·:[ Environmental News Bits ]:·
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For a full-color, graphic version of this newsletter, go to
http://www.greenbiz.com/enewsletter.

GreenBiz Radio: Making the Journey Toward Zero Waste
http://www.greenbiz.com/radio/radio_third.cfm?NewsID=55838
There are some basic concepts to keep in mind when reducing waste, according to Larry Chalfan of the Zero Waste Alliance, who spoke with GreenBiz Radio about the most effective ways to cut down on waste and the many ways a business can benefit from making less, or even zero, waste.

Dell’s HQ Switches to 100 Percent Renewable Energy
http://www.greenbiz.com/news/news_third.cfm?NewsID=55840
Energy from wind and landfill gas sources now completely powers Dell Inc.’s 2.1 million square foot headquarters in Austin, Texas, the computer maker said Wednesday.

IKEA to Phase Out Plastic Bags in U.S.
http://www.greenbiz.com/news/news_third.cfm?NewsID=55842
IKEA plans to stop offering plastic bags to its U.S. customers beginning in October following a successful plastic bag reduction program where 92 percent of customers opted out.

Climate Registry Develops Reporting Protocol
http://www.greenbiz.com/news/news_third.cfm?NewsID=55844
Just a few months shy of its first birthday, the Climate Registry released the methodology that will guide how its members will report greenhouse gas emissions.

GM Moves to Green its Australian Supply Chain
http://www.greenbiz.com/news/news_third.cfm?NewsID=55846
GM’s Australian subsidiary will partner with the World Environment Center to help make the automotive supply chain there more sustainable following a successful test in China.

HP Lists Suppliers, Aims to Increase Social and Environmental Accountability
http://www.greenbiz.com/news/news_third.cfm?NewsID=55848
In a move to heighten transparency, Hewlett-Packard has released a list of its worldwide suppliers, all who must comply with social and environmental guidelines set by HP and the Electronic Industry Code of Conduct.

IBM Expands Data Center Services Globally with Three New Facilities
http://www.greenbiz.com/news/news_third.cfm?NewsID=55830
New Data Centers in Egypt, Switzerland and Austria showcase the company’s energy-efficiency solutions and innovation ways to reuse heat generated by server setups.

Wal-Mart Expands Sustainability Efforts With Coffee, Trucks
http://www.greenbiz.com/news/news_third.cfm?NewsID=55836
The retailer is supplementing its long-range, ambitious goals for zero waste and renewable energy with new products, fleet improvements and solar experiments.

Groups Release All-Encompassing Report on Forest Product Purchasing
http://www.greenbiz.com/news/news_third.cfm?NewsID=55845
The World Resources Institute and World Business Council for Sustainable Development have released a report and companion website giving an overview of forestry concerns and the main ratings, certifications and resources on sustainable forests.

Bloggers, Consumers Quick to Spot Greenwashing: Report
http://www.greenbiz.com/news/news_third.cfm?NewsID=55834
Greenwash doesn’t fly with consumers and bloggers, and can set tongues wagging online, according to a new report.

Bank of America Adopts the Carbon Principles
http://www.greenbiz.com/news/news_third.cfm?NewsID=55833
Bank of America plans to adhere to the guidelines developed by Citi, JPMorgan Chase and Morgan Stanley to assess carbon-related risks in the financing of utility-sector projects, such as coal-fired power plants.

Sodexo Calculates Environmental Savings of Recycled Paper
http://www.greenbiz.com/news/news_third.cfm?NewsID=55825
The food and facilities management services company started using recycled napkins in 1,300 operations one year ago and figures it has saved more than 23,000 trees and 10 million gallons of water because of the switch.

CFOs View Sustainability as a Business Opportunity: Survey
http://www.greenbiz.com/news/news_third.cfm?NewsID=55823
More than half of chief financial officers and finance executives in a recent survey believe their companies will boost revenue, investor returns and employee retention through sustainability.

Meeting Green: The Office Equipment Industry’s Guide to Managing Product Emissions
http://www.greenbiz.com/toolbox/reports_third.cfm?LINKADVID=97590
This report serves as a manufacturer’s user guide for understanding the types of indoor contaminants emitted from electronic office equipment and the health impacts associated with chemical and  particulate emissions

Not All that Glitters is Gold: Digging for Ethically Sourced Jewelry
By Marc Choyt
http://greenbiz.com/news/reviews_third.cfm?NewsID=55850
Blood diamonds and dirty gold are notions gaining traction in the popular consciousness, and thanks to efforts by major retailers, jewelry producers and NGOs, fair and ethically traded jewels are coming to a store near you.

Will a Recession Be a Giant Green-Killer?
By Kevin Klustner
http://greenbiz.com/news/columns_third.cfm?NewsID=55855
Perhaps the scariest aspect of the recession lurking on the edges of the economy is whether it will cause corporate cost-cutters to move in and trim away all the good green initiatives that have recently taken root in companies.

Read the full story in the New York Times.

California’s Solar Shade Act was an obscure curiosity until Carolynn Bissett and Richard Treanor were convicted.

John Masiunas and Dan Anderson announce a mini-grant program (up to $500 per applicant) for farmers who want to try organic or sustainable methods to manage problem perennial weeds in Illinois and nearby regions of neighboring states.

The program’s goal is to develop integrated management approaches and increase your knowledge of and skill in managing perennial weeds. Perennial weeds persist several years and spread by seed and structures such as roots, tubers, and rhizomes. They are some of the most difficult challenges for many farmers. Examples of perennial weeds are Canada thistle, quackgrass, Johnsongrass, and yellow nutsedge. Approaches might include cover crops, suppressive crop rotations, scouting and early removal, tillage, biological control, mowing, and livestock grazing.

The online application form is available at https://webs.extension.uiuc.edu/registration/default.cfm?RegistrationID=1652

If you prefer a paper application contact Dan Anderson at (217) 333-1588 or mail:

John Masiunas
260 ERML
1201 W. Gregory Dr.
Urbana, IL 61801

Everyone applying for mini-grants will be sent a packet of information on perennial weed identification, biology, and integrated management approaches for their control. We will choose a limited number of farmers to participate based on your current farming system, farm location, the problem weeds, and innovativeness of your approach.

Read the full story at News.com.

Want some turbines to build a wind power park? Get in line.

High demand–coupled with the engineering challenges of building turbines that can extract hundreds of kilowatts or megawatts of power from the wind–has created a shortage. Wind park developers, thus, are being forced to jostle their plans and supply line relationships to keep projects on track.

Deadline: May 1, 2008

Headquartered in Salt Lake City, Utah, the McCarthey Dressman Education Foundation was created in recognition of the struggle educators often face in bringing truly exceptional teaching to their students. The foundation awards grants to those projects and/or initiatives with significant potential to augment the educational experiences for youth of all backgrounds.

The foundation is now accepting applications for its Academic Enrichment Grants and Teacher Development Grants.

Academic Enrichment Grants are designed to develop in-class and extracurricular programs that improve student learning. These grants seek to maximize innovation and results in classrooms and education departments by funding programs that nurture the intellectual, artistic, and creative abilities of children from low-income households. Successful applicants may receive grants of up to $10,000 each per year for a maximum of three years.

Teacher Development Grants seek to increase the effectiveness of individual educators and small teams of teachers by funding the formation and implementation of groundbreaking K-12 classroom instruction. Grantees may be awarded amounts of up to
$10,000 each per year for a maximum of three years. The program provides opportunities for teachers to integrate fresh strategies that encourage critical inquiry and to observe the effect of those strategies on students. Teachers have the opportunity to reflect and write about their projects and to share their observations with other teachers.

Eligibility requirements, program overviews, and applications are available at the foundation’s web site.

Deadline: May 23, 2008

LEGO Systems, Inc. invites children between the ages of 6 and 13 who consider themselves curious, imaginative, and creative to apply for the second annual LEGO Creativity Awards. Designed to encourage lifelong curiosity and creativity, the LEGO Creativity Awards are an opportunity for young people to gain recognition for the imagination that will make them the “builders of tomorrow.”

Children from across the U.S. and Canada (excluding Quebec) are invited to submit essays showcasing their creativity at home, at school, and in their communities.

The essay contest is intended to encourage children to think of creativity as more than practicing art or music; it is alsoabout taking a new approach to everyday challenges. Winners of the First Annual LEGO Creativity Awards in 2007 demonstrated creativity in action such as community engagement, product invention, movie-making, and furniture construction. Some teachers took the program into their classrooms to engage students in an exercise not only in essay writing, but also in the idea of how their individual creativity could make a difference.

The five winners will each receive $5,000 to further their creative projects.

Official rules regarding entry and prizing can be found at the LEGO Creation Nation web site.

Read the full story in The University Daily Kansan.

Students of Liberty, a student coalition competing in this year’s Student Senate election, has revealed its platform regarding building enough wind turbines to power one-third of the University.

Via Buildings & Grounds.

The U.S. Senate Committee on Environment & Public Works heard testimony Thursday from three university executives on how higher education is addressing climate change. Robert Birgeneau, chancellor of the University of California at Berkeley, Jacqueline Johnson, chancellor of the University of Minnesota at Morris, and Richard C. Levin, president of Yale University, told senators about their efforts to cut greenhouse-gas emissions.

Their written testimony, along with a recording of the hearing, is available on the committee’s Web site.

Read the full post in Buildings & Grounds.

The University of California at San Diego has announced a set of renewable-energy projects that will provide 10 to 15 percent of the university’s power.

Solar arrays on the tops of campus buildings and parking structures will provide up to 2 megawatts of electricity. Purchasing power from Southern California wind farms will provide 3 megawatts. And burning methane from the Point Loma sewage treatment plant will produce 2.4 megawatts in fuel cells. That methane is currently flared at the plant.

Read the full story in Water & Wastewater News.

Responding to recent reports of trace levels of pharmaceuticals found in U.S. drinking water supplies, Waters Corporation of Milford, Mass., announced on March 19 that it will offer qualified U.S. water authorities complimentary drinking water analysis for common over-the-counter and prescription antidepressant pharmaceutical compounds.

Read the full story in Water & Wastewater.

The Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) signed a formal agreement with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the American Pharmacists Association (APhA) to help protect the nation’s fish and aquatic resources from the improper disposal of medication. The campaign — dubbed “SMARxT DISPOSAL” — will inform people on how to safely dispose of medicines in the trash and highlight the environmental threat posed from flushing medicines down the toilet.

Read the full story in Water & Wastewater News.

Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels signed an executive order ending the purchase of bottled water for city buildings and events, citing Seattle’s high-quality municipal water supply and the significant environmental costs of throw-away plastic bottles.