·:[ Environmental News Bits ]:·
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Fiji Water, Clean Coal and Political Parties Make 2008 Greenwash List
http://www.greenbiz.com/news/2008/12/30/2008-top-greenwash-list
Companies and coalitions big and not-so-big have made the ranks of most
notorious “green” campaigns in the year-end list from National Public Radio’s
Greenwash Brigade.

California Gives $20 Million to Recycling Projects
http://www.greenbiz.com/news/2008/12/31/california-gives-20-million-recycling-projects
Twenty grants are being given to increase the amount and quality of recycled
materials, create jobs and provide more recycled-content products and packaging.

U.S. Diners Looking for Greener Restaurants and Healthier Fare in 2009: Survey
http://www.greenbiz.com/news/2008/12/30/greener-restaurants-healthier-fare+
Research released by the National Restaurant Association shows that Americans
are looking for healthier options and “greener” restaurants when they dine out,
in addition to an increased interest in value and convenience.

Sustainable Community Concept Takes Hold in Texas, Georgia, Tennessee
http://www.greenbiz.com/news/2008/12/31/sustainable-communities
The drive to create communities that balance environmental, economic and social
responsibilities through planned development is growing as shown by projects in
Texas, Georgia and Tennessee.

Public Buildings in U.K. Emit More CO2 Than All of Kenya
http://www.greenbiz.com/news/2008/12/29/public-buildings-uk-kenya
Government buildings in England and Wales emit more than 11 million tonnes of
carbon dioxide a year, more than the entire country of Kenya, the Guardian
reports.

Industry Leaders Team Up to Green Food’s Supply Chain
http://www.greenbiz.com/news/2008/12/29/industry-leaders-green-food-supply-chain
Environmental and agriculture groups, growers and some of the world’s biggest
food buyers — Wal-Mart, Sysco and Sodexo among them — have developed a new
coalition to incorporate sustainability from the field to the table for
specialty crops.

Pacific Northwest’s E-Waste ‘Paradigm Shift’ Launches Jan. 1
http://www.greenbiz.com/news/2008/12/31/pacific-northwest-ewaste-program
A new “E-Cycling” program passed into law in Oregon and Washington takes effect
on New Year’s Day, requiring electronics manufacturers to recycled old hardware,
and promising to spur the growth of responsible e-waste disposal.

Ohio Launches Advanced Energy Masters Degree Program
http://www.greenbiz.com/news/2008/12/29/ohio-launches-advanced-energy-masters-degree-program
The state of Ohio is launching an advanced energy masters degree program in a
bid to train the next generation of highly-skilled, green collar workers.
Meanwhile, Butte College in Northern California is adding green building courses
after receiving a grant from the National Science Foundation.

Harvard Extension School Offers E-Learning Course on Environmental Management
http://www.greenbiz.com/news/2008/12/30/harvard-extension-environmental-management
The Harvard University Extension School is offering a popular course on
strategies for environmental management via distance learning.

GreenBiz.com’s Top 10 Most Popular Stories of 2008
By GreenBiz Staff
http://www.greenbiz.com/feature/2008/12/31/top-10-most-popular-stories-2008
In a year when the economy was all the business world could talk about, our
readers dug in deep to stories about creating change, overhauling the ways
business gets done, and yes, how going green can save big money.

Behind IBM’s Quest for a ‘Smarter Planet’
By Joel Makower
http://greenbiz.com/blog/2009/01/04/behind-ibms-quest-a-smarter-planet
IBM’s recent campaign goes well beyond mere image — and beyond green — to
envision a “smarter” world in which problems as wide-ranging as health care
costs, energy and resource shortages, climate change, and traffic congestion can
be addressed by systems thinking, technological innovation, and computing power.

Hidden Electric Bill Fee Finances New York’s Energy Projects
By Ariel Schwartz
http://www.greenbiz.com/blog/2008/12/31/electric-bill-fee-finances-projects
New Yorkers who only skim their electric bills probably don’t notice that it
contains a charge for something called SBC/RPS. And why would they? The Systems
Benefits Charge only averages out to $1.08 per month for most New York City
residents.

Once is Not Enough: Continual Improvement is Essential to Sustainability
By Robert Pojasek
http://www.greenbiz.com/blog/2008/12/29/continual-improvement-and-sustainability
Improvement is a major ingredient in the process of attaining sustainability and
has to be part of what every employee does every day — day in and day out, says
Robert Pojasek, who offers advice on how to set those targets.

The Responsibility of Ownership: New Year’s Resolution 2009
By Cary Krosinsky
http://www.greenbiz.com/blog/2008/12/29/responsibility-ownership
At the end of this endless year of 2008, it seems nearly impossible to look to
2009 and beyond, but for investors that really is the only prerogative says Cary
Krosinsky.

Starting With the End: Designing Products for Reuse
By Sarah Fister Gale
http://www.greenbiz.com/podcast/2008/12/24/starting-with-end-designing-products-re-use
Milliken and Co. has long subscribed to the belief that waste and pollution cost
money. Sustainability Director Bill Gregory speaks to GreenBiz Radio about how
the carpet industry is joining together to improve carpet recycling and the ways
in which end-of-life thinking has led to new products.

Waste & Opportunity: U.S. Beverage Container Recycling Scorecard and Report, 2008
http://www.greenbiz.com/resources/resource/waste-opportunity
Twenty-three beverage companies are scored on the based on their reduction of
virgin content in containers, use of recycled content, activities related to
recovery and recycling legislation and program, and communication of their
recycling goals and efforts.

Sustainable Aviation CO2 Roadmap
http://www.greenbiz.com/resources/resource/sustainable-aviation-co2-roadmap
This report assesses carbon dioxide emissions from United Kingdom aviation from
2000-2050.

Earth Day in the Parks is an event to promote stewardship of our natural resources by Illinois school children. On one day in April, students and their teachers from throughout Illinois will come to participating Illinois state parks to take part in natural resources stewardship activities such as: planting native trees and wildflowers; building and installing nesting/roosting boxes; removing invasive exotic species; and constructing woodland ponds for salamanders. Students will be helping the environment and wildlife, participating in outdoor activities to increase their fitness and learning that their actions can make a difference in the world. Students are encouraged to return to the state park to see and study the results of their work.

The IDNR Division of Education will accept applications from teachers who would like for their class to participate in the program for 2009 starting on January 1, 2009.

Read the full story in the New York Times.

Several companies are developing power-saving technologies for bright color displays on phones and other handhelds.