·:[ Environmental News Bits ]:·
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AASHE is now accepting applications for its 2009 Sustainability Leadership Awards, to be presented the Greening of the Campus VIII Conference (Sept. 20-23 in Indianapolis, IN). Four Campus Sustainability Leadership Awards will be presented. The Campus Sustainability Leadership Award recognizes the institutions that have made the greatest overall commitment to sustainability as demonstrated in their governance, curriculum and research, operations, campus culture, and community outreach. Applications are due July 1, 2009.

Read the press release.

Mountains of paper, shelves of books and rows of filing cabinets are being replaced by PDFs, electronic book readers and hard drives. Anaheim University, the nationally accredited California-based institution, who pioneered online education in the mid-nineties as one of the world’s first entirely online universities to host live web-based classes taught by experts, has now committed to being paperless by 2010. This directive has caused Anaheim to push publishers to produce e-books, as well as adopt technical innovations such as the Sony book reader that allow the entire university’s curriculum of textbooks to be stored in a portable palm-sized electronic reader.

Read the full story in the Mills Campanil.

Treasure hunters seeking free items can follow the narrow hallways of Reinhardt Hall to a room reminiscent of common retail stores or a local swap meet. Alongside Post Road is the new home of the legendary free piles in Mills dorms, now known as the Sustainability and Reuse Depot.

Via Docuticker.

Report: Reinventing Transit — American Communities finding smarter, cleaner, faster transportation solutions
Source: Environmental Defense Fund

A new generation of innovative public transit is sweeping through communities across America.

Rural areas, suburbs and cities are leading the way to a cutting-edge transportation system. Investing in smart transit pays off — see why.

+ Full Report (PDF; 4.4 MB)

Via ResourceShelf.

From a Blog Post by Kim Balassiano:

To modernize our online maps [EPA's], yesterday we released an updated system called MyEnvironment. Our goal is still to help you answer questions about your own backyard, like who is operating down the block, receiving a new permit to release chemicals into the water, and most importantly, who is violating EPA standards for releases. We also pull together health information that you can use including the daily UV index, daily ozone and particulate matter forecasts, and potential cancer risk from air toxics.

To Access “My Environment” look for it in the left of the EPA web site

See Also: An Example of What a “My Environment” Map Looks Like for a Zip Code in Chicago. Looks like they’re using a Microsoft map at the top of the page.

Source: EPA’s Greenversations Weblog

Read the full post at Oh My Gov!

Just months after the federal government bailed out ailing U.S. automakers, it’s lining up as a major customer. President Obama this month announced a plan to purchase more than 17,000 American-made green cars to replace aging vehicles in the government’s fleet. The hybrid and other alternative fuel cars won’t literally be green … well, at least we don’t think so.

Going green is a laudable idea here, even if gas prices are again on the decline. It’s smart government to spend less on gasoline, while simultaneously helping reduce carbon emissions.

The showroom shopping spree will be funded from the $787 billion stimulus bill and cost roughly $285 million. The General Services Administration will sign the papers on the cars, which the administration said will be purchased by June 1. No word on who gets to pick the vanity plates.

To mark the annual celebration, CNET creates a green electronics guide, a new weekly show focusing on eco-living, and tips on how to reduce your carbon footprint. See more green stuff from CNET.

Via Docuticker.

Greenhouse Gases Continue to Climb Despite Economic Slump
Source: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Two of the most important climate change gases increased last year, according to a preliminary analysis for NOAA’s annual greenhouse gas index, which tracks data from 60 sites around the world.

Researchers measured an additional 16.2 billion tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) — a byproduct of fossil fuel burning — and 12.2 million tons of methane in the atmosphere at the end of December 2008. This increase is despite the global economic downturn, with its decrease in a wide range of activities that depend on fossil fuel use.

+ NOAA Annual Greenhouse Gas Index (AGGI)

Via Docuticker.

Green at Fifteen? How 15-year-olds perform in environmental science and geoscience in PISA 2006
Source: Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development

Never before have the stakes been so high for the role of science education in shaping how people interact with the environment. Human activities responsible for the production of greenhouse gases, the accumulation of waste, the fragmentation or destruction of ecosystems and the depletion of resources are having a substantial impact on the environment. As a result, threats to the environment are prominently discussed in the media, and citizens world wide are increasingly faced with the need to understand complex environmental issues.

Environmental science and geoscience continue to generate comprehensive and complex knowledge. Therefore, the challenge for education is not only to produce more and better trained environmental scientists, but also to support informed and motivated citizens who are capable of understanding, interpreting and acting upon sophisticated scientific theory and evidence. The OECD’s PISA 2006 assessment of the science competencies of 15-year-olds offers the first comprehensive and internationally comparative database of students’ knowledge about the environment and environment-related issues. Green at Fifteen? presents an analysis of this knowledge base, including information on the sources of students’ awareness of environmental science, their attitudes towards the environment and how these attitudes interrelate with their performance in environmental science.

+ Full Document (PDF; 3.9 MB)
+ PISA 2006 results

See also: Students Least Informed about Environmental Science Are Most Optimistic (National Science Foundation)

Via Docuticker.

New Study Says Reducing Emissions Will Lower Energy Costs
Source: Union of Concerned Scientists

The United States can dramatically cut global warming emissions and reduce consumer and business energy bills at the same time, according to the findings of a soon-to-be-released, two-year study by the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS).

The analysis, “Climate 2030: A National Blueprint for a Clean Energy Economy,” found that implementing a suite of climate, energy and transportation policies would allow the United States to meet an emissions-reduction cap of 56 percent below 2005 levels by 2030 and save consumers and businesses $465 billion in that year. The average U.S. household would enjoy a net savings of $900 on its energy bills, including $580 on transportation (fuel, vehicle and driving) costs and $320 on electricity, natural gas and heating oil, after investing in home efficiency improvements. Businesses collectively would realize net energy bill savings of $130 billion.

UCS’s policy recommendations would put the nation on a path to reduce heat-trapping emissions by at least 80 percent below 2005 levels by 2050, the target that UCS experts contend is necessary to prevent the worst effects of climate change.

+ Testimony of Kevin Knobloch, UCS President, on Climate 2030 Blueprint

Read the press release.

In recognition of Earth Day, Special Libraries Association (SLA) announces 12 recipients of the 2008 SLA Presidential Citation honoring SLA “Knowledge to Go Green” Champions. The 2008 Green Citation, presented in early 2009, was a special one-year citation created by Past President of SLA Stephen Abram in recognition of the association’s commitment to green practices through the “Knowledge to Go Green” initiative.

Read the full post (from Earth Day) at Lifehacker.

Today is Earth Day, and to celebrate we’re highlighting a handful of ways you can go green with your computer, your home, and your life.

We’ve covered tons of ways to conserve energy and help the environment here at Lifehacker, so this is just a very quick look at a few of our favorites. For more, take a gander at our Environment and Conservation ta.

Green Product Trends: More Launches, More Sales
http://www.greenbiz.com/news/2009/04/24/green-product-trends
A variety of research shows that green products are staying strong throughout the recession, with companies ranging from Seventh Generation to Kimberly-Clark benefitting from, or betting on, consumers’ focus on environmental concerns.

Mars Partners With TerraCycle to Turn Candy Wrappers Into New Products
http://www.greenbiz.com/news/2009/04/21/mars-partners-with-terracycle
TerraCycle has gained another big-name ally in its efforts to upcycle all types
of waste. Mars, Inc. has partnered with TerraCycle to upcycle surplus and used packaging from its wide range of food, candy and gum products into messenger bags, laptop sleeves and cell phone holders.

World Utilities Lumber Toward Low-Carbon Economy: CDP
http://www.greenbiz.com/news/2009/04/23/utilities-low-carbon-economy
Many have called for a global clean-energy revolution, but the world’s utilities have a long way to go before they fundamentally change the way they produce power, according to the Carbon Disclosure Project.

Janine Benyus, Suzlon and RecycleBank Execs Honored as U.N. ‘Champions’
http://www.greenbiz.com/news/2009/04/23/un-champions-earth-award
As part of its Earth Day celebrations, the United Nations Environment Programme awarded six individuals and one NGO as ‘Champions of the Earth’ for their environmental endeavors.

Toy Makers Flunk at Addressing Climate Change: Report
http://www.greenbiz.com/news/2009/04/22/toymakers-flunk-on-climate-change
The toy and child equipment manufacturing sector is flunking in its efforts to
track and reduce its greenhouse gas emissions to address climate change,
according to the latest Climate Counts scorecard.

Low-Carbon Meals, Employee Raises and Energy Incentives Highlighted in
Innovations Report
http://www.greenbiz.com/news/2009/04/21/innovations-report-2009
The Environmental Defense Fund’s latest Innovations Review report looks at 15 actions being taken by companies to reduce emissions, lower resource use and encourage sustainable behaviors.

ZERI Foundation Awarded For Turning Coffee Waste Into Mushrooms
http://www.greenbiz.com/news/2009/04/20/coffee-waste-into-mushrooms
For 15 years, the ZERI Foundation has helped coffee farms in Colombia and other countries use coffee waste to grow mushrooms. The Foundation was awarded for its work by the Specialty Coffee Association of America this month.

Vatican Turns to Sun God
http://www.greenbiz.com/news/2009/04/22/vatican-turns-sun-god
The Holy See has confirmed plans to invest $646 million in Europe’s largest
solar farm.

Top 10 Water Innovators Celebrated in New Report
http://www.greenbiz.com/news/2009/04/22/top-10-water-innovators
With concerns about water scarcity and quality on the rise around the world, a new study by the Artemis Project tracks down the top 50 companies developing market-ready innovations for water management, and singles out 10 for top accolades.

Interface Releases Environmental Stats From 2008; Continues Positive Trends
http://www.greenbiz.com/news/2009/04/22/interface-environmental-stats-2008
Carpet manufacturer Interface has released its 2008 Ecometrics results, its
annual self-measurement of its energy, water, waste and emissions performance.

The Future of Green Product Design
By Joel Makower
http://www.greenbiz.com/blog/2009/04/22/the-future-green-product-design
With just about month to go before Greener By Design 2009, GreenBiz.com
Executive Editor Joel Makower previews what’s in store at the extraordinary
event.

Hawken: ‘I’m a Slut for Change’ … and Other Provocative Comments from Brainstorm: Green
By Marc Gunther
http://www.greenbiz.com/blog/2009/04/24/slut-for-change-and-brainstorm-green
Marc Gunther recaps highlights of the Brainstorm Green conference with comments from Paul Hawken, Bill Clinton and other thought-leaders on climate change and the role of industry in working toward sustainability.

History’s Lesson: Sustainability Requires Everyone in the Trenches
By Mitch Jackson
http://www.greenbiz.com/blog/2009/04/24/sustainability-requires-everyone-trenches
The drive toward sustainability transcends business, writes Mitch Jackson. We must all be working together, he says.

How Will the Climate Bill Affect the Economy (and the Climate)?
By Tilde Herrera
http://www.greenbiz.com/blog/2009/04/24/how-climate-bill-affect-economy
Hearings on the Waxman-Markey draft climate change bill opened on Capitol Hill this week, days after the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency proposed that rising greenhouse gas emissions fueling climate change pose a risk to public health and well-being.

A Picture-Perfect Example of Green Jobs
By Matthew Wheeland
http://www.greenbiz.com/blog/2009/04/20/perfect-example-green-jobs
A profile of the East Los Angeles Skills Center’s newest job-training program
illustrates what might be a best-case scenario for the green jobs economy.

The Costs and Benefits of Better Design
By Jonathan Bardelline
http://www.greenbiz.com/podcast/2009/04/20/the-costs-and-benefits-better-design
Wendy Jedlicka of Jedlicka Design talks with GreenBiz Radio about explaining the benefits of green design to clients, countering the idea that green has to carry a premium and making sense of language related to sustainability

Apollo Alliance Action Plan: Make It In America
http://www.greenbiz.com/resources/resource/apollo-alliance-action-plan-make-it-in-america
With help from leading industry, labor and environmental groups and businesses, the Apollo Alliance has put together a set of policy recommendations for the U.S. government that call for retooling the country’s shrinking manufacturing sector to accelerate development, commercialization and job creation in cleantech industries.

Innovations Review 2009: Green Advances for a New Economy
http://www.greenbiz.com/resources/resource/innovations-review-2009
The Environmental Defense Fund’s annual Innovations Review report highlights innovative strategies companies have implemented to reduce emissions, conserve resources, encourage sustainable behavior and more.

Read the full story in the Decatur Herald & Review.

A device targeted at Ameren Corp. customers to learn more about how they use electricity now is available at libraries throughout downstate Illinois. Gov. Pat Quinn joined Ameren Illinois Utilities President and CEO Scott Cisel on Friday at the Forsyth Public Library to announce a partnership with libraries in 85 counties, including those in the Rolling Prairie Library system.

The meters will be available for free checkout at 24 libraries throughout the Rolling Prairie Library system, Executive Director Bev Obert said. Ameren donated 25 meters to the library system, with two going to Decatur, Obert said.

All library systems in Ameren’s service area have been given free meters.

Read the full story in the New Tork Times.

The Superfund program, established nearly 30 years ago to clean up the nation’s most contaminated industrial sites, has been underfinanced since a tax expired in 1995.