opportunities for the public to provide input to a planned update of the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative Action Plan. Source: U.S. EPA, 5/13/13

Illinois law requires that, if possible, renewable energy should come from Illinois or surrounding states. However, unless a municipality or business explicitly has stated it wants local renewable power, the power it receives is probably from outside Illinois, where energy credits are cheaper. Source: Chicago Tribune, 5/13/13

Customers' defection to other suppliers, language in Illinois law are hindering investment in green electricity Source: Chicago Tribune, 5/13/13

Sustainability is steadily becoming strategically integrated into all departments at hospitals and health care systems. Source: GreenBiz, 5/10/13

For years, carbon dioxide and other greenhouse pollutants have been closely monitored around the planet by stations on the ground and in space. Last week, worldwide levels of carbon dioxide reached 400 parts per million at a Hawaii station that sets the global benchmark -- a concentration not seen in millions of years. Now, some scientists are eyeing large cities -- with LA and Paris as guinea pigs -- and aiming to observe emissions in the atmosphere as a first step toward independently verifying whether local -- and often lofty -- climate goals are being met. Source: Associated Press, 5/13/13

Capital Bikeshare -- the Washington,D.C.-area bike sharing program -- has long been the darling of the bicycle community as the largest program of its type in America. But in a few weeks, it'll lose that title twice over, when Chicago and New York are both scheduled to launch bike shares of their own that are even bigger. Source: Governing, 5/10/13

Along the shores of New York Harbor, scientists are investigating whether this ubiquitous bivalve can be grown in urban areas as a way of cleansing coastal waters of sewage, fertilizers, and other pollutants. Source: Yale360, 5/9/13

ISTC is now accepting applications for a Director to lead the Center in the execution of its mission and in maintaining and enhancing its tradition of excellence. Source: ISTC, 5/8/13

The world needs water. Milwaukee not only has lots of it, but it also has transformed itself into a hub for water research and technology. Source: Governing, May 2013

Getting a sustainability project approved takes more than just having a positive financial ROI. Initiatives also need to improve a company's brand and keep risks at bay. Source: GreenBiz, 5/6/13

Nike, NASA, U.S. Agency for International Development and the U.S. State Department have launched a challenge to create new, sustainable materials. Source: GreenBiz, 5/7/13

The city's Department of Aviation is expected to announce Wednesday that it has awarded a contract to Central Commissary Holdings LLC -- operator of Lincoln Park restaurant Butcher & The Burger -- to bring about 25 goats onto airport property, helping the airport launch its pilot vegetation-management program. Source: Chicago Tribune, 5/8/13

On April 30, 2013, U.S. Department of Energy's Deputy Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency, Kathleen Hogan, announced the launch of the Better Buildings Residential Network at the ACI National Home Performance Conference and Leadership Summit in Denver, Colorado. The Better Buildings Residential Network connects energy efficiency programs and partners to share best practices and learn from each other to dramatically increase the number of American homes that are energy efficient. Source: Environmental News Bits, 5/7/13

Have you considered how employee engagement can drive your sustainability strategy and how you can also leverage sustainability initiatives to engage your employees and create a values-driven culture of collaboration and creativity? Source: Environmental Leader, 5/7/13

The global market for water and wastewater treatment and equipment within the pulp and paper industry will grow from $983.9 million in 2012 to $1.569 billion in 2020, according to analysis from Frost & Sullivan. The market is expected to experience a 6 percent compound annual growth rate as rising water prices and tightening environmental standards force the pulp and paper industry to install high-end equipment to treat wastewater and reduce consumption, Frost & Sullivan says. Source: Environmental Leader, 5/7/13

The White House Council on Environmental Quality, in partnership with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), has announced the winners of the 2013 Presidential Innovation Award for Environmental Educators. Eleven teachers from around the country are being recognized for their exceptional work as leaders in the field of environmental education in formal school settings. Award recipients and their local education agencies will receive commemorative certificates and monetary awards to help support and encourage their use of environmental education in their classrooms and schools. Source: U.S. EPA, 5/7/13

As President Obama's health care reform prepares to rollout this year, all eyes are on whether it will actually lower health care costs. One area that deserves attention is the health system's costly environmental footprint. Source: SustainableBusiness.com, 5/2/13

An effective corporate climate change strategy requires a detailed understanding of a company's greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Until recently, most companies have focused on measuring emissions from their own operations and electricity consumption, using the GHG Protocol's Scope 1 and Scope 2 framework. But what about all of the emissions a company is responsible for outside of its own walls -- from the goods it purchases to the disposal of the products it sells? Source: GreenBiz, 5/3/13

It takes many actions by many people and organizations to make whole systems change -- and every action, no matter how small, is essential. Source: GreenBiz, 5/6/13

Solar trash compactors, rechargeable batteries and paperless medical records systems are among the projects that will receive funding at Southern Illinois University Carbondale in the coming months. Source: The Southern, 5/2/13