·:[ Environmental News Bits ]:·
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Read the full story in Scientific American.

“Roses are red….” They are also fragile and almost always flown to the U.S. from warmer climes in South America. In Europe, roses are most often imported from Africa. On either continent the flowers are hauled in temperature-controlled trucks and locked up overnight in cold boxes before their final journey to the local florist. According to Flowerpetal.com, which tries to limit the environmental impact of floral purchases, supplying the 100 million roses ordered for a typical Valentine’s Day produces 9,900 tons of carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) emissions. So what’s a lovesick but “green” beau to do?

Read the press release from the University of Tennessee.

East Tennessee has officially welcomed a new alternative fuel production facility to the region, and enthusiasts from state and local government to local restaurateurs are poised to help biodiesel succeed.

On hand to open the facility were University of Tennessee President Jan Simek and UT Vice President for Agriculture Joseph DiPietro, Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation Commissioner Jim Fyke, Tennessee Department of Agriculture Commissioner Ken Givens, and Knoxville Mayor Bill Haslam. Southern Alliance for Clean Energy Executive Director Stephen A. Smith helped wield the oversized scissors that made short work of the ceremonial ribbon at the gathering of local business leaders.

Built with an Alternative Fuels Innovations Grant from TDEC in partnership with SACE, the community-based biodiesel production unit aims to convert waste fryer oil from local restaurants into useable fuel. The production unit, which is located on the University of Tennessee agricultural campus, will also be a research center for other ag fuels like soybean oil and oilseed crops.

Read the press release from Smith College.

Before she graduated from Smith College in May, Jessica O’Hare developed an environmental sustainability back-to-school shopping list for the students who come after her.