·:[ Environmental News Bits ]:·
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The latest issue of Renewable Energy Weekly is now available. Highlights include:

• Interstate Transmission Superhighways: Paving the Way to a Low-carbon Future
• FAU and UK Partner To Study Ocean Energy
• Inside Renewable Energy podcast: Big Developments for U.S. Wind; Enhancing Grid Communication
• Great Leadership in the Face of a Cynical Power Structure
• Great wind on the Great Lakes

Via Docuticker.

Biofuels and Sustainable Development (PDF; 163 KB)
Source: Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs, Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University
From press release:

Biofuels have the potential to promote economic development, climate protection and other environmental goals, energy security, and returns to private investors. If not implemented with care, however, biofuel production can put upward pressure on food prices, increase greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, exacerbate degradation of land, forests, water sources, and ecosystems, and jeopardize the livelihood security of individuals immediately dependent on the natural resource base. Guiding biofuel development to realize its multiple potential benefits while guarding against its multiple risks requires the application of a similarly diverse set of tailored policy interventions, together with integrated efforts to assure that those interventions work synergistically rather than at cross-purposes.

Despite pressure from biofuel critics, governments should avoid simplistic and precipitous changes in course such as rollback or moratoria on existing biofuels mandates or incentives. Instead, the report urges governments to initiate an orderly, innovation-enhancing transition towards incentives targeted on multi-dimensional goals for biofuels development. These goals should include poverty alleviation, reducing net greenhouse gas emissions, increasing use of non-food feedstocks, attaining sustainable biofuel production targets and conserving biodiversity.

The report stems from a two-day workshop in May 2008 hosted by Harvard Kennedy School, in cooperation with the Ministry for the Environment, Land and Sea Protection of Italy and Venice International University. The workshop convened 25 of the world’s top experts on biofuels, economic development and ecology. The purpose of the two-day session was to explore the actions needed to foster the sustainable development of biofuels investments while simultaneously mitigating the impacts on food prices and the environment.

Read the full story in Technology Review.

Researchers have made a major advance in inorganic chemistry that could lead to a cheap way to store energy from the sun. In so doing, they have solved one of the key problems in making solar energy a dominant source of electricity.

Read the full story in InfoWorld.

We know that some computer hardware — PCs and servers, for example — are greener than others. They are built to be more energy efficient and easier to recycle, plus they use fewer hazardous materials. Certifications such as Energy Star and EPEAT make it easy to find at least some of those machines.

But can some software be greener, too? Most definitely. I had an interesting conversation on this very topic recently with author Tim Sanders, who makes a thought-provoking argument in his forthcoming book “Saving the World at Work: What Companies and Individuals Can Do to Go Beyond Making a Profit to Making a Difference.” He asserts that developers building Web 3.0 will embrace social responsibility and sustainability in the Web applications they produce.

Will you be the one who inspires our next President to take action on climate change? Brighter Planet and 1Sky are introducing the Climate Matters Video Contest to give Americans everywhere the opportunity to inspire our next president to take bold climate action.

“It’s time we had a President who stood up to the climate challenge. Unfortunately, too many of our leaders continue to offer up half-measures when bold steps are required,” said Gillian Caldwell, Campaign Director for 1Sky. “This contest is about inspiring our next President and Congress to take urgent action to tackle the climate challenge and create a healthy, clean energy economy.”

The Climate Matters Video Contest provides all Americans with the chance to have their global climate change message seen by our next president and other political leaders. This October, the top 10 videos will be featured during a Washington, D.C.-based event for the media, Congress and both presidential campaigns. These top videos will also be broadcast to millions via Link TV, FSTV, and online at venues including: www.think.mtv.com, www.joost.com, www.huffingtonpost.com and www.quarterlife.com.

“We know Americans are inspired to take climate action; they’re already taking steps everyday,” said actress and Climate Matters juror Maggie Gyllenhaal. “I’m excited to see what people create.”

The 10 most viewed videos will be judged by a panel that includes: actress Maggie Gyllenhaal; Rory Kennedy, Emmy award-winning documentary producer; Tia Lessin, the supervising producer of Fahrenheit 9/11 and Bowling for Columbine; Leila and Nadia Conners, the producers/directors of 11th Hour; author Anya Kamenetz; David Jenkins, Government Affairs Director of Republicans for Environmental Protection; Bill Stetson, Producer and Environmental Consultant; Gillian Caldwell, Campaign Director of 1Sky; and Patti Prairie, CEO of Brighter Planet. The winner of the Climate Matters Video Contest will receive a $3,000 Brighter Planet^TM Visa Gift Card; the second and third place winners will receive $1,000 and $500 Brighter Planet Visa Gift Cards respectively.

“We named this contest ‘Climate Matters’ because it matters to each of us and to our children,” says Patti Prairie, CEO of Brighter Planet. “This contest offers Americans everywhere the opportunity to inspire political action on this pressing issue. Participate by making a video or voting with your views at our channel http://vimeo.com/climatematters.”

To enter the Climate Matters Video Contest, contestants can upload a 30- or 60- second video encouraging bold climate change action to the Climate Matters channel on vimeo.com/climatematters. Videos must relate to the topic of climate change and be uploaded between now and September 22, 2008. The winners will be announced on September 29, 2008.

Contestants are encouraged to promote their videos to improve their chances of counting among the final top 10. Viewers can log in to Vimeo to pick their favorite video, as well as enter a drawing on the channel to win a Cannon VIXIA HDV Camcorder.

The Illinois Water Resources Center (IWRC) and members of the planning committee invite you to join us for the 10th anniversary Illinois Water Conference, October 8-9 at the Hilton Garden Inn in Champaign. Started in 1998, this biennial conference brings together agency personnel, scientists, educators, and community members for a two day discussion of the latest scientific advancements on topics of importance to water resources across the state.

For our 10th anniversary, former IWRC director and designer of this conference, Dr. Richard Sparks, will be giving a keynote address on Illinois waters past, present and future. Now the Research Director for the National Great Rivers Research and Education Center, Dr. Sparks has been actively involved in the Illinois water community for over 30 years. Much of his work deals with aquatic biology and invasive species, but he has also become an ambassador for water resources around the world. Recent trips to Brazil and China have allowed Dr. Sparks to share success stories and encourage conservation of water resources internationally.

Plenary sessions topics will include:

• Understanding the Water Resources Development Act
• Water supply
• Nutrients
• Water and energy/biofuels
• Climate change

Papers will be presented on:

• Environmental measurement
• Groundwater research
• Hydrology/hydraulics
• Watershed planning
• Technology updates
• Water Quality
• Watershed-scale science

Students are encouraged to attend this conference. Conference sponsors have graciously offered scholarships to cover the conference registration fee for student from Illinois colleges and universities. On October 8th, a panel discussion for students interested in pursuing careers in water resources help define opportunities and obstacles. Students will also present posters and papers during the conference sessions.

For more information and a full agenda, visit http://www.iisgcp.org/ilwater/.

The interactions of nanotechnology with the environment will be highlighted during a Purdue University conference to be held Aug. 5-6 in Indianapolis. Called Nanotechnology and the Environment, the sessions will feature the latest research on the subject and future business possibilities in nanotechnology. Nanotechnology is the design and production of materials that are less than 100 nanometers in size.

“Applications in this science are relatively new, so we are just now finding out some of the implications,” said conference coordinator Natalie Carroll, a Purdue professor of youth development and agricultural education. “Materials made on this very small scale have been found to have very different physical properties from the same substances made in more traditional ways.

“The goal of this conference is to bring to light what is known about this technology and help inform those who must make decisions about future opportunities and acceptance of nanotechnology.”

Anyone interested in the topic is welcome to attend, particularly those in industry, government and research. The conference will be held at the Crowne Plaza Hotel and Conference Center. Rooms may be reserved by calling (317) 631-2221.

The conference fee is $200. The rate for government employees is $100. Registration is available at www.conf.purdue.edu/nano or by contacting John Wellman at jmw@purdue.edu, (765) 494-0243 or (800) 359-2968.

Host for the event is Purdue’s Assessment of Nanomaterials in the Environment project, one of the first research programs to investigate the interactions between nanoparticles and the environment. Sponsored by the National Science Foundation, this conference also has support from the Nanotechnology Center and Center for the Environment in Purdue’s Discovery Park.

Presented by Dr. Wei Zheng, Illinois Sustainable Technology Center (ISTC)

The occurrence of pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) in the aquatic environment has attracted considerable attention due to evidence that these potential environmental contaminants may cause many adverse effects on human and ecological health. Steroid hormones, as one of the most important classes of PPCPs in the environment, derive from municipal sewage treatment plants and concentrated animal feeding operations. This presentation will include an investigation of steroid hormones in a typical dairy waste disposal system and their biotransformation processes. Additionally, a research plan relating to PPCPs in an IL dairy farm will also be presented.

WHEN: Noon to 1 p.m., Tuesday, August 5, 2008
WHERE: Stephen J. Warner Conference Room at ISTC (formerly WMRC)

Please park in the front circle drive or by the parking meters in the lot next to the building. You might otherwise receive a parking ticket from UI parking officials.

A full-color, graphic version of this newsletter is available online at:
http://www.greenerbuildings.com/enewsletter.

Life After Acquisition for ECD
By Leslie Guevarra
http://www.greenerbuildings.com/podcast/2008/07/30/life-after-acquisition-ecd
Jiri Skopek, the CEO for ECD Energy and Environment Canada, talks to GreenBiz Radio about the deal that brought his firm under the umbrella of real estate giant Jones Lang LaSalle.

What Facility Managers Need to Know About LEED Lighting Control Requirements
By Scott Jordan
http://greenerbuildings.com/feature/2008/07/31/what-facility-managers-need-know-about-leed-lighting-control-requirements
Lighting control can be a key component of LEED projects, particularly when retrofitting existing buildings, due to the ease of installation of solutions like occupancy sensors and lighting control panelboards that facilitate a schedule-based lighting control system.

California Adopts Green Building Code for All New Construction
By Leslie Guevarra
http://www.greenerbuildings.com/news/2008/07/18/california-adopts-green-building-code-all-new-construction
The green building code sets eco-friendly standards for all new construction statewide as part of a rules package that policymakers said was the first of its kind in the nation.

Green Training 101 for the Construction Industry
http://www.greenerbuildings.com/news/2008/07/18/green-training-101-construction-industry
The National Center for Construction Education and Research (NCCER) will offer an introductory course on green building and construction standards in its professional development series.

Building-Integrated Photovoltaics Market to Top $4 Billion by 2013: Report
http://www.greenerbuildings.com/news/2008/07/24/building-integrated-photovoltaics
The market for building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPV) will exceed $4 billion in revenues by 2013 and surpass $8 billion in 2015, according to a new report from a leading industry analyst firm.

USGBC Lists Certification Lineup for LEED 2009
http://www.greenerbuildings.com/news/2008/07/30/usgbc-certification-lineup-leed-2009
The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) has assembled a lineup of heavy hitters for the roster of independent certification bodies that The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) has assembled a lineup of heavy hitters for the roster of independent certification bodies that will handle LEED commercial building certifications starting in January.

New California Law Allows Cities to Offer Loans for Energy Efficiency Upgrades
http://www.greenerbuildings.com/news/2008/07/25/new-california-law-allows-cities-offer-loans-energy-efficiency-upgrades
California homeowners and businesses may soon be able to look to their cities and counties for help in financing energy efficiency upgrades to their property, under a bill signed into law last week by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.

DOE Rolls Out EnergySmart Hospitals Program
http://www.greenerbuildings.com/news/2008/07/29/doe-energysmart-hospitals
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) wants the nation’s hospitals to improve energy efficiency by 20 percent at existing facilities and make new hospitals 30 percent more efficient than expected.

Record-High Green Score for Key Part of Canadian Waterfront Project
http://www.greenerbuildings.com/news/2008/07/23/record-high-green-score-key-part-canadian-waterfront-project
A key component of a sweeping mixed-use project to transform 15 acres along the Victoria harborfront has set a record by attaining the highest score to date for a LEED Platinum Certified building, its designers said.

Agilewaves Marries Monitoring and Control in New Smart System
http://www.greenerbuildings.com/news/2008/07/28/agilewaves-marries-monitoring-and-control-new-smart-system
By Leslie Guevarra
Agilewaves Inc. has married its Resource Monitor with a Crestron control system to produce the first native integration of the two technologies, the Menlo Park firm said.

Wells Fargo Earns LEED Silver Pre-Certification for New Banks
http://www.greenerbuildings.com/news/2008/07/24/wells-fargo-earns-leed-silver-pre-certification-new-banks
By Leslie Guevarra
Wells Fargo & Company has been awarded LEED Silver pre-certification for construction of new banking stores that will slash energy use by 20 percent and water consumption by 40 percent, the financial services firm said.

Princeton Review College Guides Open New Chapter With Green Rating
http://www.greenerbuildings.com/news/2008/07/29/princeton-review-college-guides-open-new-chapter-with-green-rating
The Princeton Review, creator of the hugely popular annual series of college guides, unveils the results of its new green rating system for institutions of higher learning.

The Greenwash Guide
http://www.greenerbuildings.com/resources/resource/the-greenwash-guide
A graphic-rich primer on greenwash: what it is, why it’s a problem and how to avoid it.

California Green Building Standards Code
http://www.greenerbuildings.com/resources/resource/california-green-building-standards-code
The California Building Standards Commission adopted the nation’s first statewide green building code for new construction.

2008 Healthcare Energy Efficiency Indicator
http://www.greenerbuildings.com/resources/resource/2008-healthcare-energy-efficiency-indicator
Healthcare executives place greater importance on energy efficiency compared with their counterparts in other industries, according to findings of a new study.

Read the full story in the San Francisco Chronicle.

Garbage collectors would inspect San Francisco residents’ trash to make sure pizza crusts aren’t mixed in with chip bags or wine bottles under a proposal by Mayor Gavin Newsom.

And if residents or businesses don’t separate the coffee grounds from the newspapers, they would face fines of up to $1,000 and eventually could have their garbage service stopped.

The plan to require proper sorting of refuse would be the nation’s first mandatory recycling and composting law. It would direct garbage collectors to inspect the trash to make sure it is put into the right blue, black or green bin, according to a draft of the legislation prepared by the city’s Department of the Environment.

Practice Greenhealth, a newly formed nonprofit organization supporting the design, construction, operations, and services of sustainable health care facilities, is engaged in a search for a Senior Director, Green Building.

Practice Greenhealth was formed as the result of an alliance between Hospitals for a Healthy Environment and the Green Guide for Health Care, an independent project of Health Care Without Harm and the Center for Maximum Potential Building Systems. Practice Greenhealth is dedicated to creating a national community that supports environmental sustainability in health care. Practice Greenhealth engages all sectors within the health care industry to grow and transform the market for environmentally preferable products and practices and, in the process, educates the health care community about how to reduce their collective environmental footprints from the design, construction, operations and services of health care facilities, to the manufacture of health products through to their disposal.

The Senior Director, Green Building will be responsible for the design, development, management, and delivery of all green building related programs for Practice Greenhealth. Primary audiences for Practice Greenhealth green building programs are the architecture, engineering and construction community, closely followed by the health care facilities and administration marketplace. Practice Greenhealth is a new organization and is in a start-up mode. We need someone to take the ball and run with it! The Senior Director, Green Building needs to be creative, entrepreneurial, work at a fast pace and deliver results in a tight timeframe. This position is a high growth opportunity for a motivated green building professional with an interest in health care and market transformation.

The ideal candidate will have a strong background in green building, particularly sustainable and green building in healthcare settings. This position requires experience working with green building tools and rating systems in the context of architectural/ engineering/ construction practice; good communication and presentation skills; demonstrated public speaking and writing (trade publication level); a demonstrated ability to deliver knowledge and resources and drive member usage of Practice Greenhealth resources. Experience working with geographically dispersed co-workers in a collaborative web and internet-based environment is key.

The Senior Director, Green Building will report directly to the Executive Director and work closely with the Senior Director, Membership Development and the Senior Director, Green Guide for Health Care. A Masters degree in Architecture, Engineering, Environmental Design or related discipline, or at least 7 years of comparable senior level experience and LEED-AP (or willingness to acquire it within 6 months) is required.

Practice Greenhealth’s headquarters is in the Arlington, VA offices of Health Care Without Harm. Ability to travel is required. A competitive salary and benefits package is available. To apply, please e-mail your resume and a cover letter describing your interest in the position to Bob Jarboe via e-mail, bjarboe@practicegreenhealth.org. Interviews will begin immediately.

Via Librarians’ Internet Index.

Compilation of documents and links to news and resources about green building codes. Includes a green clearinghouse map (in development) with notes about state and local green building codes, white papers and policy statements, a green building survey, and related items of interest. From the International Code Council, a membership organization that develops codes used by state and local governments.
URL: http://www.iccsafe.org/news/green/

Read the press release.

AT&T Inc. (NYSE: T) today announced its affiliate AT&T Services Inc. has joined The Green Grid, the global consortium dedicated to advancing energy efficiency in data centers and business computing ecosystems. AT&T also announced it will supply data center performance information to assist the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in developing a new ENERGY STAR rating for data center infrastructure.

Read the story and view the photos from News.com.

A car repair shop may be one of the last places one might look for a “green” business. But lessening the environmental impact of car maintenance is the focus of Luscious Garage in San Francisco. From the solar panels on its roof down to the motor oil it collects for recycling, the woman-owned company counts more than 100 hybrid-driving clients since opening last September.

Check out the sights and sounds of Luscious Garage in this audio slideshow.

Read the full report.

The primary objective of this study was to investigate the conversion of chicken fat and tall oil, both individually and in a blend, into biodiesel. The conventional base-catalyzed method of biodiesel production has shown to be inappropriate for the conversion of high free fatty acid-containing feedstocks such as tall oil, due to the undesired saponification reaction that takes place. Likewise, the acid-catalyzed method of biodiesel production has been shown to be inappropriate for the conversion of triglyceride-containing feedstocks, such as chicken fat, due to the long reaction times and large excess of methanol required. Therefore, an alternate reaction pathway was investigated for these two very different feedstocks. Supercritical methanol treatment, which requires no separate catalyst, was the method chosen.

Following the development of proper protocol, both chicken fat and tall oil fatty acids were reacted in supercritical methanol to produce biodiesel under a matrix of temperatures and methanol to feedstock ratios. Results indicate that the chicken fat and tall oil fatty acids can be converted successfully in a single step with yields in excess of 89% (out of 91% max) and 94% respectively. The optimum temperature and excess methanol was determined, and the results suggest the use of a two step process involving the initial hydrolysis of triglyceride-containing feeds followed by the supercritical esterification of the resulting/existing free fatty acids. The results of one such test proved to be satisfactory, and are reported herein. Furthermore, crude tall oil was also tested in the system to investigate its viability as a biodiesel feedstock with limited success.

Cold flow properties, such as viscosity and cloud point, are reported for the resultant fuels. The viscosities of all of the fuels exceeded the ASTM D6751 acceptable specifications for biodiesel; therefore blending with other biodiesel fuels such as methyl soyate would be required for widespread use of the fuels produced under the conditions reported herein as commercial biodiesel.

Read the full story in Biodiesel Magazine.

Nitrogen, phosphorous and other nutrients that are present in carpet industry wastewater may provide a perfect environment for growing algae, according to researchers in the University of Georgia Biorefining and Carbon Cycling Program. They are examining whether that wastewater, which is plentiful in nearby Dalton, Ga., can be leveraged to grow oil-producing algae, which would ultimately be used as a feedstock for biodiesel production, according to Senthil Chinnasamy, postdoctoral research associate in the biological and agricultural engineering department at the university.

Read the full story in Biodiesel Magazine.

Golden, Colo.-based Blue Sun Biodiesel has earned a $41,059 Advancing Colorado’s Renewable Energy Program grant from the state to commercialize camelina for use as a biodiesel feedstock. Blue Sun Biodiesel will contribute an additional $12,910 to the project.

Read the full story in Biodiesel Magazine.

On July 28, Massachusetts became the second state this month to pass biofuel-friendly legislation. Gov. Deval Patrick signed the Clean Energy Biofuels Act into law at Mascoma Corp. headquarters in Boston, ushering in what Massachusetts officials hope will be an era of new growth for the state’s clean energy technology sector.