·:[ Environmental News Bits ]:·
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Read the full story in Metal Finishing.

The National Association for Surface Finishing (NASF) has launched a new program to help members navigate the regulatory maze otherwise referred to as “REACH,” the regulation on Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation, and Restriction of Chemicals. The goal is to provide finishers, suppliers, and manufacturers alike with critical guidance on the European Union’s new chemicals law.

Read the full story in Environmental Leader.

At the World Water Week in Stockholm, Borealis and Uponor announced that the two companies will enter into a joint initiative to pilot the concept of water footprint in the manufacturing of a plastic application.

Read the full story in the New York Times.

Increasingly, the answer to high gas prices and costly air travel is “staycation,” taking time off but staying home.

Read the full story in the New York Times.

A proposed law encourages housing close to job sites, rail lines and bus stops in order to shorten the time people spend in their cars.

Read the full story in HealthDay.

More than 30 percent of U.S. public schools are within a quarter mile of major highways, which puts them in the “air pollution danger zone,” says a University of Cincinnati study.

Previous research has shown that proximity to major highways and pollutants spewed by vehicles can increase school children’s susceptibility to respiratory diseases later in life.

Read the full column by David Pogue in the New York Times.

It’s become clear to me that the math of greenness has become one of those endless Internet morasses, like red state-blue state, Mac-Windows, or just about anything involving digital photography.

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

California Academy of Sciences Poised to Open New Green Quarters
http://www.greenerbuildings.com/news/2008/08/22/california-academy-sciences-new-green-quarters
By Leslie Guevarra
The $488 million project to reconstruct and reinvent the facility has produced a showcase of green architecture and exhibits that strive to reflect a “sustainability message” in every facet, the academy’s leadership team says.

The Challenge of Existing Buildings: Retrofitting Structures for Increased
Energy Efficiency
http://www.greenerbuildings.com/column/2008/08/28/retrofitting-structures-energy-efficiency
By Cory Vanderpool
Retrofitting buildings with automation systems that leverage the capability to transmit data over the power line is where strong potential exists for realizing energy savings.

Green Roofs Should Be Designed for Specific Goals: Report
http://www.greenerbuildings.com/news/2008/08/18/green-roofs-should-be-designed-specific-goals-report
Green roofs vary so much in design and performance that they should be constructed to achieve specific goals, says a study by The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center at The University of Texas at Austin.

Travelodge Cuts Ribbon on London Hotel Made from Shipping Containers
http://www.greenerbuildings.com/news/2008/08/25/travelodge-shipping-containers
The 120-room Travelodge in Uxbridge, London, was crafted from 86 steel containers in the first hotel construction project of its kind in Europe.

Cemtrex Rolls Out CO2-Based DCV System
http://www.greenerbuildings.com/news/2008/08/27/cemtrex-rolls-out-co2-based-dcv-system
Cemtrex Inc. has produced a carbon dioxide-based demand controlled ventilation system that is designed to provide energy efficiency in commercial buildings by monitoring changes in occupancy levels and controlling HVAC systems accordingly.

Certifications for Green Building Professionals are in High Demand, Trade Group Says
http://www.greenerbuildings.com/news/2008/08/15/certified-green-building-professionals
The demand for green building professionals is sharply rising as eco-friendly, energy efficient homes become more of a market norm than a market novelty.

Pioneering Online Green Design Program Grows
http://www.greenerbuildings.com/news/2008/08/26/pioneering-online-green-design-program-grows
Boston Architectural College has added new classes and expanded course offerings in its Online Sustainable Design Certificate Program in response to increasing demands for green building education.

Eco-Friendly Luxury Hotel with Historic Past Greens Energy Management
http://www.greenerbuildings.com/news/2008/08/20/eco-friendly-luxury-hotel-greens-energy-management
The Hotel Metro is deploying a Telkonet SmartEnergy management system at its 63-suite property and is the most recent of several similar projects at five-star hotels in the area, illustrating the growing demand in the hospitality industry for energy efficiency solutions.

Beijing’s Olympic Village Wins Leed Gold Status
http://www.greenerbuildings.com/news/2008/08/19/beijing%E2%80%99s-olympic-village-wins-leed-gold-status
The Olympic Village, temporary home to more than 16,000 athletes at the international games in Beijing, has been awarded LEED Gold status.

Your Role in the Green Environment
http://www.greenerbuildings.com/resources/resource/your-role-green-environment
This book is at the core of training in the basics of green building and construction standards that is being offered by the National Center for Construction Education and Research.

Pilot Summary Report: Building Capabilities to Implement CSR Management Systems at ICT Suppliers in China
http://www.greenercomputing.com/resources/resource/pilot-summary-report-building-capabilities-implement-csr-management-systems-ict-s
This report from Business for Social Responsibility is based on recently completed pilot projects that sought to break through barriers to improving factory conditions.

Via Librarians’ Internet Index.

This website allows users to model roof solar arrays and determine monthly solar energy potential and perform a financial analysis of the system. The “Shedding Light” features nearby sample solar arrays entered in the system. A blog contains updates about features of the site, which was launched in August 2008.

Via Librarians’ Internet Index.

This website features a ZIP code look-up for electronics recycling facilities and listings of electronics (such as computers, home theater, and televisions) that are energy efficient, made of recycled materials, or have other green properties. Includes reuse and recycling tips related to electronics. From the Consumer Electronics Association, a trade organization promoting consumer technology.

Read the full story in the New York Times.

The New York attorney general announced an agreement that would require Xcel Energy, a builder of coal-fired plants, to disclose to investors the financial risks of global warming.

Via Docuticker.

Hot or Not?: Recognizing and Managing the Health Impacts of Climate Change
Source: American Sociological Association

Climate change is already detrimentally affecting the lives and health of many people (Houghton et al. 2001) and is resulting in 160,000 annual deaths globally, caused by vector borne diseases, food insecurity, and heatwaves, (Campbell-Lendrum 2003). This paper presents an analytical framework for the newly recognized and socially-contested category of “climate-induced illnesses.” In it, I aim to first, expand the range of disaster research and theory by examining health crises as a ‘new species of trouble’ and by applying the insights of disaster research to population health (Erikson 1992). Second, I attempt to make contributions to medical sociology by exploring how the social construction and framing of illness functions for illnesses identified as climate-induced. I examine three illnesses recently recognized as exacerbated by climate change: West Nile Virus in the Northeast United States, increasing toxicological exposures in coastal Alaska Native communities, and heat-induced illnesses in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (Tenenbaum 2005; Balbus and Wilson 2000; Ebi 2007). I argue that there are institutional obstacles to illness crisis management reflected in competing illness paradigms. Responses on the part of affected communities, medical practitioners, and governmental representatives interact to form socially shared public etiological and epidemiological understandings that shape subsequent prevention methods. This research presents an opportunity to apply multiple sociological theories to the pressing subject of climate change, with special focus on its impacts.

+ Full Paper (PDF; 238 KB)

Via Docuticker.

Nanotechnology and Environmental, Health, and Safety: Issues for Consideration (PDF; 241 KB)
Source: Congressional Research Service (via Federation of American Scientists)

Nanotechnology — a term encompassing nanoscale science, engineering, and technology — is focused on understanding, controlling, and exploiting the unique properties of matter that can emerge at scales of one to 100 nanometers. A key issue before Congress regarding nanotechnology is how best to protect human health, safety, and the environment as nanoscale materials and products are researched, developed, manufactured, used, and discarded. While the rapidly emerging field of nanotechnology is believed by many to offer significant economic and societal benefits, some research results have raised concerns about the potential adverse environmental, health, and safety (EHS) implications of nanoscale materials.

Some have described nanotechnology as a two-edged sword. On the one hand, some are concerned that nanoscale particles may enter and accumulate in vital organs, such as the lungs and brains, potentially causing harm or death to humans and animals, and that the diffusion of nanoscale particles in the environment might harm ecosystems. On the other hand, some believe that nanotechnology has the potential to deliver important EHS benefits such as reducing energy consumption, pollution, and greenhouse gas emissions; remediating environmental damage; curing, managing, or preventing diseases; and offering new safety-enhancing materials that are stronger, self-repairing, and able to adapt to provide protection.

Stakeholders generally agree that concerns about potential detrimental effects of nanoscale materials and devices — both real and perceived — must be addressed to protect and improve human health, safety, and the environment; enable accurate and efficient risk assessment, risk management, and cost-benefit trade-offs; foster innovation and public confidence; and ensure that society can enjoy the widespread economic and societal benefits that nanotechnology may offer. Congressionally-mandated reviews of the National Nanotechnology Initiative (NNI) by the National Research Council and the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology have concluded that additional research is required to make a rigorous risk assessment of nanoscale materials.

Via Docuticker.

Households and the Environment
Source: Statistics Canada

There is a growing recognition that the actions of households have a major impact on the environment. The Households and the Environment Survey (HES) is conducted to measure those actions. The HES has been relaunched after a 12-year absence and collects data on some of the same environmental variables that were investigated in the 1991 and 1994 surveys. However, many of the topics covered in this survey are new. The following are the major themes covered by the 2006 HES:

The topics in the 2006 HES covered:

• Water quality concerns
• Consumption and conservation of water
• Energy use in terms of lighting and home heating and cooling
• Ownership and use of gasoline powered equipment
• Pesticide and fertilizer use on lawns and gardens
• Recycling, composting and waste disposal practices
• Impacts of air and water quality on households
• Transportation decisions

+ Full Report (PDF; 590 KB)

Read the full story in Biodiesel Magazine.

With the expected increase of biodiesel production next year in order to meet the renewable fuels standard mandate, more glycerin is also expected to enter the market. Recently, an assistant professor of biological engineering systems at Virginia Tech’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences found a niche that could prove to be an interesting use for the biodiesel byproduct.

Zhiyou Wen began working on converting glycerin to omega-3 fatty acids in 2004 when he was a post-doctorate at Washington State University in Pullman. In 2005, Wen brought the knowledge learned in Washington with him when he began his tenure at Virginia Tech, where he continues to work on advancing his research.

Omega-3 fatty acids have been determined to be essential to the human diet. However, they are not produced naturally in the human body and must be obtained through food. Certain types of fish are known to host omega-3s, but Wen’s believes he can grow the fatty acids and insert them into any fish, as well as other food products.

Wen and his team have developed a fermentation process in which crude glycerin received from biodiesel production plants is used as a carbon source for microalgae to produce omega-3 fatty acids. After the fatty acids are produced, the algae can be used as animal feed. The animals are then consumed by humans, which finalizes the transfer of omega-3s from microalgae to animal to human.

Read the full story in the Herald News.

With fall just around the corner, many homeowners are eyeing their turf and looking for ways to make improvements.

This is one of the biggest planting and lawn maintenance times of the year. But a new way to do things is creeping into the landscape, says Scott McAdam, owner of McAdam Landscape in Forest Park, who recently opened a second location at 18039 Gougar Road, New Lenox.

Read the full story in the Philadelphia Inquirer.

A “green” conscience is sweeping the nation’s colleges and universities and manifesting itself in virtually every aspect of campus life, from academics to operations, from the trash can to the president’s office.

As thousands in the region return to classes starting today, they’ll find “green” roofs being installed on their dorms, receive reusable water bottles, and see corn growing on their quad.

They’ll be able to enroll in new environmental majors and minors, participate in bike-share programs, and take showers that waste less water. They’ll meet campus “sustainability coordinators,” learn of new committees looking to make operations more environmentally efficient, and hear of studies to measure a campus’ so-called carbon footprint.

Some will have to carry their lunches without a tray – a move to reduce waste. They will get lessons on climate change and live in buildings increasingly powered by the sun and the wind.

Higher education has found a higher calling: Sustainability is a top priority for many university presidents across the country, according to a survey released last week by the National Wildlife Federation and other groups.

Read the full story in the Seattle Daily Journal of Commerce.

Native Americans are showing increased interest nationwide in building schools that instill in their children a deeper understanding of their tribal culture and connection to the environment.

Recognizing the importance of preserving traditions that might otherwise be lost on younger generations, Indian groups from New York state to Washington state are making bold strides to restore cultural pride and understanding through innovative school designs and programs.

Read the full story in Philanthropy News Digest.

Google.org, the philanthropic arm of the Internet search giant, has announced $10.7 million in grants to three organizations working to advance Enhanced Geothermal Systems (EGS) energy technology.

While the traditional geothermal approach relies on finding naturally occurring pockets of steam and hot water, EGS expands the potential of geothermal energy by replicating these conditions, fracturing hot rock, circulating water through the system, and using the resulting steam to produce electricity in a conventional turbine. A recent MIT report on EGS estimates that just 2 percent of the geothermal heat located in the continental United States at a depth between three and ten kilometers — within the range of current drilling technology — is the equivalent of more than 2,500 times the country’s total annual energy use.

Read the full story in Water Efficiency.

For a county famous for being socially and politically conservative, Orange County, CA, has placed itself on the cutting edge of a radical new water management technology-wastewater reclamation.

Read the full story in Environmental Protection.

Using a novel theoretical approach, researchers from NASA and other institutions have identified the common thread that determines how aerosols from human activity, like the particles from the burning of vegetation and forests, influence cloud cover and ultimately affect climate.

The study improves researchers’ ability to predict whether aerosols will increase or decrease cloud cover.

Read the full story in Environmental Protection.

Primo Water Corporation, along with 19 other organizations, has launched a new group to address recycling opportunities with bioplastics — the Bioplastics Recycling Consortium, according to an Aug. 19 press release.

Read the full story in the New York Times.

A New Jersey company will announce a plan to use wind turbines to produce compressed air that can be stored underground or in tanks and released later to power generators during peak hours.

Read the full story in the New York Times.

In today’s fuel-conscious automotive market, Honda is reaping the rewards for its commitment to building fuel-efficient, environmentally friendly cars.

Read the full story in Plenty Magazine.

Forget simply cutting a building’s footprint. A new wave or architectural thinkers wants to create buildings that help regenerate the planet like living organisms.

We invite you to participate in our 2nd biennial conference, AASHE 2008: Working Together for Sustainability – On Campus and Beyond , November 9-11 in Raleigh, NC. Registration is now open and those who register by August 29 will receive an early bird discount.

AASHE’s Conference is the largest campus sustainability gathering of its kind in the United States and Canada. We expect over 1,000 attendees in Raleigh, and more than 300 presentations, with an impressive array of campus and business leaders sharing their experience, knowledge and passion for promoting sustainability on campus and in the community. Duke University, North Carolina State University and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill are the host campuses for the 2008 Conference.

This year AASHE is partnering with Sustainable North Carolina to offer a unique tradeshow – the Sustainable Solutions Expo: Green Solutions for Campuses, Businesses and Institutions . You’ll be able to network with an impressive array of higher education and business leaders at the Expo, and some fun events are planned.

Highlights:
Keynotes this year include these engaging and widely acclaimed speakers:
*Lester R. Brown – Founder, Earth Policy Institute, and author, “Eco-Economy,” “Plan B,” and “Plan B 3.0: Mobilizing to Save Civilization”
*Van Jones – Founder and President, Green for All
*Peter Senge – Senior lecturer, MIT, and chair, Society for Organizational Learning (SoL)
*Vandana Shiva – Physicist, environmental activist, author of “Stolen Harvest,” and “Earth Democracy”, and winner of the 1993 Right Livelihood Award
*Government Plenary featuring:
*Bracken Hendricks – Senior Fellow, Center for American Progress
*Kevin Foy – Mayor of Chapel Hill, NC
*Harvey Ruvin – Miami-Dade County Clerk, FL

Other special events include an array of pre-conference workshops, a career fair, a student summit, the AASHE awards banquet, field trips to our host campuses, and activities highlighting the American College & University Presidents’ Climate Commitment.

This Conference aims to significantly advance sustainability in higher education with a particular emphasis on the need to consider all dimensions of sustainability in decision-making. Reflecting this year’s theme of “working together for sustainability,” additional goals are to advance sustainability practices through partnerships and collaborations, to promote new pathways for elevating sustainability education and student leadership, and to involve a wider range of participants in advancing sustainability in higher education.

Please visit www.aashe.org/conference for more information.

As your students return to campus, provide them with an opportunity to make the campus a better place, while building their resumes.

National Wildlife Federations Campus Ecology program awards fellowship grants to undergraduate and graduate students who are committed to reduce their campus carbon footprint; projects including: greenhouse gas inventories, climate action plans, energy conservation and efficiency, habitat restoration, convening climate action gatherings and more will be considered.

Grant awards:
Up to $2000 for Undergraduate Students
Up to $5000 for Graduate Students
Fall deadline: October 1, 2008. Additional submission deadlines throughout the year. Visit www.nwf.org/fellows for details about the Campus Ecology Fellowship program.

Willie Cade, CEO, PC Rebuilders and Recyclers
Friday, Sept. 5, 2008, 10:00 -11:00 a.m.
134 Temple Buell Hall, 611 Lorado Taft Dr., Champaign

Are you concerned about the environment? Are you interested in making a difference? Willie Cade is. As CEO of PCRR in Chicago, he is passionate about reusing unwanted personal computers. Mr. Cade founded PC Rebuilders and Recyclers in 1996 to help intercity students use technology to meet their maximum potential. He heads one of the first organizations in the United States to be designated a Microsoft Authorized Refurbisher, allowing refurbished computers to take advantage of the vast installed base of Microsoft Windows. A stakeholder in the U.S. Environmental Protection Agencys Responsible Recycling discussions for the past two years, Mr. Cade specifically represents the reuse community so that unwanted electronics are not destroyed but rather, that our carbon investment is more fully utilized. Mr. Cade also consults with Microsoft on computer refurbishing issues and for the past five years has co-sponsored the annual International Computer Refurbishers Conference.

I would like to transform the concept of e-waste to e-opportunity. I believe that we are at the beginning of a radical change in our world especially when it comes to education. I believe we have gone beyond the new stage and now we can concentrate on harvesting value and opportunity. Willie Cade, CEO, PC Refurbishers and Recyclers

Sponsored by the Environmental Council, Facilities and Services Division of Safety and Compliance and the Product Interaction Research Laboratory (PIRL), Industrial Design, School of Art and Design.

Following the recent storms that took the Chicago area by surprise, Lt. Governor Pat Quinn is launching a free contest that will allow three lucky Illinois residents to win an artistically painted rain barrel and a way to “rein in the rain.”

http://www.cleanwaterillinois.org

Rain barrels offer a simple and effective solution to excess water.  By collecting water that runs off the roof, homeowners can conserve water for later use and reduce the often-damaging impact of stormwater flow.

“This is a simple solution that can save your home from unnecessary water damage and your pocketbook from excessive water bills,” Quinn said at an August 8 news conference at the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum.  “We want Illinois to be the rain barrel capital of the world, and we want to salute Austin Grammer and Isaac Sinnott for helping to make it happen.”

Austin Grammer, who manufactures rain barrels in Champaign, is donating the three painted rain barrels that will be awarded to Illinois residents through a random drawing.  Isaac Sinnott, a 16-year-old Oak Park resident, converts recycled food storage containers into rain barrels and distributes the barrels to Oak Park residents through the village’s Public Works Department.

Both Austin and Isaac joined the Lt. Governor to launch the Rain Barrel Drawing.  Illinois residents can enter to win one of three artistically painted rain barrels by visiting CleanWaterIllinois.org, or by visiting the Lt. Governor’s tent at the Illinois State Fair.  The last day to enter is Sept. 12, 2008.  Winners will be announced the following week.

One inch of rainfall on a typical residential roof can produce 625 gallons of water – enough to fill 11 rain barrels.  And because Illinois typically receives 36 inches of rainfall every year, a standard 55-gallon rain barrel could be filled 400 times in a 12-month period.  That’s especially helpful during the summer months, when nearly half of all water usage goes toward watering lawns and gardens.

When Printing, Every Design Choice Matters
By Jonathan Bardelline
http://www.greenbiz.com/podcast/2008/08/21/when-printing-every-design-choice-matters
Until the day of the paperless business arrives, companies have plenty of options to reduce the impact of their graphic design and printing operations. Debra Rizzi explains how Rizco Design is helping clients make better choices.

IBM Expands Consulting Services With ‘Green Sigma’
http://greenbiz.com/news/2008/08/20/ibm-expands-consulting-green-sigma
The newly launched service is based on the Lean Six Sigma strategy and will target water and energy use wherever these resources are used, such as in transportation, data centers, IT systems, manufacturing and distribution or retail facilities.

Facebook Users Spur Green Power in the Wine Industry
http://greenbiz.com/news/2008/01/01/facebook-users-spur-green-power-wine-industry
Eight wineries will buy renewable energy credits as part of a program called Green My Vino, a Facebook application that lets users lead the charge.

Clorox Told to Modify ‘Green Works’ Claims
http://greenbiz.com/news/2008/08/20/clorox-told-modify-green-works-claims
The National Advertising Division of the Council of Better Business Bureaus has told Clorox it should alter some of the claims about its Green Works cleaning products.

Sam’s Club to Sell Solar Panels at Home Efficiency Centers
http://greenbiz.com/news/2008/08/20/sam%E2%80%99s-club-solar-panels
Sam’s Club will offer solar panels and an array of energy saving products at nine Southern California locations, where the company has created Home Efficiency Centers to focus customer attention on goods for greening their dwellings.

SoCal Edison, PG&E Make Big Alternative Energy Commitments
http://greenbiz.com/news/2008/08/19/sce-pge-make-big-alternative-energy
The two California utilities have announced plans to invest heavily in wind and solar energy projects, giving a boost to clean energy for the state.

Big Companies Can Make it Harder for Employees to Help Go Green: Survey
http://greenbiz.com/news/2008/08/19/uk-us-workers-surveyed-about-going-green
Big U.K. firms should give employees more of a say in greening their workplaces, and U.S. companies need to live up to their eco-friendly business practices internally as well as externally, according to findings from two worker attitude surveys.

Cynicism, Scarce Data Among the Barriers to Eco-Friendly, Responsible Investing: Report
http://greenbiz.com/news/2008/08/21/cynicism-barriers-investing
A new report from Business for Social Responsibility examines how mainstream financial institutions are incorporating environmental, social and governance criteria, the barriers that are preventing broader use of such principles in the mainstream, and possible solutions to the challenges.

EPA to Launch Web Portal to Green Resources for Retailers
http://greenbiz.com/news/2008/08/18/epa-web-portal-green-resources-retailers
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency plans to launch a Web portal to information and resources about environmental compliance, pollution prevention and other green issues specific to retailers, the Retail Industry Leaders Association (RILA) said.

Consumers Want Immediate, Noticeable Savings From Utilities: Survey
http://greenbiz.com/news/2008/08/21/consumers-want-immediate-noticeable-savings-from-utilities-survey
An EcoPinion Survey found that customers are interested in incentives for green products and services from utilities, but they prefer upfront, as opposed to long-term, savings.

New Certification to Help Commercial Kitchens Go Green
http://greenbiz.com/news/2008/08/18/new-certification-commercial-kitchens
By Tilde Herrera
FoodServiceWarehouse.com launches its Going Green Program today for restaurant operators interested in meeting LEED standards, or scaling back operating costs at a time when rising energy and food prices are threatening profit margins.

Environmental, Social and Governance: Moving to Mainstream Investing?
http://www.greenbiz.com/resources/resource/esg-criteria
This new report from Business for Social Responsibility (BSR) examines how mainstream financial institutions are incorporating environmental, social and governance criteria, the barriers that are preventing broader use of the criteria, and potential solutions to these challenges.

Global Principles and Criteria for Sustainable Biofuels Production: Version Zero
http://www.greenbiz.com/resources/resource/global-principles-and-criteria-sustainable-biofuels-production-version-zero
A coalition of farmers, businesses, governments and nonprofits released the first draft of a biofuels global standard. The Roundtable on Sustainable Biofuels (RSB) created the set of principles that it hopes will guide worldwide production and processing for the controversial fuel that has recently come under fire because of environmental and food price concerns.

Red State or Blue, Green Conventions are on the Way
By Dana Sanchez
http://www.greenbiz.com/feature/2008/08/25/red-state-blue-state-green-conventions
In their quest to have the greenest national convention ever, Democrats and Republicans have both gone further than those in the past. Both vow to leave behind a legacy for future convention planners of how to do it better and greener.

The ROI of Sustainability
By Matt Alderton
http://www.greenbiz.com/column/2008/08/25/the-roi-sustainability
It’s no secret that going green can boost a company’s bottom line in more ways than one; now businesses are exploring all corners of the booming green economy.

What, Me Worry?
By Marc Gunther
http://greenbiz.com/column/2008/08/20/what-me-worry
These days, it seems like you can’t open the newspaper or, worse, search the Internet without hearing about the dangers of ordinary household products.

California Puts Green Chemistry Under the Microscope
By Joel Makower
http://greenbiz.com/column/2008/08/17/california-puts-green-chemistry-under-microscope
There’s a classic, geeky science joke that “Chemists have all the solutions.” That’s starting to appear true from an environmental perspective, though it remains to be seen whether those solutions will actually come to market.