The GLRPPR Blog

To encourage Indiana manufacturers to identify opportunities that can reduce pollution, conserve raw materials and save money, the Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) is offering industry and communities free, confidential pollution prevention opportunity assessments. New to the program is a special impetus to encourage the reduction of toxic chemicals and the opportunity to receive funding for qualifying projects.

This year, IDEM was awarded funding from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to fund pollution prevention grants that reduce toxics in Indiana. Indiana facilities with ideas for pollution prevention projects, including those identified by an assessment, are eligible to submit a pre-application for an Indiana Pollution Prevention Grant by June 11, 2010.

Projects that reduce the use of any chemical on the Resource Conservation Challenge Priority Chemicals list or the Regional Priority Chemical list or replace a listed chemical with a less toxic substance will receive additional points toward their overall score when evaluated for funding. Also, projects identified by an IDEM assessment conducted between June 2009 and June 2010 will receive additional points toward their overall score when evaluated for funding.

“This new grant offers a wonderful opportunity for businesses and communities to re-evaluate where in their processes positive change can be made,” said IDEM Commissioner Thomas Easterly. “Pollution prevention opportunity assessments do not cost businesses anything except time, and there are so many benefits that can be achieved from this effort.”

Assessments are provided on-site and can help facilities do a number of positive things, such as: identify ways to minimize risk by reducing or eliminating toxic chemicals, reduce operating expenses, use fewer raw materials, conserve energy, reduce wastes and emissions, meet regulatory requirements, and improve employee safety.

“An added bonus from undergoing a pollution prevention assessment is the positive company image that may result from implementing some of the recommendations,” said Commissioner Easterly.

Expenses such as ongoing program costs, permanent building structures, capital improvement or equipment and site improvements will not be funded through the Indiana Pollution Prevention Grant Program.

To schedule a free, confidential pollution prevention opportunity assessment, contact IDEM at (800) 988-7901. A complete list of priority chemicals can be found at www.idem.IN.gov/5224.htm.

Thirty eight Illinois companies and organizations have been honored for their significant achievements in protecting the environment, helping sustain the future, and improving the economy. The Governor’s Sustainability Awards were presented by the Illinois Sustainable Technology Center (ISTC) in Champaign during a luncheon. ISTC is a division of the Institute of Natural Resource Sustainability at the University of Illinois.

Since 1987, ISTC has presented Governors awards to organizations in Illinois that have demonstrated a commitment to environmental excellence through outstanding and innovative sustainability practices. Any Illinois public or private organization is eligible to apply for an award. Organizations who are winning for the first time receive the Sustainability Award. Those organizations that have won in past years and are continuing their environmental efforts are awarded a Continuous Improvement Award.

“These businesses and organizations have shown that it is possible to create and maintain conditions under which people and nature can exist in productive harmony, and fulfill the social and economic requirements of present and future generations,” said John C. Marlin, ISTC Acting Director.

The 2009 award winners are listed below. Information on the Governor’s Sustainability Awards program and technical assistance on pollution prevention and energy efficiency are available from the Illinois Sustainable Technology Center, One Hazelwood Drive, Champaign, IL 61820, phone 217-333-8940, http://www.istc.illinois.edu/.

2009 Governor’s Sustainability Award winners

First time winners

Ace Hardware Paint Division—Chicago Heights

Ace Hardware Paint Division—Matteson

Allied Waste Services—Chicago

AMFOTEK—Tinley Park

Ball Corporation—Danville

Central Can Company—Chicago

ComEd—Oakbrook Terrace

GE Healthcare IT—Cary

Guardian West—Urbana

Jesse Brown VA Medical Center—Chicago

Jet Lithocolor, Inc.—Downers Grove

Kankakee Community College—Kankakee

Lions Park Elementary School—Mount Prospect

McDonald’s Corporation—Oak Brook

McHenry County Schools Environmental Education Program—Woodstock

MRC Polymers Inc.—Chicago

Mueller Company—Decatur

Original Smith Printing—Bloomington

Rhodia, Inc.—Blue Island

Vaughan and Bushnell Manufacturing Company—Bushnell

Village of Orland Park—Orland Park

WCIA Channel 3—Champaign

Organizations recognized for Continuous Improvement

Abbott—Abbott Park

Abbott—North Chicago

Ball Corporation—Elgin

Caterpillar Inc. Engine Center—Mossville

Cintas—Romeoville

Department of Aviation O’Hare Modernization Program—Chicago

Consolidated Printing Company—Chicago

Continental Tire North America—Mount Vernon

Electro-Motive Diesel, Inc.—LaGrange

Frigel North America—East Dundee

Harris Corporation – Broadcast Communications Division—Quincy

Hitachi Metals Automotive Components USA, LLC—Effingham

Illinois Correctional Industries—Menard

Navistar, Inc—Melrose Park

NOW Foods, Inc.—Bloomingdale

PortionPac Chemical Corporation—Chicago

Recently, I gave a presentation at the Midwest Environmental Education Conference called “Stemming the Tide of Sustainability Information.” What follows is an extremely condensed version of the talk, with links to the more general tools I talked about. If you’re interested in seeing the slides from the original presentation, they’re posted on IDEALS, the University of Illinois’ institutional repository. Click on the link in the Files box to view the slides in PDF.

Remember when it used to be hard to find information about environmental sustainability? Those days are gone. Today, it seems like we’re drowning in it. Although waving a white flag (or throwing in the towel) is tempting, there are tools that can help you manage the flow of information before it completely overwhelms you.

Most people seek information by searching or by scanning. Normally, you search for information when you’re doing research or trying to answer a question. When searching for information, you’ll most often turn to your favorite search engine. You most often scan for information when you’re trying to stay current on a particular topic. Most often, you seek out trusted news sources when you scan.

Searching

When searching for information, there are some rules you need to remember.

1) Use your time wisely

Do a preliminary search. If you haven’t found what you’re looking for in 10-15 minutes, ask a librarian. You can call your favorite public, school, or university library or use GLRPPR’s Help Desk Librarian service. You can also use browser add-ons to help you refine your web search results. Two of my favorites are Search Cloudlet (only available for Firefox) and Deeper Web (available as a Firefox extension or via the web as a standalone search engine). I posted about both of these tools previously.

2) Don’t believe everything you read

Choose your sources carefully and remember that libraries evaluate books before purchase. Don’t assume the most recent information is on the web. For example, the Code of Federal Regulations is updated on a set schedule, both in print and on the web. You still need to check the Federal Register for recent regulatory actions. Also keep in mind that you need to check to see how recently the web page you’re viewing was updated. If it’s not readily apparent (i.e. EPA, DOE), you should also investigate the person or organization behind the web site. Greenwashing happens on the web too.

3) Use the appropriate tool

Sometimes a search engine is the best place to start. But it’s not the only place to look. Google, Bing, and other search tools are especially helpful when you’re looking for something specific, an unusual term, or an exact phrase. These search engines also have advanced features that can help you refine your search. If you’re looking for a lot of information on a particular topic, a directory (e.g. GLRPPR Sector Resources, the ISTC Library’s Reference Guides) is often a better place to start because they help you focus your search. Don’t forget the databases available through your local library. They can help you identify books, journal articles, newspaper stories, and other resources. Keep in mind that good information is still available in hard copy.

4) Be flexible

Although I often use Google as a verb, it’s good to try different search engines. As an interesting test, do a search using Blind Search, then vote for your favorite results to see which engine you liked best without the branding. If you want to see how Google and Bing compare in a head-to-head test, try out Bing vs. Google and see the results side by side. Bing does have some interesting features that Google lacks, including links to related, often narrower searches and the ability to mouseover a tab to see more information about specific links.

Flexibility is also important when choosing search terms. For example, there are many ways to describe “pollution prevention” including “waste minimization”, “zero waste”, and “cleaner production”.

5) It isn’t always on the Internet

Even though the web has a tremendous amount of good and not-so-good information, there is still a lot of value in books, journal articles, videos, and other hard copy resources. Your local library (or the GLRPPR Help Desk) is a good place to start looking for those materials.

Scanning

Trying to keep up with current environmental news is a never-ending task and my e-mail inbox shows that, more often than not, I’m unsuccessful at truly keeping up. Fortunately, there are some tools that make it easier.

1) RSS is your friend

RSS stands for Really Simple Syndication. The idea behind RSS is that, instead of going out to your favorite web sites, the content comes to you through either a news reader or a service that converts the feed to an e-mail (e.g. Feed My Inbox). Common Craft has a great video explanation of RSS if you want more detail. My favorite feed reader is Google Reader, but there are many choices out there (see lists here and here). You can also incorporate RSS feeds into your personalized Yahoo! and Google home pages.

2) Twitter — it isn’t just for lunch

Twitter is more than a place to share what you had for lunch (or whatever mundane task you’re currently doing). It’s also an easy way to keep up with news you’re interested in. The 140 character limit makes it easy to scan headlines quickly. If you have a mobile device (e.g. an iPhone), you can also bring Twitter with you and scan the news on the go (just not when you’re driving, please). You can also repost (”retweet”) stories to your friends/followers easily. Twitter and other forms of social media are also useful for finding out what your friends/followers think about a particular issue. To start a conversation, ask a question and wait a few minutes for a reply.

3) Specific sites to scan

Everyone’s list will be a little different. You can see some of the suggestions I made during my presentation here. You can also look at the Environmental News Bits blogroll (in the left column under the News Sources heading). You can also read Environmental News Bits, GLRPPR News, and/or P2Rx News if you want someone to do the scanning for you. If you have a favorite, post a link in the comments.

Keeping Track of Your Favorite Sites

Once you’ve identified sites you like, you need a place to store them where you can find them again and share them with people. There are two tools that I use for this. The first is Read It Later, which allows you to temporarily save links you want to look at later, but don’t want to keep permanently. I find it very helpful for news articles that I want to look at once, then discard. It works as a Firefox extension, a series of bookmarklets, or as a mobile phone app.

The second tool that I use regularly is Delicious. Delicious and other social bookmarking sites (a list of 125 of them is here) are really helpful because they not only allow you to access your bookmarks from anywhere, but also share them with other people. You can also work with groups of people to identify resources using a common tag. As an example, read about the P2TagTeam effort on the GLRPPR blog and see the results on Delicious at http://delicious.com/tag/p2tagteam. You can also search social bookmarking sites to see what other people are tagging on a particular topics. Or you can add people of like mind to your network (you can see my bookmarks at http://delicious.com/tsmom1219/).

Hopefully, these hints will save you time and effort as you surf the waves of sustainability information online. If you have questions or comments, leave them below or e-mail me at lbarnes@istc.illinois.edu.

These publications were recently added to GLRPPR’s Sector Resources. This list is continuously updated on the web and is also available as an RSS feed.

Final Report of the Governor’s Task Force on Waste Materials Recovery and Disposal
Mon, 26 Oct 2009 21:28:16 GMT
Waste is a fact of life. Materials that are not fully consumed or reclaimed are generally discarded. As a result, our natural resources are strained in at least two significant respects. First, resources used to produce goods and services are not being consumed efficiently. Second, natural resources are impacted by the management of waste, whether by composting, recycling, incineration, or landfilling. Landfills are developed, for example, and the corresponding use of land is permanently altered. Air emissions occur as waste is composted, incinerated or left to decompose in a landfill. Local water resources might be affected. The more waste, the greater the impact, and these impacts can last over long periods of time to the detriment of future generations both environmentally and economically. If waste generation can be minimized — or even prevented — we can reduce the strain on natural resources. Indeed, the prudent use and preservation of natural resources are the hallmarks of environmental stewardship. While we recognize that waste is a current fact of life, or at least life as we have come to know it, there may come a point in time when the amount of waste generated, or the rate of waste disposal itself, is simply too great to be supported by society over the long haul from an economic and environmental perspective. After all, the current model, to the extent it involves the consumption of natural resources to make products that are used and discarded, does not mimic natural systems where waste is recycled and its components are reused in future cycles of production again and again.

A GreenPrint for Minnesota: State Plan for Environmental Education, Third Edition
Mon, 26 Oct 2009 20:23:01 GMT
GreenPrint, third edition is the third state plan produced under the direction of the Minnesota Environmental Education Advisory Board, a state board of 20 members representing state agencies and congressional districts. The Board’s goal for this 10-year plan is that, “Users of GreenPrint, third edition create, deliver, and support environmental education in Minnesota that promotes healthy natural and social systems and their relationships.” Its intent is to offer guidance to those helping Minnesota citizens achieve the state goals for environmental education and ultimately attain environmental literacy — the understanding of natural and social systems and their interactions.

Managing Electronic Waste: Issues with Exporting E-Waste
Fri, 23 Oct 2009 21:22:07 GMT
Electronic waste (e-waste) is a term that is used loosely to refer to obsolete, broken, or irreparable electronic devices like televisions, computer central processing units (CPUs), computer monitors (flat screen and cathode ray tubes), laptops, printers, scanners, and associated wiring. E-waste has become a concern in the United States due to the high volumes in which it is generated, the hazardous constituents it often contains (such as lead, mercury, and chromium), and the lack of regulations applicable to its disposal or recycling. Under most circumstances, e-waste can legally be disposed of in a municipal solid waste landfill or recycled with few environmental regulatory requirements. Concerns about e-waste landfill disposal have led federal and state environmental agencies to encourage recycling. To date, 19 states have implemented some form of mandatory e-waste recycling program. These state requirements, mixed with increased consumer awareness regarding potential problems with landfilling e-waste, have led to an increase in recycling. With that increase have come new questions about e-waste management. Instead of questions only about the potential impacts associated with e-waste disposal, questions have arisen regarding the potential danger associated with e-waste recycling–particularly when recycling involves the export of e-waste to developing countries where there are few requirements to protect workers or the environment. Answering questions about both e-waste disposal and recycling involves a host of challenges. For example, little information is available to allow a complete assessment of how e-waste ultimately managed. General estimates have been made about the management of cathode ray tubes (CRTs, the only devices where disposal is federally regulated), but little reliable information is available regarding other categories of e-waste. For example, accurate data regarding how much is generated, how it is managed (through disposal or recycling), and where it is processed (either domestically or abroad) are largely unknown. Further, little information is available regarding the total amount of functioning electronics exported to developing countries for legitimate reuse. What is known is that e-waste recycling involves complex processes and it is more costly to recycle e-waste in the United States, where there is a limited recycling infrastructure. It also is known that most consumer electronics manufacturers (who provide the market for material recovery from recycled electronics) have moved overseas. As a result, the majority of e-waste collected for recycling (either for reuse or recycling) appears to be exported for processing. Although there may be limited data regarding how e-waste is managed, the consequences of export to countries that manage it improperly are becoming increasingly evident. In particular, various reports and studies (by the mainstream media, environmental organizations, and university researchers) have found primitive waste management practices in India and various countries in Africa and Asia. Operations in Guiyu in the Shantou region of China have gained particular attention. Observed recycling operations involve burning the plastic coverings of materials to extract metals for scrap, openly burning circuit boards to remove solder or soaking them in acid baths to strip them for gold or other metals. Acid baths are then dumped into surface water. Among other impacts to those areas have been elevated blood lead levels in children and soil and water contaminated with heavy metals. The impacts associated with e-waste exports have led to concerns from environmental organizations, members of the public, and some Members of Congress.

Gathering Chemical Information and Advancing Safer Chemistry in Complex Supply Chains: Case Studies of Nike, S.C. Johnson, and Hewlett-Packard M
Fri, 23 Oct 2009 21:13:38 GMT
Consumer product companies need chemical information from their supply chains for many reasons, including the design of products that are safe for human health and the environment, regulatory compliance, participation in green certification programs, disclosure of chemical ingredients in products to retailers and customers, and preparation of Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS). Companies with large, complex,global supply chains face many challenges in getting this information. The Green Chemistry in Commerce Council (GC3), a project of the Lowell Center for Sustainable Production, at the University of Massachusetts Lowell, commissioned three case studies of leading firms with complex supply chains to explore and share experiences on how companies gather chemical information from their supply chains and how they use this information to develop safer products. The three companies are Nike, S.C. Johnson (SCJ) and Hewlett-Packard (HP). The case studies conducted for this project examined a number of questions: 1. Why is the company seeking chemical information from their supply chain? 2. What types of chemical information is the company seeking? 3. How is the company gathering chemical information from its supply chain? What system is it using? 4. What systems are companies using to manage chemicals in products? 5. What systems are companies using to create safer products using chemical information? 6. What challenges have existed and what has worked well to gather chemical information, manage chemicals and design safer products? All three firms studied are sizable, consumer product companies with large and complex supply chains. They are diverse with regard to the types of products that they manufacture and the types of raw materials that they procure from their supply chain. The reader should keep this in mind when reading the cases and lessons reported in this document. Information gathered for the cases came from interviews with personnel at each firm, internal documents provided by the firms, and publicly available information. The companies were given the opportunity to review and comment on case study drafts. This summary report is designed to synthesize the lessons learned and best practices that were distilled from the case studies.

Design and Operation of a Conditioning Energy Recovery Ventilator (CERV) for Passive Houses
Thu, 22 Oct 2009 23:26:36 GMT
This seminar was presented by Ben Newell, Newell Instruments, Inc., on January 22, 2009 at the Illinois Sustainable Technology Center in Champaign, IL.

Ty and Ben Newell presented information about their work on creating a comfort conditioning system for a zero energy residence. The seminar discussed the energy conditioning characteristics of energy efficient homes and a system under development to meet these requirements. Central Illinois is a difficult environment for efficient conditioning of buildings. Arctic blasts in the winter and hot, humid summers require conditioning systems that have the capacity to operate efficiently in the extremes of winter and summer. Zero energy homes (also called Net-zero homes) are highly insulated and sealed buildings that require relatively low capacity, but highly flexible heating and cooling capabilities. Newell Instruments is developing a new class of house conditioning system called a CERV (Conditioning Energy Recovery Ventilator) designed for superinsulated and supersealed homes. The system is an air-source heat pump designed to operate in the most extreme cold weather (below 0F) and, to cool and dehumidify during the summer. The system also provides fresh air ventilation to the conditioned space.

Wind Farms in Central Illinois
Wed, 21 Oct 2009 23:35:13 GMT
This seminar was presented by Randall Lloyd, Agricultural Awareness Coordinator for the University of Illinois Extension, McLean County, on February 5, 2009 at the Illinois Sustainable Technology Center in Champaign, IL.

Due to technical issues, the first five minutes of this presentation is unavailable. Randall Lloyd, Agricultural Awareness Coordinator for the University of Illinois Extension, McLean County, is involved with the Twin Groves Wind Farm in eastern McLean County as a land and turbine owner. He and his family have been involved with the project since its inception in 2001 and now have four turbines on their property southeast of Ellsworth. As part of his role as Agricultural Awareness Coordinator, Lloyd has developed a tour program where participants are able to observe the turbines “up close and personal!” The two hour tour includes the geography, geology and history of McLean County and the part these each play in the development of the Twin Groves Wind Farm. He also has a program for audiences unable to actually visit the wind farm. Over the past two years, more than 1,000 people have participated in these two programs, including visitors from six states and 44 foreign countries. He will share this program with us and provide insights about wind turbines and agriculture in Central Illinois.

Carbon–The Currency of the Future
Wed, 21 Oct 2009 23:32:18 GMT
This seminar was presented by Eric Jackson, Senior Carbon Expert at the UIUC Environmental Change Institute and CEO of CP Holdings, LLC (dba Carbonless Promise), on March 10, 2009 at the Illinois Sustainable Technology Center in Champaign, IL.

Eric Jackson discussed his role as senior carbon expert at the new Environmental Change Institute on the UIUC campus and the work he has conducted on assessing carbon footprints and magaging carbon credits for industries and other agencies throughout the US.

A Systematic Approach to Renewable Energy: Growing Jatropha curcas for Biodiesel Production in Haiti
Wed, 21 Oct 2009 23:28:19 GMT
This seminar was presented by Tim Lindsey and Joe Pickowitz, Illinois Sustainable Technology Center, on March 18, 2009 at the Illinois Sustainable Technology Center in Champaign, IL.

Tim Lindsey and Joe Pickowitz of ISTC will discuss their recent trip to Haiti with Kathleen Robbins who works with the organization PARTNER FOR PEOPLE AND PLACE, which provides planning and technical assistance for humanitarian and environmental projects on the frontline of poverty. The group operates a Haitian nonprofit business, Jatropha Pepinye, to support the cultivation of Jatropha curcas, a plant that provides a cash crop to farmers, and oil for value-added products like biodiesel and soap. The business itself – a tree nursery – provides jobs and training to local residents and field trials for Jatropha research. In a related project, the organization is developing alternatives to traditional charcoal-making using sustainable forestry and high-efficiency energy conversion. The group sees renewable fuels as part of the effort to re-green Haiti, which is almost totally deforested.

Retrocommissioning at UIUC–Saving the Planet One Building at a Time
Wed, 21 Oct 2009 23:24:34 GMT
This seminar was presented by Karl Helmink and Damon McFall, UIUC Facilities and Services Dept., on April 8, 2009 at the Illinois Sustainable Technology Center in Champaign, IL.

Mr. Helmink discussed retrocommissioning (RCx) celebrating its first year of success on the UIUC campus. In this year, RCx has completed work in the following five buildings: 1) National Soybean Research Center, 2) Krannert Center for the Performing Arts, 3) Newmark Civil Engineering Building, 4) Turner Hall, and 5) ACES Library, Info. & Alumni Center. RCx is estimated to reduce overall energy usage and building utility costs by 20%. Retrocommissioning is essential for our campus to continue its path towards sustainability. This talk will highlight the year’s activity in retrocommissioning various buildings and plans for the future.

The Great Lakes Regional Pollution Prevention Roundtable (GLRPPR) recently added a “Data Centers” subcategory to both the “Consumer Electronics” and “Energy Efficiency” Sector Resources.

Sector Resources are collections of records for both online and hard copy material related to a particular industrial sector (e.g. “Agriculture”) or a topic of interest across a wide variety of sectors (e.g. “Energy Efficiency”). A list of expert contacts that may be consulted for further information on the subject at hand is also included within each Sector Resource, as well as relevant news, events, funding opportunities and archived questions and answers from the GLRPPR Help Desk. Each item listed within a Sector Resource has a full record, containing the item’s title, a brief abstract, a link to the item (if it is available online), date of publication, source and resource type. Price and ordering information are listed for hard copy items where available.

There is a great deal of interest these days in greening IT, particularly in improving the energy efficiency of data centers. Recognizing this trend, it seems appropriate to group information on these topics in new resource subcategories on the GLRPPR site. If you have suggestions for resources related to these topics that you would like to see included in these areas of the GLRPPR website, please send your suggestions via email to Joy Scrogum or Laura Barnes.

Here are some highlights of the resources available within the “Data Centers” subcategories:

• The Green Grid: The Green Grid is an association of information technology professionals seeking to lower the overall consumption of power in datacenters around the globe. The Green Grid will function as an interactive body of members who will share best practices in datacenter power management. Industry experts will be leading interactive online discussion boards, live chats, and webinars to raise awareness and foster discussion around critical aspects of datacenter management. Green Grid members can participate by interacting online, sharing best practices and tribulations, meeting annually, and by lobbying the IT industry for better power-saving solutions. The Green Grid web site provides related news and events; power articles; training; case studies and white papers; research and videos; a list of founding sponsors; and information on membership.
• Climate Savers Computing Initiative: The Climate Savers Computing Initiative brings together industry, consumers and conservation organizations to significantly increase the energy efficiency of computers and servers. It includes a searchable online directory of energy efficient computing products.
• Power Management for Networked Computers: A Review of Utility Incentive Programs: This paper reviews rebate and incentive programs currently offered by utilities for activating power management features on computer networks. It explores the rationale behind program requirements, and provides a high-level assessment of their impact. Finally, it offers suggestions for utilities and regulators considering similar programs. Written by J. Michael Walker. PDF Format; Length: 12 pages.
• Report to Congress on Server and Data Center Energy Efficiency: On August 2, 2007 and in response to Public Law 109-431 the U.S. EPA ENERGY STAR Program released to Congress a report assessing opportunities for energy efficiency improvements for government and commercial computer servers and data centers in the United States. The report recommends priority efficiency opportunities and policies that can also lead to additional savings using state-of-the-art technologies and operations. The report shows that data centers in the United States have the potential to save up to $4 billion in annual electricity costs through more energy efficient equipment and operations, and the broad implementation of best management practices. The report, its appendices and its executive summary are available for download in PDF format at the link above.

Brownstown residents will soon see more environmentally-friendly town operations as the town becomes one of the Indiana Department of Environmental Management’s (IDEM’s) newest “CLEAN” communities.

IDEM Assistant Commissioner Rick Bossingham presented a plaque and commemorative road sign to Town Board President Leroy Warren to officially induct Brownstown into the CLEAN program on Monday, Oct. 5, at Brownstown Town Council Chambers.

The CLEAN (Comprehensive Local Environmental Action Network) Community Challenge is a voluntary recognition program for local Indiana government entities that make significant commitments to environmental management.

CLEAN helps communities take steps to plan, develop, and implement a Quality of Life Plan, which focuses on reducing the potential environmental impacts associated with their municipal operations.

“Brownstown’s commitment to environmental stewardship is a shining example for other communities to follow,” said IDEM Commissioner Thomas Easterly. “I applaud the entire community for its good work in protecting Hoosiers and our environment.”

Brownstown has committed to achieving several environmental goals, including developing standard operating procedures for spill response and training appropriate staff in the use of the procedures by the summer of 2012. Other goals include increasing recycling in town facilities and at town festivals (including the Spring Car Show, Melon Fest, and Hometown Christmas) by 20 percent by August 2012; recycling 100 percent of fluorescent bulbs and rechargeable batteries generated from municipal operations by January 2012, and addressing winter road maintenance by completing a study to determine the feasibility of using a liquid de-icer to reduce sand usage by January 2012.

Leroy Warren, President of the Brownstown Town Board, is pleased with the actions taken by the town to improve their environmental footprint. “We are proud of Brownstown’s initiative in promoting recycling and taking care of the environment.  It was a team effort of town employees and all the residents that helped Brownstown become part of the CLEAN Community Challenge,” he said.

The Indiana CLEAN Community Challenge is administered by IDEM in partnership with the Indiana Department of Natural Resources and the Indiana Finance Authority. Partner agencies provide financial incentives to Indiana CLEAN Community members, such as better terms and improved opportunities for state grant and loan dollars. Brownstown joins nine other communities participating in the CLEAN program: the cities of Crown Point, Indianapolis, La Porte, Lawrence, Michigan City, Richmond, Tell City, Valparaiso and the town of Fishers.

The Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) has recognized Cummins Inc.’s Columbus Engine Plant (CEP) as an Environmental Stewardship Program (ESP) member for its proactive environmental management achievements in 2008.  

Last year, the plant, which assembles heads and blocks for heavy-duty diesel engines, fulfilled its ESP commitment to complete several lighting projects, including replacing 1,931 older, less efficient lights with 50 percent fewer but more energy-efficient lights.  This project saved $158,461 in electricity costs and avoided more than 1,800 metric tons of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions per year.   To put the energy savings into perspective, the 2.6 gigawatts saved is enough to power 225 average U.S. households for one year.

In addition to the lighting retrofit project, CEP sought alternative methods for the disposal of 500,000 square feet of concrete flooring that was demolished to make way for the construction of a new light-duty diesel engine assembly line.  Instead of putting the material in a landfill, the clean concrete was used to stabilize a heavily-eroded stream bank located near the plant.  More than 870 dump truck loads of material were saved from disposal in the landfill.

“Our obligation as an employer and responsible community citizen is to lead activities like these that improve our environment,” said Dana Vogt, Manufacturing Leader for the Engine Business unit on Cummins Health, Safety and Environmental Council.  ”The efforts by the CEP team once again demonstrates the work they do serves as a benchmark not only within Cummins, but for other businesses as well.   And like so many environmental projects, these also have significant economic benefits.

“What is particularly exciting about these efforts and others like them under way in the Company is the opportunity for employee participation,” continued Vogt.  ”We not only promote these improvements within our facilities, but encourage our employees to take the skills and ideas and put them into practice at home.  Cummins is proud to be a part of this community and will continue to do our part to make it a great place to live and work.”

Cummins’ Columbus Engine Plant is one of 46 Indiana businesses that are ESP members. ESP is a voluntary environmental performance-based leadership program.  Each ESP member is committed to implementing or maintaining measurable environmental improvements, such as reducing water or energy use, decreasing solid or hazardous waste or reducing air emissions.  

To become an ESP member, businesses must maintain an exemplary compliance record, certify that they have adopted and implemented an approved environmental management system and commit to specific measures for continued improvement in their environmental performance.

ESP members qualify for expedited permit review, flexibility in permitting, reduced reporting frequencies, and coordination of compliance inspections.  To maintain ESP membership, companies must report on their environmental initiatives every year and reapply for membership every three years.

“ESP members go beyond environmental requirements that protect Hoosiers and our environment,” said IDEM Commissioner Thomas Easterly.  ”Cummins Columbus Engine Plant has shown exemplary performance and strong commitment to continued improvement.  Indiana wins when companies use sound business practices to demonstrate their core value of environmental protection.”

Hoosier businesses can apply for ESP recognition from September 1 through October 31.  For details about the program and an application, visit IDEM’s Web site at www.idem.IN.gov/prevention/esp or contact IDEM at (800) 988-7901.

These publications were recently added to GLRPPR’s Sector Resources. This list is continuously updated on the web and is also available as an RSS feed.

Climate Change Science Compendium 2009
Fri, 25 Sep 2009 18:06:16 GMT
UNEP publication summarizes and updates the IPCC’s 4th Assessment Report with lots of maps, graphs, and tables. [PDF, 76 p.]

The Greening of Paint
Thu, 24 Sep 2009 14:28:43 GMT
Oregon this summer became the first state to enact in law a product stewardship law for the collection of leftover consumer paint. The pilot program, which expires in 2014, involves a consumer fee that a nonprofit organization established by paint producers uses to pay for the collection and proper disposal or reuse of the leftover paint.

Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) Analysis Tool
Tue, 22 Sep 2009 18:04:02 GMT
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has developed a new Web site to communicate information about Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) Program results to technically specialized audiences, including TMDL developers, state water programs, academia, other federal agency programs, and EPA water quality staff. TMDL is a calculation of the maximum amount of a pollutant that a waterbody can receive and still meet water quality standards, and an allocation of that load among the various sources of that pollutant.

Opportunities for Combined Heat and Power in Data Centers
Tue, 22 Sep 2009 14:58:29 GMT
This report analyzes the opportunities for CHP technologies to assist primary power in making the data center more cost-effective and energy efficient. Broader application of CHP will lower the demand for electricity from central stations and reduce the pressure on electric transmission and distribution infrastructure.

Evaluating a Proposed 20% National Renewable Portfolio Standard
Tue, 22 Sep 2009 14:42:50 GMT
This paper provides a preliminary analysis of the impacts of a proposed 20% national renewable portfolio standard (RPS) by 2021, which has been advanced in the U.S. Congress by Senator Jeff Bingaman of New Mexico. The paper was prepared before the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act was signed into law by President Barack Obama on February 17, 2009, and thus does not consider important changes in renewable energy (RE) policy that need to be addressed in follow-on analysis. [PDF, 35 p.]

A Comparative Review of a Dozen National Energy Plans: Focus on Renewable and Efficient Energy
Mon, 21 Sep 2009 21:49:21 GMT
Dozens of groups have submitted energy, environmental, and economic recovery plans for consideration by the Obama administration and the 111th Congress. This report provides a comparative analysis of 12 national proposals, focusing especially on energy efficiency (EE) and renewable energy (RE) market and policy issues.

Waste Vegetable Oil as an Alternative Fuel for Diesel Vehicles
Mon, 21 Sep 2009 21:47:11 GMT
Alternative fuels have become a hot topic in the news as the cost of oil remains volatile. Questions of whether acquiring alternative fuels are worth the cost, logistics, and political implications are being asked. A possible solution may be currently thrown away by Wright Patterson Air Force Base’s (WPAFB) dining establishments in the form of waste vegetable oil (WVO). This study investigated the benefits and costs of pursuing the installation of a WVO to Straight Vegetable Oil fuel processing center and using the fuel to power some of the base’s diesel vehicles. A pilot program was fielded utilizing the Wright Patterson Club for WVO and the Recycling Center for processing and use. From the pilot program, data was extrapolated to determine the total cost and payback period to operate the system. The benefits of reducing spills and emissions were also realized. [PDF, 132 p.]

Well-to-Wheels Energy Use and Greenhouse Gas Emissions Analysis of Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles
Mon, 21 Sep 2009 21:40:49 GMT
Researchers at Argonne National Laboratory expanded the Greenhouse gases, Regulated Emissions, and Energy use in Transportation (GREET) model and incorporated the fuel economy and electricity use of alternative fuel/vehicle systems simulated by the Powertrain System Analysis Toolkit (PSAT) to conduct a well-to-wheels (WTW) analysis of energy use and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs).

Guidance for Implementing the January 2001 Methylmercury Water Quality Criterion
Mon, 21 Sep 2009 21:35:53 GMT
In January 2001, EPA published ambient water quality criteria (AWQC) recommendations for methylmercury for the protection of people who eat fish and shellfish. This criterion, 0.3 mg methylmercury/kg fish tissue wet weight, marks EPA’s first issuance of a water quality criterion expressed as a fish and shellfish tissue value rather than as an ambient water column value. This document provides technical guidance to states and authorized tribes exercising responsibility under section CWA 303(c) on how to use the new fish tissue-based criterion recommendation as they develop their own water quality standards for methylmercury.

Powering a Nation: The Quest for Energy in a Changing USA
Mon, 21 Sep 2009 19:54:50 GMT
“Powering a Nation” is the University of North Carolina’s contribution to the News21 project led by eight of the 12 top journalism programs participating in the Carnegie-Knight Initiative on the Future of Journalism Education funded by the Carnegie Corp. of New York and John S. and James L. Knight Foundation in Miami, Fla. Ten Carolina journalism students selected as News21 fellows have been working since January with faculty — joined by two students from Harvard University and the University of Missouri — to produce stories about wind farms, the electrical grid, mountaintop removal, coal activists, biofuels, religious response to environmental issues and other topics.

These publications were recently added to GLRPPR’s Sector Resources. This list is continuously updated on the web and is also available as an RSS feed.

Climate Wizard
Thu, 17 Sep 2009 18:35:03 GMT
Climate Wizard enables technical and non-technical audiences alike to access leading climate change information and visualize the impacts anywhere on Earth. The first generation of this web-based program allows the user to choose a state or country and both assess how climate has changed over time and to project what future changes are predicted to occur in a given area. ClimateWizard represents the first time ever the full range of climate history and impacts for a landscape have been brought together in a user-friendly format.

Climate Community
Wed, 16 Sep 2009 16:23:38 GMT
This Climate Community site (UNDPCC) presents information on key climate change issues including the economic and policy implications of climate change and analyses of climate change negotiations. It also features an extensive library with documents in multiple languages and forums to share information and resources. UNDPCC was launched under the UNDP Environment & Energy Group project, Capacity Development for Policy Makers to Address Climate Change.

Unlocking the Potential for Sustainable Design
Wed, 16 Sep 2009 13:38:57 GMT
The opportunities for sustainable design are everywhere, says Majora Carter, and they are limitless — from the simple act of pruning a tree or crafting a chair from discarded wooden pallets to transforming an urban wasteland into a park.

Office Carbon Footprint Tool
Tue, 15 Sep 2009 21:49:09 GMT
This tool was created to assist organizations in making decisions to reduce the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions associated with their activities. It allows users to develop an estimate of their GHG emissions from a variety of sources including company-owned vehicle transportation; purchased electricity; waste disposal; and leased assets, franchises, and outsourced activities. The Office Carbon Footprint Tool (updated to version 1.2) is available as a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet (self-extracting WinZip file, 810K).

Choosing a Responsible Recycler: A Guide for Generators of Secondary Hazardous Materials
Tue, 15 Sep 2009 21:41:07 GMT
Brochure targeted at businesses that are planning to recycle outdated equipment, including electronics. Provides a standard set of questions to ask before sending materials to be recycled. [PDF, 2 p.]

University of Illinois Center for Advanced BioEnergy Research (CABER) Blog
Wed, 09 Sep 2009 13:20:48 GMT
This blog is produced by the Center for Advanced BioEnergy Research CABER) at the University of Illinois. This blog is a roundup of research news and related topics dealing with biofuels. It does not cover biofuel production and prices at this time.

These publications were recently added to GLRPPR’s Sector Resources. This list is continuously updated on the web and is also available as an RSS feed.

Meta-Review of Efficiency Potential Studies and Their Implications for the South
Tue, 08 Sep 2009 18:52:36 GMT
This paper reviews 19 separate studies published over the past 12 years that examine the potential for deploying greater energy efficiency in the South. These studies contain more than 250 estimates of the energy efficiency potential for different fuels (electricity, natural gas, and all fuels), sectors of the economy (residential buildings, commercial buildings, and industry), and types of potential (technical, economic, maximum achievable, and moderate achievable). The meta-review concludes that a reservoir of cost-effective energy savings exists in the South. The full deployment of these nearly pollution-free opportunities could largely offset the growth in energy consumption forecast for the region over the next decade.

View more information on this resource

Building a Sustainable Energy Future: U.S. Actions for an Effective Energy Economy Transformation
Tue, 08 Sep 2009 18:49:10 GMT
The United States faces a critical challenge to transform our current fossil fuel based energy economy to a stable and sustainable energy economy. This transformation must be achieved in a timely manner to increase U.S. energy independence, enhance environmental stewardship and reduce energy and carbon intensity, and generate continued economic growth. In this report, the National Science Board (Board) offers key findings, recommendations to the U.S. Government, and guidance to the National Science Foundation (NSF). Collectively, these actions will initiate and sustain a transformation to a sustainable energy economy.

Alliance for the Great Lakes
Tue, 08 Sep 2009 13:37:59 GMT
The Alliance works to conserve and restore the world’s largest freshwater resource through policy, education and local efforts aimed at preserving the Great Lakes region as a national treasure. It also works with the region’s residents, enhancing their understanding of how they can help, too.

Sustainable Procurement of Wood and Paper-based Products
Wed, 02 Sep 2009 13:31:02 GMT
Forest products are renewable goods that store carbon and have in most cases a lower environmental footprint than non-wood products. Well-managed forests provide numerous ecosystem services and societal benefits. The production of forest products can, however, cause significant negative side effects if not conducted in a legal and sustainable basis. (pdf document; 156 pp)

Removing the Roadblocks: How to Make Sustainable Development Happen Now
Tue, 01 Sep 2009 18:55:43 GMT
Business-as-usual real estate development in California has resulted in crushing traffic, fewer housing options, loss of open space and agricultural land, and significant air pollution, including the greenhouse gas emissions that cause climate change. Traffic alone costs Californians hours each year of lost time, frustration, and wasted fuel. Sustainable development represents the solution. This development is typified by compact, walkable communities located near transit, jobs and services. California already has examples, such as downtown Berkeley and Los Angeles, neighborhoods in San Francisco, Pasadena and San Diego’s Gaslamp Quarter, to name a few. Many residents there have the option of walking to services (such as stores and schools), jobs, and major public transit stops. And the diverse nature of housing means grown children can live near parents, empty-nesters can downsize within their communities, and residents of diverse incomes can live near each other. Despite the demand for these neighborhoods, however, local land use policies often prevent developers from building them. To identify solutions, a group of leading developers of sustainable real estate projects, along with California Attorney General Jerry Brown, met at the UCLA School of Law in March 2009. The gathering resulted in two major findings. First, the group identified the four most critical roadblocks to sustainable development. Second, the group offered specific solutions to these barriers. Based on the discussion, this paper presents for the first time a comprehensive blueprint for how policy makers and industry leaders can make sustainable development more widespread and easier to build. It recommends a series of immediate and longer-term actions these leaders must take to remove the sustainable development roadblocks. The most critical of these recommendations is that local governments develop comprehensive neighborhood plans for sustainable development. State and federal leaders must support local governments in this effort with financial assistance and regulatory reform.

Climate Change Compass: The Road to Copenhagen
Tue, 01 Sep 2009 18:50:35 GMT
Building on last year’s analysis, EIRIS reviewed the 300 largest global companies by market capitalization listed on the FTSE All World Index to assess the current state of corporate responses to climate change. This report highlights the direction companies are taking with regard to the issue and examines its implications for investors.

Water Footprinting: Identifying and Addressing Water Risks in he Value Chain
Tue, 01 Sep 2009 18:44:48 GMT
This report provides a detailed insight into the learning of WWF and SABMiller, who worked together with consultancy URS Corporation to undertake water footprints of the beer value chain in South Africa and the Czech Republic. It discusses what the water footprint results in both countries mean for SABMiller’s businesses and their action plans in response to the findings. This study looks beyond the basic water footprint numbers and considers where the resource is used and the context of its use — in particular by considering water use for different agricultural crops in the context of specific water catchments.

The Sustainable Electronics Initiative (SEI), hosted by the Illinois Sustainable Technology Center (ISTC), is pleased to announce the availability of its online “Ask an Expert” service for the submission of questions related to electronics and their environmental impacts.

Questions related to electronic waste, or “e-waste” issues, sustainable electronics design, improving electronics manufacturing processes and related topics can be submitted via an online form available at http://www.sustainelectronics.illinois.edu/services/askexpert.cfm. SEI staff members will provide one hour of free Internet and/or literature searching related to your sustainable electronics question. Also provided is input from ISTC staff scientists and/or referrals to external contacts for further information on technical questions. Responses can be expected within a week (usually within 1-2 business days). Citizens, organizations, government agencies, businesses, non-profit groups, and academic institutions are all invited to use this free service.

The responses obtained from the Ask an Expert service are meant for informational purposes only, and should not be construed as endorsements by SEI, ISTC or any affiliated organization. Responses are also meant to be starting points for inquirers rather than definitive answers, advice or prescriptions for action. Inquirers must draw their own conclusions based upon the information provided.

In the near future, questions and answers received via this service will be archived and searchable on the SEI web site, www.sustainelectronics.illinois.edu. An extensive collection of resources is also under development for the web site, and archived Ask an Expert questions and answers will be integrated into relevant resource collections.

According to the U.S. EPA, Americans own nearly three billion electronic products and continually purchase new ones to replace those deemed “obsolete,” even though about two-thirds of the devices are still in working order. As designers, manufacturers and the general public are becoming more aware and concerned about this issue, SEI’s Ask an Expert service will be one way to address concerns and assist in more sustainable practices.

SEI is a consortium dedicated to the development and implementation of a more sustainable system for designing, producing, remanufacturing, and recycling electronic devices. Members of the consortium include academia, non-profit organizations, government agencies, manufacturers, designers, refurbishers, and recyclers. Specific elements of the SEI include programs for research, education, data management, and technical assistance. SEI conducts collaborative research; facilitates networking and information exchange among participants; promotes technology diffusion via demonstration projects; and provides forums for the discussion of policy and legislation.

For more information on SEI, visit www.sustainelectronics.illinois.edu or contact Dr. Tim Lindsey, Associate Director of ISTC, at 217-333-8955 or tlindsey@istc.illinois.edu. For more information on the Ask an Expert service contact Laura Barnes, ISTC librarian at 217-333-8957 or lbarnes@istc.illinois.edu.

ISTC is a unit of the Institute of Natural Resource Sustainability at the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign.

These publications were recently added to GLRPPR’s Sector Resources. This list is continuously updated on the web and is also available as an RSS feed.

The Carbon Chasm
Wed, 26 Aug 2009 18:25:52 GMT
In 2007 the IPCC stated that developed economies must reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 80-95% by 2050 in order to avoid dangerous climate change. This report utilises the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) dataset to analyse how the world’s largest companies currently set emissions reduction targets and whether planned reductions are sufficient to combat long term climate change. It also draws evidence from 12 in depth interviews with Global 1003 companies to show what motivates senior management in setting GHG reduction targets. This work was conducted in conjunction with BT (British Telecommunications plc), which has ignited a debate around science led targets with its proposed Climate Stabilisation Intensity target (CSI) methodology.

Zero Energy Home in San Francisco
Tue, 25 Aug 2009 14:01:18 GMT

Homes of the future will go beyond including green design elements, low VOC paints, and solar systems. Homes of the future will be carbon neutral, generate all their own power, some of their own food and have integrated systems to increase energy efficiency, reduce water consumption and minimize waste. Plans for the first Zero Energy House in San Francisco are underway, and this house will be a model of efficiency and green design to other homes in the area.

Be Spartan Green
Thu, 13 Aug 2009 18:28:05 GMT
Michigan State University’s sustainability web site includes videos, project descriptions, and suggestions for how students can be more environmentally aware.

Psychology and Global Climate Change: Addressing a Multi-faceted Phenomenon and Set of Challenges
Thu, 13 Aug 2009 18:16:31 GMT
The primary aim of this report is to engage members of the psychology community (teachers, researchers, those in practice, and students) in the issue of climate change. To this end, this American Psychological Association (APA) task force report describes the contributions of psychological research to an understanding of psychological dimensions of global climate change, provides research recommendations, and proposes policies for APA to assist psychologists’ engagement with this issue.

Green Building and Development as a Public Good
Wed, 12 Aug 2009 17:52:36 GMT
Governments in Canada are attempting to respond to the challenge of global warming and to the expectation Canadians hold for a healthy economy and enhanced quality of life. Actions include energy conservation, the introduction of a carbon tax (British Columbia) and the possibility of carbon cap and trade legislation (or agreements among some provinces). An area of increasing attention is how we develop communities and build and use residential and commercial buildings. In Green Building and Development as a Public Good, Mike Buzzelli argues that green building and development faces a classic policy paradox: we collectively agree that improvements are needed in the built environment but we are caught in a whirlwind of information and debate about how to move forward. We are motivated to “be green” but challenged by implementation. [PDF, 10 p.]

Climate Change Data Portal
Wed, 12 Aug 2009 17:33:45 GMT
The WB Climate Change Portal is intended to provide quick and readily accessible climate and climate-related data to policy makers and development practitioners. The site also includes a mapping visualization tool (webGIS) that displays key climate variables and climate-related data.

Real Transportation Solutions for Green House Gas Emissions
Thu, 30 Jul 2009 13:47:42 GMT
This website, launched by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials, highlights strategies to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from transportation. Includes best practices, state examples, research findings, and links to other climate change information sites.