·:[ Environmental News Bits ]:·
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For a full-color, graphic version of this newsletter, go to
http://www.greenbiz.com/enewsletters/2008/greenbiz/index.html.

The Method Method: Green, Nimble and Disruptive
By Matthew Wheeland
http://greenbiz.com/podcast/2008/06/10/the-method-method-green-nimble-and-disruptive
Joshua Handy, the senior creative director at Method, talks about how a small,
fast-moving and forward-thinking company with an eye on sustainability can shake
up an industry as traditional and status-quo-oriented industry as the cleaning
business.

Dial Debuts ‘Green Assurance Program’ for Cleaning Products
http://greenbiz.com/news/2008/06/12/dial-debuts-green-assurance-program-cleaning-products
The Dial Corp. unveiled a program to promote green cleaning products geared
toward healthcare facility managers. The products will meet or exceed various
green cleaning criteria, such as formulas that are biodegradable, hypoallergenic
or non-irritating.

Sun Employees Save Money, Energy With Telecommuting
http://greenbiz.com/news/2008/06/12/sun-employees-telecommuting
A study of participants in Sun’s Open Work program found employees that work
from home save money on their vehicles and use less energy.

GreenChill Members Save $13M
http://greenbiz.com/news/2008/06/11/greenchill-members-save-13m
Membership in the GreenChill Advanced Refrigeration Partnership, a voluntary
U.S. Environmental Protection program, has tripled since its kick-off in
November. All told, the program?s 28 supermarket partners have saved nearly $13
million in operating costs and, along the way, avoided emissions equal to 2.5
million metric tons of carbon dioxide.

Virtual Energy Forum Debuts in Online World
http://greenbiz.com/news/2008/06/09/virtual-energy-forum
The event, focusing on energy and sustainability issues, will be held entirely
online with virtual booths and interactive live presentations.

Europe Urged to Shrink Paper Use
By Kate Martin, Edie News
http://greenbiz.com/news/2008/06/13/europe-urged-shrink-paper-use
The paper industry’s total carbon footprint is estimated to be three times
higher than the aviation industry and Europeans use four times as much paper as
the global average.

AGM to Conduct Sustainability Audit
http://greenbiz.com/news/2008/06/13/agm-conduct-sustainability-audit
The designer and manufacturer of machine parts, electronics and environmental
sensitive equipment for the aviation and earthmoving industries will measure
energy efficiency, water conservation, material use and recovery, site
sustainability and environmental quality.

Duke Plans $100M Investment in Solar Energy
http://greenbiz.com/news/2008/06/10/duke-plans-100m-investment-solar-energy
Duke asked the North Carolina Utilities Commission to approve a program that
will install solar energy panels on up to 850 schools, factories, stores and
homes throughout the state.

Airlines Analyze Operations to Save Fuel
http://greenbiz.com/news/2008/06/11/airlines-analyze-operations-save-fuel
Behind the scenes, airlines are studying their business operations to find ways
of becoming more efficient to help take the sting out of fuel costs that have
risen nearly 85 percent compared to last year. Fuel now accounts for about 40
percent of a typical airline ticket, compared to 15 percent eight years ago.

Anheuser-Busch Cleans Up Its Fleet
http://greenbiz.com/news/2008/06/09/anheuser-busch-cleans-up-its-fleet
Brewer receives funding for emission-capturing equipment and starts converting
diesel trucks to run on compressed natural gas.

Panasonic Creates ‘Eco Ideas Factory’ to Improve Products, Emissions
http://greenbiz.com/news/2008/06/11/panasonic-creates-eco-ideas-factory-improve-products-emissions
Panasonic announced mid- and long-term environmental management plans Tuesday,
beginning with the designation of its Kusatsu manufacturing facility as a “Eco
Ideas Factory.” The Kusatsu Factory of Matsushita Home Appliances Co. will serve
as a testing ground for three of the company?s environmental concepts revolving
around manufacturing, products and community.

A Field Guide: Eco-Friendly, Efficient and Effective Print
http://greenbiz.com/resources/resource/a-field-guide
Monadnock Paper explains how to make environmentally preferable choices in all
stages of printing, from paper choice to layout design.

Reaching Stretch Goals for Energy Efficiency
By WBCSD
http://greenbiz.com/feature/2008/06/16/reaching-stretch-goals-energy-efficiency
The business case for energy efficiency at Dow is simple: Saving energy makes
the company money. Dow benefits from wider uptake of energy efficiency standards
through less upward price pressure on the hydrocarbons it uses as feedstocks,
and greater demand for its efficiency-related products.

Sustainable Packaging — At What Cost?
By Dennis Salazar
http://greenbiz.com/column/2008/06/16/sustainable-packaging-at-what-cost
Many people subscribe to the stereotype that being environmentally responsible
carries a hefty price tag. A recent leap of faith into offering a new green
packaging product, however, revealed that sustainable packaging doesn’t always
have to cost more.

Joel Makower’s Two Steps Forward
Going Down Under, Down Under
http://www.greenbiz.com/column/2008/06/02/going-down-under-down-under

Marc Gunther on Corporate America
Small Steps
http://greenbiz.com/column/2008/06/08/small-steps

David Wigder’s Green Marketing Strategies
Managing Environmental Risk by Looking through the Rear-view Mirror
http://greenbiz.com/column/2008/06/01/managing-environmental-risk-looking-through-rear-view-mirror

Read the full story in Technology Review.

Heavy rains, flooding, and cool weather in the Midwest will likely lead to much lower corn yields this year, especially in comparison with the bumper crops seen last year. This week, the United States Department of Agriculture lowered its predictions for this year’s corn crop by 390 million bushels, from 12.1 billion to 11.7 billion. If its predictions are right, corn supplies for next year will be the lowest since crop shortfalls in the mid-1990s, likely driving already record-high prices for corn even higher.

In recent months, demand for corn used to make increasing amounts of ethanol has driven up corn prices, and to some extent food prices. But now bad weather in the Midwest, which has delayed corn crops, could further drive up corn prices and lead to significantly more expensive food, particularly meats. The weather problems could also cause some ethanol plants to shut down.

The Alcan Prize for Sustainability is a US$1 million Prize that recognizes organizations demonstrating a comprehensive approach to addressing, achieving and further advancing economic, environmental and/or social sustainability.

The 2008 prize is now open for entries. To Register and download the Entry Form and Guidelines, follow this link to the online system which opens in a new window.

The closing date for entries is 12 September 2008 at midnight GMT.

Do Something is calling on you to green your school. Reduce the carbon footprint of your school this fall and you could win up to $1500 to further your efforts.

For inspiration, check out how the 2007 winner, Boston Latin School’s Youth CAN (Climate Action Network) increased their green:

• Launched a school-wide campaign urging students and teachers to turn off lights, computers and appliances when not in use.
• Reformed school policy that kept computers on 24/7, saving over 33,600 hours of energy.
• Initiated a paper recycling competition between grades that resulted in nearly 1780 pounds of recycled paper.
• Set up a student run recycling program in their cafeteria, which resulted in the collection of over 2000 cans, plastic bottles, glass bottles and Styrofoam lunch trays.
• Created 7 original Public Service Announcements and 45 presentations on the need to reduce, reuse and recycle. Watch their videos at: www.blsyouthcan.org.
• Polled 380 students on carbon output.
• Collected 270 student-signed pledges to “Think Outside the Bottle”, promising to drink tap water in reusable bottles instead of buying new plastic water bottles every day.
• Organized fundraiser for solar panels

Prizes:
Schools are eligible for a first-place prize of a $1500 grant, banner, plaque and eco-friendly gift bags (up to thirty). We will also be giving out three $500 second place prizes. All winners will be featured on our site and in local press.

What you need to do:
Participants must make concrete efforts towards reducing the environmental impact of their school during the eight week competition. All initiatives must be youth designed and led. A representative from each group must submit an online report of the school or club’s actions to save energy, reduce waste and raise awareness during the competition.

What you will be judged on:
Winners will be chosen based on the impact of your school’s actions during the eight week competition. The main judging categories are: 1) energy saved, 2) garbage reduced, recycled and reused, 3) number of people involved/impacted, 4) innovative quality of actions and ideas.

Who can Participate?:
The competition is open to middle and high schools.

Timeline:

May 10th- October 13th:
Register your club or school and by September you will receive an “Increase your Green” action guide filled with tip sheets and goodies (i.e. stickers, posters, flyers) to help kick off the competition at your school.

Read the full story at News.com.

If eco-friendly features replace the endless stream of thinnest, smallest, and lightest “in the world” claims on the technology market, we’ll be very happy campers. And for that reason alone it’s worth mentioning the latest boast from LG about its new computer monitor.

The Korean company says its “Flatron W2252TE” is “the world’s most energy-efficient monitor,” according to our cousins across the pond at SmartPlanet. The 22-inch widescreen LCD, which is headed for the U.K. market, supposedly uses 40 fewer watts to operate than do comparable monitors–an energy saving of 45 percent.