Browsing environmental news sources so you don't have to. Contact Laura Barnes (lbarnes@istc.illinois.edu) with questions, comments, and suggestions.
Follow ENB on TwitterRead the full story in the Chicago Tribune.
Indiana is among a group of states considered the worst contributors to a nearly 8,000 square mile patch in the Gulf of Mexico that is inhospitable to marine life, according to research by the United States Geological Survey.
Read the full story in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
Wisconsin farmers are used to hard work and hard times, but now some are making a little easy money off their land by cashing in on growing environmental awareness and selling carbon credits to big corporations.
Read the full story in E: The Environmental Magazine.
Glass bottles tossed into recycling bins may one day bulk up beaches. Officials in South Florida are determining if finely ground glass is suitable for replenishing dwindling sections of sand. The glass bottles would be pulverized into a substance that’s soft and safe for bare feet, providing a handy material for replenishing wave-worn areas between the more extensive beach renourishment projects.
Today EPA is announcing a revised Energy Star specification for televisions. Effective Nov. 1, 2008, TVs that carry the Energy Star label will be up to 30 percent more efficient than conventional models and will save energy while they are on and when they are off. The new modifications are expected to prevent greenhouse gas emissions while offering U.S. consumers the very best in terms of feature-rich, high-quality TVs.
Read the full story in NIST Tech Beat.
On Feb. 1, 2008, the governments of the United States, Brazil and the European Union (EU) — the world’s major producers of biofuels — released an analysis of current biofuel specifications with the goal of facilitating expanded trade of these renewable energy sources. Spurred by increased market demands, this report was solicited by the U.S. and Brazilian governments and the European Commission (EC) on behalf of the EU, with the work conducted by an international group of fuel standards experts…
For more information and access to the complete 94-page report, see “International Effort Takes Critical Steps to Accelerate Growth of Global Biofuels Market.”
Read the full story at News.com.
Despite talk of “green IT,” the computer industry is not particularly green. It’s very energy intensive, and many toxic chemicals and heavy metals are used in the production of electronics. Recycling rates are very low.
At the Greener Gadgets conference in New York on Friday, panelists talked about ways consumers can make more environmentally friendly choices.
Read the full story in the Chicago Tribune.
From Paris to Bangladesh, officials have passed laws to control the flow of the ubiquitous plastic bag, the bane of environmentalists worldwide. And Chicago could be next. Two aldermen introduced an ordinance Monday that would require hundreds of Chicago stores to take back – - and then recycle – - the carry-out bags they dispense.
Syracuse Research Corporation (SRC) has produced an online, interactive modeling application for predicting the fate of chemicals within the Great Lakes environment. The project, led by Dr. Mario Citra of SRC, set out to produce an easy-to-use application that would allow users to determine several important factors relating to how chemicals behave once they have been released into the Great Lakes environment.
Researchers at Michigan State University have analyzed case studies of fishery anagement around North America to determine ways to improve inclusion of stakeholders — anyone affected by or who may affect fisheries — in decisions about Great Lakes fisheries. They examined studies s different as Texas largemouth bass management to water use planning in British Columbia, and the Mid-Atlantic coastal flounder fishery issue. They also researched how Minnesota has developed its management plans for that state’s portion of Lake Superior as a potential model for use elsewhere. The researchers found that cases where stakeholders were included early and often during decisions resulted in more sustainable decisions and thus a more stable or predictable environment for all parties involved in fisheries.
Read the full story in the Los Angeles Times.
As Senate Democrats push ahead with legislation to blunt a possible recession, they are trying to get support for tax breaks for wind-farm developers, builders of more efficient appliances and businesses that install fuel cells.
It is unclear whether there is sufficient GOP support to make the incentives part of a stimulus package expected to be considered Wednesday when the Senate could take up the version passed by the House.
Applications due: Mar 17, 2008
This notice announces the availability of funds and solicits proposals that would accomplish the following: (1) Make specific technical assistance available to businesses seeking information about source reduction opportunities, including funding for experts to provide on-site technical advice to businesses seeking assistance and to assist in the development of source reduction plans. (2) Target assistance to businesses for whom lack of information is an impediment to source reduction. (3) Provide training in source reduction techniques.
