New York City Buildings Going Solar
The city of New York has entered into a 20 year purchase agreement to install solar panels on city-owned buildings in five boroughs. This could be the start of something big, because NY is closely followed by other US cities for policies.The city says it plans to install 2 megawatts of solar electricity. Eleven potential sites have been identified for the developer to choose from, including five schools and a community college.

NY joins CA in the solar power commitment and other cities are coming online with solar also, making it more likely that renewable energy will catch on with the mainstream. More …

Do You Want Carbon Credits With That?
A UK McDonald’s restaurant is lowering their carbon footprint by incinerating their trash instead of sending it to a landfill. The incinerator produces electricity which powers nearby businesses and homes, including Sheffield City Hall, the city where the restaurant is located.

With an estimated carbon output lowering of 54%, this will go a long way to reduce McDonald’s emissions, as will other projects they’ve initiated in the US, including one which geothermal energy. More …
States Compete for Green Tech Companies
Worldwide investment in clean-tech research and businesses rose to almost $100 billion in 2007.Most of that investment went to the US. And in the Us, about half of the investment was in California with another ten percent going to Massachusetts, where technology is booming.

Other states would like to join the ranks of clean-tech hosts and are scrambling to find ways to attract clean industries. Tax incentives are just one of the ways they’re trying to do that. More …

Help for CFL Disposal Problem
One of the problems with the increasingly promoted CFL bulbs is that they need to be disposed of properly because they contain mercury. Earth 911 and Green Market Fundraising have stepped up to the plate and come up with a program to help.

They’ve come up with a national database and information on how to safely dispose of the energy-saving bulbs, which are sold through Green Market’s school fund-raising program, which features eco-friendly products. More …

At the End of a Green Life
You’ll want a green funeral complete with an environmentally responsible coffin, of course. Green funerals are big business nowadays, with eco-conscious people determined to go out the way they’ve lived.

After all, if you show your commitment to the environment by wearing bamboo, hemp and other natural fibers, why shouldn’t your casket be made of bamboo (or another renewable fiber) also? While it may seem odd to think of the environment in the midst of dealing with the loss of a loved one, many people are doing just that or planning their own green funeral so that their loved ones won’t have to. More …

This entry was posted on Sunday, April 13th, 2008 at 7:00 am and is filed under Green News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.