Green Energy News Items - 4/20/2008
Wind and Sun Can Save Water
There’s yet another reason to consider Wind and Solar Power, according to Dr. Bill Chameides, Dean of Nicholas School of the Environment and author of “The Green Grok”. We’re running out of the water needed to create other forms of power from fossil fuels.
Recent droughts in the American Southwest and ongoing droughts in other parts of the world remind us that our lives depend on water. Unfortunately, power plants, which are usually located on rivers or other water bodies, take this precious commodity away from other uses such as drinking and irrigation of food crops. More …
Hearst Building Aims for Zero Waste
Manhattan’s Hearst Tower already has an LEED for it’s core architechture and interior and it already recycles 70% of its trash and 50 tons of paper a month.
However, the building’s owners have loftier goals than that. They’re determined to compost 95% of the building’s food waste and recycle all of its trash. They’ve set up a recycling program for paper, metal, e-waste, plastic and glass, so it would seem that they’re well on their way. More …
Gas Guzzler Sales Are Fading Fast
American car companies have been getting high profit margins from SUVs and pickups for years. These gas guzzlers cost more to buy and to fill up with fuel, but still they flew off the lots. Until recently, that is.
With gas edging toward $4/gallon and the price of food, utilities and everything else going up as well, people are turning to smaller, more fuel-efficient cars and it’s starting to affect sales of the big cars. More …
Consumers Willing to Put Their Money Where Their Mouths Are
In a survey sponsored by DuPont and Mohawk Carpets, almost 7 out of 10 US consumers said they’d pay more for carpets made with renewable materials. This confirms that people are becoming more informed about how their buying decisions affect the environment.
Mohawk’s Smartstrand Carpet Line which contains renewable fiber made from corn, is flying off the shelves and has become their market leader. More …
What’s On TV? Recycling!
Sony’s new Bravia Eco TV has backing panels made from recycled TVs. In an effort to put into effect its “Product, Process, Planet” campaign, Sony has been airing old commercials for its products and urging consumers to recycle their old TVs.
They’ve also committed to disclosing environmental performance information for some of their products and are re-using styrofoam waste from their production facilities. More …