Ecotourism, or environmentally responsible travel, is no longer just a trip with backpacks, spending nights in the open air and with little comfort. The world’s best resorts are adding “eco” to their names, combining sustainability with a high level of service. Luxury-Eco is a new concept that combines two seemingly opposing directions. Since luxury is defined as a good or service that is not considered to be a necessity, it is associated with waste. In reality, however, rarity and durability lies in the concept of true luxury. It is not something mass produced but precious, therefore it is in luxury brands best interests to protect scarce resources.

“Luxury brands can not be that proud about their performance on social environmental issues yet,” says Dr. Jem Bendell, Associate Professor in Griffith Business School.  The business of luxury, however, cannot be isolated from the problems of  pollution, climate change and scarcity of resources. The question is not whether luxury industry could be green, but how it could do so.

“The biggest problem in sustainability in any industry is that there is no general definition of what it is,” comments Vanessa Friedman, fashion editor for the Financial Times. The possible answers could be an efficient use of resources, help to local communities, and decent working conditions for employees. Currently each industry faces the challenge to define its own sustainable practices to make sure the resources we have today will be available tomorrow.

The tourism industry is one of the first that has developed criteria for a clear understanding of what sustainable tourism is, and the rules the tourism business should follow. The framework, called the Global Sustainable Tourism Criteria, published in March 2012, covers four main directions: effective sustainability planning, maximizing social and economic benefits for the local community, enhancing cultural heritage and reducing negative impacts to the environment. Market leaders make efforts to follow the criteria.

The Marriott, for example, is about to spend 75 percent of its budget this year to get sustainable furniture and equipment. Another giant, Hilton, managed to cut waste 19 percent during 2010 with its system LightStay. The company states an objective to cut energy consumption by 20 percent, CO2 emission and waste output; water consumption is to be cut by 10 percent in the period from 2009 to 2014. Hilton’s sustainability policy includes eleven points, one of which is engaging  team members through training, tools, and active involvement.

Not only employees, but also customers, should be educated. Hotels cannot limit clients’ consumption of food, water and energy, but what they can do is to create a community with recommendations that are easy to follow. Practices such as changing the towels only when necessary, not using straws for cocktails and reusing glasses are not restricting, therefore customers are likely to respect them. The key here is to give visitors the idea about their contribution. It’s not enough for a hotel to claim to be green. The figures about reduction of water use and energy and contribution to the local community must be presented. The Sol Melía chain, for example, reported 35,506kg of waste collected and recycled for hotel. Another important factor to look at while choosing a green place is whether a hotel has environmental certification.

The current challenge common for all luxury industries is how to make customers accept and follow green practices. Kavita Maharaj, the Director of Global Corporate Relationship in Havas Media, is optimistic about the future: “It’s quite clear from the research we have done that consumers want it. They say quite categorically: we want to be a part of the solution, we want to be engaged in this issue and do something about it.”

In the end, luxury has sustainability in its roots. “The essence of real luxury is to sell high quality, creative and rare objects with an image of good taste and elegance. Thus luxury is resource dependent and obsessed by the sustainability of its resources,” says Jean Noël Kapferer, expert in brand-management.

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Toronto, Canada — The MaRS Cleantech Fund is pleased to announce the completion of a venture deal with Woodland Biofuels, positioned to become North America’s lowest-cost producer of ethanol.

“The MaRS Cleantech fund seeks technologies with the potential to revolutionize the energy sector,” says Tom Rand, co-managing director of the Fund. “Woodland Biofuels is on track to become the first company to profitably make renewable fuels from non-food sources without requiring any form of subsidy. That’s the kind of game-changer we target.”

Woodland Biofuels produces cellulosic ethanol from wood chips and other types of biomass, converting forestry and agricultural waste into fuel using a proprietary gasification and three-step catalytic conversion process. The company recently opened a demonstration plant in Sarnia, Ontario.

“Woodland’s demonstration plant will show that our technology can produce renewable fuels from cellulose, reliably and at low cost,” says Greg Nuttall, CEO of Woodland Biofuels. “We look forward to working with MaRS to bring this important technology into full commercial production.”

Rand notes that liquid fuels – gasoline, diesel and jet fuel – are the most difficult components of the fossil fuel infrastructure to replace with renewables.

“First-generation fuels from food are a non-starter – they can’t scale up,” says Rand. “There were a few early, high-profile failures in cellulosic fuels, which made investors flee the sector. But if you do your homework, it’s clear not all second-generation technologies are equal. With Woodland, we believe we’ve found a technology that can deliver on the promise of renewable fuel.”

Murray McCaig, the Fund’s co-managing partner, says it targets the technology component of a sustainable economy – investing in companies that solve big problems in order to reap big rewards.

“According to Ottawa-based Analytica Advisors, the global cleantech market is expected to reach $3 trillion by 2020,” McCaig says. “If Canada got just two per cent of the cleantech market by 2020, which happens to be our share of carbon emissions, we’d build a $60 billion industry. That’s the market we’re going after.”

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San Francisco, U.S.A. — Guerrilla Green is a growing movement of frustrated young people tired of waiting for sustainable transformation in the built environment. The place they spend most of their time, the school campus, is usually built with little care to future generations and in some cases contain toxins that increase the risk of cancer in students and teachers.

As more schools push for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) very few give an outlet for practical and tangible results. We’re changing that. This inaugural sustainable showdown invites teams of middle and high school students across the U.S. to bring innovative solutions to their school buildings, outdoor spaces and activities.

Using a ‘bracket style’ competition the top eight teams will compete to win their region before battling for the grand prize of ten grand. We are not just highlighting and honoring ideas, we’re investing in them with over $30,000. This money empowers the students with direct action, not only to imagine but to implement. Surprise jury members will be announced every day starting October 24. The group includes a 19 year old filmmaker, a 21 year old eco-pioneer, an emerging TV and film actor and many more.

Cameron Sinclair, ‘Chief Eternal Optimist’ of Architecture for Humanity and former TED Prize winner, argues that “the only difference between a good idea and a great one is implementation. I came up with Architecture for Humanity when I was a kid, and it took over a decade before I found the support to launch it. We can’t wait while the innovative ideas sit on the shelf, so we are helping to fund the Guerrilla Green Sustainable Showdown and in turn invest in what matters, the environmental leaders of tomorrow.”

Additional funding has been provided by Youth Rock The Rebuild, a group of school rock bands who have raised funds for rebuilding in Haiti and Japan as well as local initiatives. Support has also been garnered from the Bezos Family Foundation, The Department of Small Works and Teens Turning Green.

Are you a teenager? Do you know a teenager? Have you seen a teenager? Register and submit the next great green solution for a chance to collect up to $13,000, submit it at bit.ly/hackitgreen then talk it up on our Facebook page and Twitter @guerrillagreen. Snap it up on Pintrest and Instagram. Each venue gives your team more exposure and more money (mini challenges to come). So Green into it!

For more information, visit bit.ly/hackitgreen or join in at Twitter @guerrillagreen and Facebook.

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By the time you’re ten, you have most likely heard the phrase: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle. But how effective is recycling?

When younger, you’re more likely to actually recycle because you have been taught that is the right thing to do. However, that quickly changes once children grow up because their apartment or house charges extra for recycling, or because recycling is too much of a hassle.

According to the Clean Air Council, “Only 30% of people in the Southern region of the United States had curbside recycling collection [recycling that is deposited by the residents outside of each house and picked up by recycling representatives] in 2008. Eighty-four percent of people in the Northeast had curbside recycling.” Especially since the percentage within the Southern region is so low, it certainly does not encourage people to recycle. “In 2008, only 23.1% of glass disposed of was recycled, and only 7.1% of plastics and 21.1% of aluminum.” Surprisingly, “the average American office worker uses about 500 disposable cups every year” and “every year, Americans throw away enough paper and plastic cups, forks, and spoons to circle the equator 300 times.”

The startling fact is that a lot of Americans do not recycle, “Over 7 billion pounds of PVC are thrown away in the U.S. each year. Only 18 million pounds of that, about one quarter of 1 percent, is recycled.”

Recycling is a huge deal on my college campus because we are trying to “Go Green” and leave less of a carbon footprint. Sure, there are still people who do not recycle and those who use a different plastic water bottle every day, but the majority of those on campus will at least recycle.

However, many times even “recycled” plastics cannot be reused, so why are so many of our items made from plastic? If you look around the room, you would be surprised at how many plastic items you own, ranging from food containers to shelves. Looking at the statistics for water bottles alone is sickening. The Clean Air Council claims that “827,000 to 1.3 million tons of plastic PET water bottles were produced in the U.S. in 2006, requiring the energy equivalent of 50 million barrels of oil. 76.5 percent of these bottles ended up in landfills.” In addition, “26 to 41 percent of the 2.4 million tons of PET plastic discarded every year is bottled water bottles” and “because plastic water bottles are shielded from sunlight in landfills, they will not decompose for thousands of years.”

It may not be feasible to believe that plastics can be eliminated entirely from our lives, but everyone can be more conscious about their plastic usage. You can reduce your own plastic consumption in several easy ways, such as bringing your own bags to the grocery store so you do not get more paper or plastic bags. “Every year, Americans use approximately 1 billion shopping bags, creating 300,000 tons of landfill waste.” In fact, “Less than 1 percent of plastic bags are recycled each year.” You can also buy a reusable water bottle rather than buying bottled water.

If everyone made an effort to use fewer plastics, everyone would be doing something better than recycling: they would be proactive about an issue, rather than simply throwing something away in the proper bin.

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Morgantown, U.S.A. — SustainU, a leading producer of clothing using fabrics made from 100% recycled materials that are manufactured in the USA, announced a new sustainability-focused program with Eastern Mountain Sports, The national retailer is now carrying men’s and women’s graphic tees in 49 of its leading stores. The co-branded collection will be distinguished by an “EMS, Powered by SustainU” hangtag.

“We are very excited to be working with EMS. They are a ground-breaking company, looking to offer their customers both environmentally and socially sustainable clothing options,” said Chris Yura, CEO and founder of SustainU. “Less than 2% of the clothing sold in the US is actually made here. It is vital that we begin to bring this part of our economy back and the jobs that go with it.”

Since 1994, the American textile and apparel-manufacturing sector has lost more than 1 million jobs, 65% of the entire industry. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that an additional 25% of the jobs (53,7000) will be gone before 2020. ”As an outdoor retailer, Eastern Mountain Sports is committed to doing everything we can to preserve and protect our planet,” said Eastern Mountain Sports CEO Will Manzer. “That’s why we’re proud to partner with SustainU to reduce the environmental impact of our graphic t-shirts while supporting a small, American business.”

Eastern Mountain Sports is offering the co-branded collection in two men’s and two women’s graphic tees in retail locations, including its online web store (EMS.com). “We look forward to growing our 100% recycled, made in the USA programs in the near future as consumers get more and more on board with these products,” said Jen Edes, EMS Sr. Director Sourcing & Product Development.

A complete list of stores carrying the SustainU line can be found at www.sustainUclothing.com/EMS.

SustainU produces high quality apparel using fabrics made from 100% recycled materials that are manufactured in the USA to provide extraordinary comfort and wear, while reducing environmental waste, carbon emissions and water use. Our mission is to change the way clothes are made to improve the environment, reinvigorate America’s manufacturing sector, and educate the world about how clothing can positively impact people’s lives.

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London, England — Jetting off on holiday and being green is not a combination we would usually see as a match made in heaven. Now more than ever, we are being told why we should look for more eco-friendly ways of living, including how we travel. Recent years have seen the rise of carbon offsetting, which has given us a get-out clause for our guilt when flying across the globe. But with inventive ways to go green constantly being introduced, the summer holidays are the perfect time to take advantage of the greenest ways to travel, says Green Energy United Kingdom.

Unsurprisingly, airlines and motor vehicles burn fossil fuels the fastest, but many manufacturers are tailoring their designs to use alternative energy sources in order to become more environmentally sound. Green Energy is not asking you to ditch your exotic holiday and pitch a tent in the garden this summer, instead look for smart ways to off-set the less green modes of transport you are taking.

Douglas Stewart, CEO of Green Energy United Kingdom says: “The most earth-friendly ways to travel have always been by foot or by bike, but this is not always the most practical or even realistic way of getting around, especially when you want to flee the country for somewhere less rainy! Instead why not consider carbon offsetting against your holiday flight? There are plenty of websites that specialize in green travel, so make sure you have a good shop around to see what is going to benefit the planet more. Also consider public transport, not only is it better for the environment, but it will also put extra pennies in your pocket for ice creams and sticks of rock at the beach.

“Don’t forget even the small changes will help make a big difference, therefore put on your wellies and hit the garden with the kids and plant some trees. Or alternatively, switch your electricity provider to a  green tariff, which will help balance the not so green ways you are travelling this summer.”

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Fairfax, U.S.A. — From vegetable gardens and green houses to a water purification plant, the Barcelo Maya Beach Resort in Riviera Maya, Mexico, is committed to the ecological preservation of its vibrant landscape. With that pledge, the AAA Four Diamond, all-inclusive resort is also dedicated to inspiring guests to embrace environmental sustainability practices by sharing its methods and operating standards.

White sand beaches, deep green foliage, bright flowers and crystal clear waters are hallmarks of the Riviera Maya that Barcelo Maya Beach Resort is dedicated to sustaining and but growing for current and future guests to experience.

“We are deeply committed to our reputation as an eco-friendly vacation destination and our responsibility to preserving the stunning scenery of Riviera Maya,” said Claudio Zboznovits, vice president of Barcelo Hotels & Resorts sales and marketing in the U.S.

During sea turtle season, May – October, the resort protects nesting sites with a wire fence and post signage to inform guests about the sea turtles.  Once the eggs hatch, guests are encouraged to participate in the release of newborn turtles on the beach. Guided by Maya’s onsite environmental team, participants can assist the native loggerhead and green sea turtles make the journey from sand to sea.

The resort’s green practices expand far beyond what guests see during their stay.  Treating water in filtration plants to be reused for irrigation, sorting trash, using energy-saving light bulbs and installing automatic light control in public areas are just a few elements of the resort’s overall sustainability efforts. The complex even has a 3,200-square-foot vegetable garden, “La Huerta del Chef,” where vegetables, herbs and 10 different types of chili peppers are grown. Additionally, a reverse-osmosis plant purifies drinking water, and an on-site nursery produces 60 percent of the plants used in local reforestation. Vacationers can also visit an on-site ecological information hut to learn about the care of mangrove swamps, reefs and, of course, sea turtles.

Ideally located on Mexico’s eastern coast between the sizzle of Cancun and the intriguing Tulum ruins, Barcelo Maya Beach Resort welcomes visitors with 24 diverse dining options, 21 lively bars and lounges, 10 gigantic swimming pools, three entertainment theaters, two kid-friendly water parks, a 20,000-square-foot spa, and world class convention center.

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Vista, U.S.A. — Eco Building Products announced on July 23 that the Company has been awarded additional production releases, representing in excess of four hundred thousand dollars ($400,000.00) in gross revenues, on ECOB’s contract to supply Eco Red Shield coated lumber, labor and trusses for the next phase of houses at Brookfield Homes “Green Door” project in Ontario California.

E Build & Truss, a wholly owned subsidiary of Eco Building Products, was awarded the framing contract with the inclusion of Eco Red Shield lumber and truss package for the entire community of eighty eight homes. The Company has already completed thirty four homes of the customer contract. The current order, shipping from inventory, represents an additional eighteen more homes scheduled to commence shipment on Monday July 30 with estimated completion within 90 days.

Eco Building Products continues to provide protected lumber, now meeting building code requirements for wood-rot decay and termites coupled with the industry’s first warranty, and continues to supply superior framing services building a quality product for Brookfield Homes. Recent news has cited a strong national rebound currently is underway in the housing market; this current release from Brookfield is an indication of the potential current recovery in the local area. The Company is working to secure additional home builder contracts leveraging the recent accomplishments of Eco Building Products, Inc.

“I am extremely happy with the continued performance and quality of work delivered to our customers by E Build & Truss division. Delivering a quality product along with skilled quality labor services makes a turnkey package for our customers. My company is now diligently working to leverage our reputation and recent accomplishments to exponentially expand our contract base,” stated Steve Conboy, President and CEO of Eco Building Products.

Eco Building Products, Inc. is a manufacturer of treated wood products that are protected against fire, mold/mycotoxins, fungus, rot-decay, wood ingesting insects and termites by our proprietary eco-friendly chemistry utilizing ECOB Wood Surface Film and FRC technology (Fire Retardant Coating). Eco Building products, “Eco Red Shield”, “Eco Blue Shield” & “Eco Clear Shield” utilizing patent pending technology is the ultimate in wood protection, preservation, and fire safety to building components constructed of wood; from joists, beams and paneling, to floors and ceilings.

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Denver, U.S.A. – The Green America Better Paper Project released its latest “green paper,” ‘Green in All Grades,’ which debunks recent myths and proves that recycled paper is always the best environmental choice, especially when used in magazines.

‘Green in All Grades’ dissects the key arguments from recycled paper detractors so that paper purchasers can best understand and remain confident and comfortable that purchasing and using recycled paper is the best choice for the environment, climate, and people. In fact, the benefits are wide-ranging from mitigating climate change impacts to creating more jobs while also protecting biodiversity and improving air and water quality.

Frank Locantore, the director of the Better Paper Project, remarked, “Over the past few years, we’ve heard a lot of misinformation and unsubstantiated claims that recycled paper is a poor environmental choice for magazine paper, so we wanted to clear up confusion and present science-based facts to support magazines that want to do the right thing for the planet by using recycled paper.”

‘Green in All Grades’ proves:

• There is no shortage of wastepaper available for recovery and recycling, so there’s no need to allocate recycled content to only certain paper grades.
• When comparing the same grade of paper (“apples to apples”), recycled paper environmentally outshines its virgin counterpart.
• The greatest environmental savings occur when recovered paper is used to make recycled printing-writing paper, instead of recycled newsprint or packaging.
• Adding “request” to “reduce, reuse, recycle” can spur more paper recycling and a green manufacturing industry to support thousands of jobs.
• Collaboration between industry and non-profit organizations is the solution to growing a green and profitable magazine industry.

Scientists have estimated that human activity has degraded almost 80 percent of what remains of the planet’s forests. Producing more virgin paper, which requires further harming our natural ecosystems, is not a sustainable solution to the growing global paper demand. However, a solution is within reach – utilizing the vast reserves of recoverable paper that are not currently being collected and turned into recycled paper.

To help magazine publishers stand out as environmental leaders, ‘Green in All Grades’ offers a step-by-step plan to increase the recycled content in their magazines, attract green consumers and support a sustainable 21st century economy.

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Washington, U.S.A. — Individuals running a green business or support a company that supports the environment can submit a nomination to the first quarterly “People and Planet Award”, which is sponsored by the nonprofit Green America.

Nominations will be accepted online through July 9, 2012. Green businesses with fewer than 50 employees that are working to benefit their community may be nominated. After the nomination period closes, a panel of Green America judges will narrow the field to 10 finalists. Public voting will begin on August 2, 2012 and close on September 4, 2012. After the votes are tallied, the first group of three quarterly winners will be announced during the week of September 17th.

The new quarterly “People and Planet Awards” will recognize innovative entrepreneurial U.S. businesses that deeply integrate environmental and social considerations into their strategies and operations. Each quarter, three nominated green businesses will go on to win a $5,000 cash award. Winners must demonstrate excellence in a facet of the green economy as chosen by Green America for that quarter. The awards categories will reflect Green America’s broad definition of a “green economy”: one that works for both people and the planet.

Alisa Gravitz, executive director, Green America, said: “We are pleased to be able to encourage and honor businesses who are working hard to benefit their communities, their workers and the environment. Thanks to the generous donation of a longtime supporter, Green America will be able to award $15,000 each quarter to boost the green economy. In this tough economy, we know that $5,000 can go a long way to help sustain and grow an innovative green company.”

The first round of the Awards will focus on green businesses that also have a community action component. Examples could include a green cafe that donates organic waste to a local composting program, a solar installer with a program giving job-experience to local at-risk youth, or an organic farm that donates produce to the local homeless shelter.

Future rounds of the quarterly Awards will focus on clean energy, workplace innovations, and other sustainability practices.

Judges for Green America’s People and Planet Award include Katie Galloway & Gigi Abbadie, Aveda; Justin Conway, Calvert Foundation; Elysa Hammond, Clif Bar; Cheryl Newman, Honest Tea; Stacy Mitchell, Institute for Local Self-Reliance; Theresa Marquez, Organic Valley; Eric Henry, TS Designs; Reed Doyle, Seventh Generation and Fran Teplitz & Andrew Korfhage, Green America.

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Boston, U.S.A- The Massachusetts Beverage Association and the Massachusetts Food Association announced on June 21st that they will launch a two-year initiative aimed at increasing recycling in Massachusetts communities. The Massachusetts Recycling Challenge – building upon past investments in recycling in the Commonwealth – is designed to enhance residential recycling programs, while also increasing the presence of ‘on-the-go’ receptacles to encourage recycling in public places.

“While Massachusetts has built up its infrastructure for recycling over the past several years, there is still much work to be done as far as increasing our state’s recycling rate,” said Chris Flynn, President of the Massachusetts Food Association and spokesman for Real Recycling for Massachusetts – a coalition of citizens, businesses and community organizations that support a comprehensive approach to recycling. ”Our industry is committed to playing a leading role in increasing recycling in our state, and we believe this initiative can set the stage for meaningful progress.”

Through this challenge, a number of pilot programs will be established to help target communities improve their rates of recycling. A newly-formed nonprofit entity will engage outside consultants to provide technical advice to targeted communities looking to institute “pay as you throw” programs, through which residents can save money on trash collection by recycling more. In addition, the organization will purchase approximately 200 ‘on-the-go’ recycling receptacles to be deployed in high visibility locations in target communities.

The pay-as-you-throw approach to household waste disposal – in which residents pay trash collection and disposal fees proportional to how much they throw away – has proven highly effective in communities such as Worcester, Marshfield, and elsewhere for diverting material away from disposal. Diversion from disposal in pay-as-you-throw communities typically increases 16 percent with the adoption of these programs – and diversion is even higher if single-stream or other recycling program enhancements are introduced at the same time. The use of on-the-go recycling receptacles in public places is a priority initiative for many environmental, community and legislative leaders dedicated to enhancing recycling in Massachusetts.

“Legislative leaders in Massachusetts have spoken clearly that they want a comprehensive approach to recycling across the Commonwealth, and they are looking for a commitment from our industry to help lead the way,” said Chris Crowley, Executive Vice President of Polar Beverages in Worcester and Chairman of the Massachusetts Beverage Association. “That’s a challenge we embrace, and through the Massachusetts Recycling Challenge we hope motivated communities will see the opportunity to make a difference.”

The two-year, $533,000 pilot program will be established in 2012 and implemented in 2013 and 2014.  The pay as you throw program will begin with free workshops and include technical resources and advice to 15 to 20 communities in each of those two years. Experts will provide higher level technical assistance to five communities selected each year of the program. The public space initiative to place on-the-go recycling receptacles will fund the purchase of approximately 100 receptacles in each of the two program years. The initiative will fund technical support on receptacle siting, communications, and documentation of results and will include in-kind, promotional support from beverage companies and food retailers.

“We’re taking what have proven to be effective means for comprehensive recycling in communities in Massachusetts and across the country and are providing the resources to expand on them,” said Jim Crosby, owner of Crosby Supermarkets located in Middlesex and Essex Counties and Chairman of the Massachusetts Food Association. ”We look forward to working with communities and individuals who share our desire to improve the way we recycle in Massachusetts, and with that, the way we care for our environment.”

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Plastic bags originally became popular in the 1980’s, when businesses made the switch away from paper bags to cut back on costs. But the widespread use of plastic bags is leading to irreversible damage to the environment, and it is past time to start cutting back on use.

According to reuseit.com, over one trillion plastic bags are used every year worldwide. Each of these plastic bags, due to their content of high-density polyethylene, can take up to one thousand years to degrade when thrown in a landfill. Furthermore, plastic bags are the second most common type of ocean refuse after cigarette butts. The regular consumption and disposal of plastic bags is filling the earth with waste that will not decompose.

Some companies have taken steps toward correcting the growing problem. For example, the Envion Oil Generator, from the Envion company located in Washington D.C., turns recyclable plastic into synthetic oil, which then can be turned into fuel. Each generator processes 10,000 tons of fuel annually, and each ton creates around 4 barrels of crude oil. Their synthetic oil can be generated for a mere $10 per barrel, while the current market price is $70 per barrel. They plan to dramatically reduce the amount of plastic bags that build up as trash worldwide by “actively manufacturing, marketing, and licensing its proven technology in the U.S., Europe, Latin America, and Asia,” according to the company website. 

Michael Han, chairman and chief executive of Envion, said “We’re creating immediate answers to today’s environmental concerns. This is an answer to environmentalists who don’t want a landfill in their back yard.”

Blest Corporation, a Japanese company, made a similar machine. Their machine also outputs crude oil, which they plan to use for industrial businesses. They offer some of these generators for sale on their website.

However, these companies require that people actively recycle plastic bags. According to Clean Air Council’s Waste and Recycling Facts, only 1% of plastic bags are recycled. In addition, the cite claims that with old technology, recycling one ton of plastic bags costs $4000, while the average box of plastic bags can only be sold for $32 on the commodities market. Recycling is therefore not considered the best way to deal with the high-intensity use of plastic bags. The 99% that is not recycled still pollutes the environment.

One country has recognized politically that something needs to be done. In 2001, Ireland implemented a plastic tax, or plastax, to cut back on use. In stores, customers were charged a nominal amount per bag at checkout. Usage dropped 93.5% overall, a drop from about 328 bags to 21 bags per person each year. Reusable shopping bags, which took the place of disposable ones, have saved around 18 million liters of oil. This was an extremely successful way to counteract the effects of plastic bags in Ireland: a large-scale incentive not to use them.

Following Ireland’s example, many other countries and cities have developed a similar tax in the hope of cutting back on waste.

Plenty of states have developed recycling initiatives, such as New York, Virginia, and Iowa, but nothing has been as successful as Ireland’s tax. School districts have also imposed environmental education, installing recycling bins in classrooms and teaching elementary school students to ‘Go Green’ with reusable bags. The world has a long way to go before plastic bags are finished with, and the next couple of generations will still be cleaning up the mess.

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Cartersville, GA,U.S.A. – Metal Conversion Technologies (MCT), the second largest consumer rechargeable battery recycler in North America, is educating consumers on important safety guidelines for recycling lithium batteries. Many consumers are not aware that shipping lithium batteries to recycling facilities without following the Department of Transportation shipping guidelines can result in an explosion and a fire, either during shipping or at the receiving facility.

Metal Conversion Technologies makes it easy for consumers to quickly obtain the Department of Transportation shipping guidelines to ensure proper shipping. By visiting the MCT website at www.metalconversion.com, consumers can watch a video which demonstrates proper shipping guidelines, download step-by-step instructions, and print shipping labels required for easy identification when shipping hazardous materials such as lithium batteries.

“By following some simple steps to prevent the battery terminals from touching during shipment, consumers can help contribute to a healthier environment by recycling batteries, and can ensure that the batteries do not become a fire or explosive hazard,” said John Patterson, CEO of Metal Conversion Technologies. ”Consumers are doing something good for the environment by recycling batteries, but need to be aware of the simple but effective steps outlined by the DOT to help them feel confident that they are safely recycling batteries.”

Lithium batteries produce a higher voltage than traditional alkaline batteries and often have a longer life, resulting in minimizing battery replacement. Lithium-type batteries are more often used in consumer products including electric vehicles and smaller devices such as cell phones, remote car locks, watches, digital cameras and camera recorders.

“MCT is genuinely interested in resource conservation, and environmental stewardship is the foundation of our business,” said Patterson. “We truly want to make it easy and safe for consumers and companies to recycle more batteries which results in a safer and healthier environment for us all.”

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California, U.S.A. - Organic Farming Research Foundation (OFRF) announced the release of the first Organic Land Grant Assessment Report, measuring research, education and outreach in the federally funded Land Grant system. The system, initiated by President Abraham Lincoln’s visionary Land Grant Law, includes universities, research stations and Cooperative Extension.

In the past decade, the organic food industry has more than quadrupled in growth, and OFRF sheds light on America’s ability to meet growing consumer demand with trained organic farmers and useful research. Conducting the first and only national assessment of the Land Grant system’s organic activity, OFRF scored each institution on 8 points including maintaining organic research land, cultivating student organic farm, offering an organic minor, major or certificate, and employing a dedicated organic faculty or staff member.

The Top Six campuses scoring a perfect ’8′ include: Colorado State University, University of Florida, Michigan State University, University of Minnesota, University of Tennessee (the newest addition to organic), and Washington State University. Five years ago, Washington State University was the first in the country to offer students a major in organic agriculture. Today, eight Land Grant Universities provide students this opportunity.

“We look to the Land Grant system to be responsive to public needs, economic growth, rural communities, and ultimately, access to healthy, safe food,” said Maureen Wilmot, Executive Director of OFRF. “While land dedicated to organic research has nearly doubled from 2003 to 2011, and universities providing organic programs have grown from zero to eight, public universities must do a great deal more in order to meet the growing needs of organic demand.”

Rich in data, OFRF’s Organic Land Grant Assessment illuminates the need for public investment in organic research and education in order to prepare the U.S. for future organic food production challenges. The quantitative data provides tools to drill deeper into answering questions including: What elements of organic research are most relevant to the urgent needs of organic farmers? What programs best train future organic farmers? To what degree do student organic farms build organic awareness and consumption?

The information gathered for this report yielded a vast amount of state-specific data on organic programs. Daily, OFRF experiences demand for this information from farmers, scientists, students, organic advocates, policy makers, industry representatives, funders, and citizens. OFRF plans to organize and present state-specific information and make it accessible to all interested parties.

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Dallas, U.S.A. – With more than 500 exhibitors and a notable lineup of speakers, musicians and films, Earth Day Dallas ( EarthDayDallas.org ) brought more than 58,000 North Texans to Fair Park on April 21 and 22. For the second year in a row, the nonprofit organization hosted one of the nation’s largest Earth Day celebrations, inspiring individuals to be sustainable in the ways they think, work and live.

“Last year, we planted a seed in the minds of North Texans, and were thrilled to watch people latch onto the idea of every day environmentalism,” said Trammell S. Crow, founder of Earth Day Dallas, “This year, it was amazing to see the increase in participation, especially from exhibitors. In a time when other Earth Day festivals are downsizing, we were able to double the number of booths we had in 2011. From exhibitors to programming, we elevated every aspect of the event this year, making Earth Day Dallas a true Texas-sized celebration.”

To accommodate its growing presence, the festival moved from downtown Dallas to historic Fair Park, providing more than 600,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor space. At the core of the event, the Eco Expo included a wide range of exhibitions by corporations, small businesses, nonprofits, government groups, hospitals and universities, demonstrating conservation at every level.

Additionally, the festival featured a variety of engagement and entertainment for the whole family, including:

• Former first lady, Mrs. Laura W. Bush
• A book signing and lecture by world renowned theoretical physicist, Michio Kaku
• Live music performances by Amos Lee, Ponderosa, Diego Garcia and The Honey Brothers
• Film screenings including documentary Cafeteria Man and a farm-to-school discussion panel with the film’s star, chef Tony Geraci
• Picnic for the Planet, the Nature Conservancy’s attempt to break the Guinness World Record for the largest simultaneous global picnic
• A 5K fun run, and much more!

Earth Day Dallas would not have been possible without the significant support from its 2012 partners including Walmart, KXAS-NBC-5, DART, Live Nation, SHFT, 1SolTech and many others.

With its foot firmly planted in Fair Park, Earth Day Dallas has already begun planning for next year’s event. For more information about Earth Day Dallas 2012 and updates on the 2013 event, visit EarthDayDallas.org.

Image Courtesy of   Earth Day Dallas

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Milwaukee, U.S.A. – In celebration of Earth Day, Johnson Controls, the global leader in delivering solutions that increase energy efficiency in buildings, released its Top Earth Day Champions list to highlight organizations saving the carbon equivalent of 45,000 acres of pine forests through energy efficiency and renewable energy projects at their facilities.

Carbon emissions from building energy use are predicted to grow faster than any other sector in the next 25 years, according to the U.S. Green Building Council, making building efficiency critically important for the protection of the environment.

“These organizations have already made significant environmental improvements while at the same time attacking energy waste and reducing operational costs,” said Dave Myers, president of Johnson Controls Building Efficiency. “We recognize those who have committed to making their organizations more sustainable, their facilities more efficient, and their occupants more comfortable. Importantly, each one of these projects will also have strong financial paybacks.”

Here are the 2012 Top Earth Day Champions and the equivalent amount of carbon dioxide emissions they are saving annually through projects with Johnson Controls.

Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) in Oak Ridge, Tenn. tops the list with its annual reduction of 49,135 metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions. In 2008, ORNL replaced a natural gas steam plant with a wood gasification biomass system, reducing its carbon footprint and cutting fossil fuel consumption by 80 percent.

The Champions earned a spot on the list by making their facilities more efficient using a variety of measures, including: utilizing building management systems to optimize energy and operational efficiency, installing distributed generation and renewable energy technology, using more efficient lighting, and updating heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems.

Since January, 2000, Johnson Controls energy performance contracting projects have saved nearly 18 million metric tons of carbon dioxide, equivalent to that saved by 3.5 million acres of pine forests, and generated savings of $6.5 billion in North America alone. With performance contracting, savings in energy consumption from facility upgrades pay for the project over the term of the contract.

If the savings are not realized, Johnson Controls pays the difference between the value of the measured and verified consumption and the guaranteed consumption under the contract.

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Washington, U.S.A. — As we approach Earth Day, it’s a good time to remember that energy efficiency can help “green” the planet while keeping more “green” in your wallet, says the Alliance to Save Energy.

Based on April data from the U.S. Department of Energy, the Alliance has calculated that the average U.S. household will spend about $2,100 on home energy this year.

“Consumers who experienced high winter heating bills and are already contending with spiraling gasoline prices are eager to spend less on home energy this spring and summer,” said Alliance President Kateri Callahan. “Energy efficiency not only significantly cuts home energy costs, it also increases indoor comfort.”

Top 10 [Simple Yet Effective] Home Energy Tips

To help U.S. consumers go green and save green, the Alliance offers this compilation of energy-saving tips:

The Alliance to Save Energy is a coalition of prominent business, government, environmental, and consumer leaders who promote the efficient and clean use of energy worldwide to benefit consumers, the environment, the economy, and national security.

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Modern farming practices such as conservation tillage and no-till farming are responsible for significant environmental benefits often overlooked by Earth Day observers.

With no-till, farmers plant crops and control weeds without turning the soil. This method decreases erosion, reduces fuel use and improves water quality. In addition to the environmental benefits, no-till empowers farmers to grow more crops and feed more people than was possible 42 years ago when Earth Day first originated.

In the 1970s, a revolution in agriculture began when farmers started converting from conventional, intensive tillage systems to a system more in tune with nature. The U.S. Department of Agriculture reports that soil erosion from U.S. cropland declined more than 40 percent between 1982 and 2007, thanks in part to no-till and conservation tillage practices. These modern farming practices were made possible in part by the use of atrazine, an herbicide that can manage many different types of weeds under a wide variety of conditions.

“Atrazine’s reliable performance gave farmers the confidence they could control weeds without tillage,” said Richard Fawcett, Ph.D., former agronomy professor at Iowa State University who is now an agricultural consultant.

No-till allows farmers to grow crops year after year without disturbing the soil, thus increasing the soil’s amount of organic matter and decreasing erosion, according to a study by Fawcett.

“While plowing has benefits, it leaves soil loosened and susceptible to significant erosion, ultimately polluting air with fuel burned in the plow equipment and contaminating water with sediment run-off,” said Fawcett. “No-till fields also provide a healthier habitat for wildlife.”

But this farming technique depends on the ability to control weeds, demonstrating the importance of the 50-year-old herbicide atrazine.

According to Paul D. Mitchell, Ph.D., associate professor, Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, more than one-third of U.S. cropland devoted to major crops such as corn and soybeans uses no-till systems. Farmers are applying atrazine on about half of no-till corn acres. Mitchell’s research also found atrazine enables farmers to save as much as 28-million gallons of diesel fuel per year, equaling more than 600-million pounds of carbon-dioxide emissions.

Earth Day started as a campaign to raise awareness of environmental issues.

“But many of the campaign elements ignore the environmentally friendly and earth-saving methods farmers use in their day-to-day operations,” said David C. Bridges, Ph.D., president of Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College in Tifton, Ga. ”It is important to recognize the role of farmers and modern agricultural technologies in protecting wildlife, saving habitats and keeping our waters clean.”

Bridges, Mitchell and Fawcett are among a group of five academic researchers who recently studied the benefits of atrazine. Key findings include:

• Atrazine enables growers to use conservation tillage and other best-management practices, which contribute to a reduction in soil erosion in corn and sorghum.
• Atrazine and its sister triazine herbicides prevent up to 85 million metric tons of soil erosion per year – enough to fill more than 3 million dump trucks.
• Atrazine and the other triazines help reduce emissions by up to 280,000 metric tons of CO2 per year.
• Conservation tillage and no-till farming reduce agricultural diesel fuel use by more than 18-million gallons per year and annual carbon-dioxide emissions by more than 180,000 metric tons.

Syngenta, the principal registrant for atrazine, provided resources and support for the research. The papers are part of a broad assessment by Syngenta to examine the value of atrazine in today’s agricultural economy.

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Transportation is the second-highest contributor to greenhouse gas emission. Cars rank among the highest within this category, due to the way they are manufactured and the sheer number of them.

According to the Environmental Protection Agency, passenger cars emit 5.19 metric tons of carbon dioxide per 12,500 miles. In the United States, this is 94-95% of the total emissions from transportation. While cars appear to be necessary in the United States, there are several easy, green alternatives to driving that will reduce your carbon footprint.

For individuals, a carbon footprint is the amount of carbon dioxide (from transport, food, energy consumption, manufactured goods, and more) emitted throughout a lifetime.

Scientists speculate that these gases are the cause of global warming. Limiting one’s carbon footprints can slow down catastrophic effects on the environment and delay the moment of peak oil, when oil production reaches its maximum rate and begins to decline.The EPA believes greenhouse gases are contributing to a global climate change, and causing the heat waves meteorologists predict for this summer.

To slow down climate change, it is a good idea for each person to start thinking about reducing his or her individual carbon footprint. Trains are a more energy-efficient way to travel. Compared to cars, they emit only 2% of the carbon dioxide in the United States, which makes them the lightest of all methods of transportation. Many countries are now using other methods, as opposed to power trains, that reduce their carbon footprint even further.

For example, in Japan, the Shinkansen, or ‘bullet train,’ utilizes electric or magnetic power depending on the train. Neither leaves any trace of a carbon footprint. This train is faster and more efficient than the conventional railway systems. The United States has already begun planning to implement these train systems in Florida, Texas, the Midwest (Chicago Area), the Northeast (Washington D.C.-Boston), and California. All of these train routes are expected to be completed by 2025.

For shorter trips, consider taking a bus. A bus emits 2.99 metric tons of carbon dioxide per 12,500 miles. This is already less carbon dioxide than cars, and can carry more people per trip. Bus companies themselves are making an effort to be “greener.” In California, Proterra has unveiled a hybrid-electric bus that is classified as a zero-emission vehicle.

About 15% of buses to date in California emit no greenhouse gases. Washington D.C., Philadelphia, St. Paul, Minneapolis, and many other cities have invested in these buses as well. New York City, a leader in investing, has even begun using these hybrids for school buses. Many people can now enjoy the comfort of a clean, quiet, efficient bus ride.

In China, a solar-powered bus called the 3D Express Coach, designed by the Shenzhen Hashi Future Parking Equipment Company, will save at least 860 tons of fuel each year, or 2,640 metric tons of carbon. With China’s overpopulation and heavy dependence on public transport, these buses will soon be mass produced and available all over the country. The bus straddles the highway, above the drivers. Yet it is faster, cheaper and cleaner compared to the cars it passes over.

If none of these options are available to you, try investing in a hybrid or electric car. These cars emit about one third of the gasses conventional cars do. Electric cars, however, need to be charged. At home, with a standard plug, this charging can take up to twelve hours. At electric fueling stations, cars can charge up to 80% in about 30 minutes.

Yet these stations are in select cities, and could possibly wear down the battery. Hybrid cars also offer the advantage of using fuel for long distances, or time away from electric refueling stations. Hybrid and electric cars are getting to be more and more affordable as car companies realize the importance of reducing carbon footprints.

For example, the hybrid Honda Insight gets 42 mpg and starts at $18,500. The all-electric Nissan Leaf gets the equivalent of 106 mpg and starts at $35,200. Plus, buying a hybrid and or electric car earns tax credit in some states. Companies are making hybrid SUVs and trucks as well, like the Lexus RX Hybrid and the Chevy Silverado Hybrid.

Consider walking or bicycling as healthy alternatives to driving. These also have no carbon footprint and are easily accessible. The bottom line: no matter your situation, there is an eco-friendly alternative to driving out there for everyone.

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Verizon employees across the globe will join millions of people in more than 128 countries and territories to support Earth Hour on Saturday (March 31). From 8:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. local time, millions of square feet in more than 600 company locations will go dark, helping to raise awareness of energy-efficiency opportunities.

During the event last year, Verizon in just one hour saved 45,000 kilowatt-hours of electricity, enough energy to power approximately 10 homes for a year. Throughout all of 2011, Verizon reduced its energy usage by 2.34 percent – the equivalent of powering 20,600 homes for a year.

Sponsored by the World Wildlife Fund, Earth Hour is an event in which millions of people participate by turning off their lights at businesses and homes for one hour to support action on climate change and on creating a cleaner, safer and more secure future.

During the global event, now in its sixth year, the lights will be dimmed on global icons including the Sydney Harbour Bridge in Australia, Buckingham Palace in London, the Eiffel Tower in Paris, Taiwan’s 101 Financial Center in Taipei and the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco.

In addition to darkening numerous floors in Verizon office buildings and technical sites in 40 different countries, Verizon also will dim lights and signs outside its major office sites including the Pearl Street building in Manhattan; a twin office complex in Irving, Texas; an entire campus in Basking Ridge, N.J.; and company sites in Dortmund, Germany; and Reading in the United Kingdom.

“Verizon is proud to once again demonstrate our commitment to the environment this year during Earth Hour,” said James Gowen, chief sustainability officer for Verizon. ”In 40 countries around the world our buildings will darken, and thousands of our employees will also participate from their homes. Together with our customers and suppliers, we can deepen the connection between our business interests and those of society.”

Verizon’s Sustainable Business Practices

Earlier this month, Verizon announced a partnership with VIA Motors to develop and demonstrate plug-in electric vehicles using VIA’s proprietary technology and to evaluate the technology for possible wide-scale use in Verizon’s fleet. The company also operates an extensive fleet of alternative-energy vehicles including hybrid vans and trucks, and natural gas and electric vehicles.

Last year, Verizon announced a collaboration with the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) to develop innovative ways to reduce energy use in the communications industry. Verizon and NREL are now working together to identify ways to make Verizon’s networks, data centers and office buildings more energy efficient.

Verizon has been named to several lists for sustainability, corporate ethical standards and social responsibility, including the Dow Jones Sustainability Index, Newsweek Global Green 100, Maplecroft Climate Innovation Inde, FTSE4Good Index, Ethibel Sustainability Index and Calvert Large Cap Value Fund.

Image Courtesy of   https://www.facebook.com/earthhour

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Year 2012 is expected to be watershed year for Illinois State’s 15-year policy to bring choice to customers. With approximately 80% of municipalities approving referendums on electric supply aggregation, based on preliminary results, ComEd estimated that approximately half of residential customers could switch to an alternative retail electric supplier (RES) by the end of the year. This represents great progress in the state’s 15-year policy to create a fully competitive market for electric supply, the company said.

“This week’s municipal referendums represented an important milestone in the journey to a fully competitive residential electric supply market, which ComEd has supported from the beginning,” said Anne Pramaggiore, president and chief executive officer, ComEd. “In the coming months, as municipalities go through the process of public hearings and deciding on the best supplier and electric supply contract, ComEd will do everything it can to help make the process smooth and productive.”

As a result of industry restructuring, ComEd’s primary role today is to distribute electricity that is generated by other competitive power producers. Already, more than 60% of all energy delivered by ComEd is provided by RES suppliers. ComEd purchases the remaining energy in the competitive wholesale market through the Illinois Power Agency (IPA) and passes it through to customers at its cost. ComEd does not profit on the sale of electricity.

The referendums were designed to earn public approval to begin a process to identify a supplier and contract terms. Municipalities are required to hold a public hearing and send opt-out letters to give individual residents the opportunity to decline participation in the municipal aggregation program.

ComEd’s supply costs are currently higher than the price RES’s can provide because of long-term contracts procured through the IPA in 2007 when wholesale market prices were much higher. Those contracts will expire in May 2013. ComEd will continue to deliver power to customers’ homes and businesses and restore outages regardless of which supplier a customer chooses now or in the future.

Competition in the residential market is expanding through individual customers switching to a RES and through electrical aggregation programs, where municipalities shop for electricity supply on behalf of their residents and enter into a single contract with a RES.

Once the municipality selects a RES, each resident has the option to “opt-out” of the program and either select their own supplier or remain with ComEd. ComEd works with these municipalities by providing electricity load data and other information to allow these communities to solicit bids and make informed decisions. More than 200 municipalities considered referendums to authorize them to pursue these opportunities.

While the electricity market for large commercial and industrial customers has experienced vibrant competition for years, the residential market was slower to develop. This has changed in the last year. Today, there are more than 30 alternative suppliers in ComEd’s territory who are certified to sell energy to residential consumers.

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CleanEquity Monaco, 29th & 30th March, the world forum for emerging cleantech companies, hosted by Innovator Capital and the Nobel Sustainability Trust, is pleased to announce the collaboration of the Hinduja Foundation, chaired by Ms. Shanu SP Hinduja.

The aims of the Hinduja Foundation, member of the Hinduja Group and a founding member of the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation, are embodied in the original Founder’s philosophy and commitment to serve those less privileged than him. This philosophy is simple: “My dharma (duty) is to work so that I can give.”  The Foundation has focused on promoting and improving healthcare, education, the environment, social welfare, arts and culture.

CleanEquity Monaco also welcomes the collaboration of Clark Langdon Partners, a leading retained executive search firm with a focus on CEO, Board of Directors and other senior executive leadership positions. Simon Clark, CEO and founder of Clark Langdon Partners, commented, “Cleantech companies are able to attract top CEO talent. It is rare that a new industry can successfully hire such strong leadership; even with capital available, the rarest commodity is people.”

We are pleased to confirm the participation of the following speakers:

Andrew Gilbert, Executive Vice President of European Innovation Development at Qualcomm Inc. Previously, from May 2002 to January 2006, Andrew served as Vice President and General Manager of Flarion Technologies European, Middle Eastern and African regions.

Gustaf Nobel, great-grandson of Ludvig Nobel, brother of Alfred Nobel, founded, together with 5 other Nobel descendants and on behalf of the Nobel family, the Nobel Sustainability Trust.

The Trust aims to crystallise global awareness and focus on environmental considerations and solutions, which ensure freedom of access to energy for all members of society whilst ensuring the protection of the Earth. Nobel Sustainability Trust seeks to provide cleantech innovation with the optimal environment for finance, expertise and networks to enable market reach.

George Frampton, senior counsel at Covington & Burling LLP, a leading law firm. He served as Chairman of the White House Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) from 1998 to 2001 and most recently as Co-Chairman of the Obama transition team for CEQ.

This year’s Presenting Companies will include:

Image Courtesy of   http://www.flickr.com/photos/nandorfejer/

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Carol Tanzi, ASID, a.k.a. The Goddess of Garbage, is an award-winning interior designer in the San Francisco Bay Area obsessed with recycling and designing with trash. She has been at the forefront of the recycling movement for more than two decades. And, in this economy, when people can’t afford to buy new home furnishings and nice gifts, her message is coming through loud and clear, making The Goddess of Garbage the go-to expert.

She has received national recognition for using recycled materials and reuse items to create attractive and appealing home and office decor, furniture and accessories and for her dedication to teaching people, including children, how easy it is to recycle and reuse almost anything.

Carol Tanzi‘s Crafty Projects Have Green Style

With consumerism on the wane, and environmental consciousness on the rise, Carol’s eco-friendly and thrifty ideas perfectly match the green shift in our culture. Her do-it-yourself projects are attractive and useful, while encouraging scaling back and returning to a more sensible waste not, want not outlook on life.

You can see the Goddess at work at http://www.goddessofgarbage.com. Check out the stylish stools made from discarded tire rims, tables made from trashed radiators, and desk sets crafted from old cans. Her projects are easy for anyone to do, proving that you are never too young or too old to recycle.

Dumpster Diving, Yard Sales, and a Space Only a Hoarder Could Love

Carol is energetic and enthusiastic, and a dumpster-diver who can’t resist a yard sale, thrift shop or pile of curbside trash. Her storage space and office, crammed with finds for projects, would scare a neatnick, but The Goddess of Garbage is on a mission. Her goal is to educate, inform and show the world a new way to recycle and reuse. She wants to change the way people think about trash, one dumpster at a time.

“I don’t create anything I wouldn’t want to have in my own office or home. I get huge satisfaction from rescuing castoffs that would otherwise end up in a landfill,” Carol says.

Carol is dedicated to teaching children about recycling. Her dream is that the younger generation will make green living a way of life.

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For the second consecutive year, natural cork will be in the spotlight at the GRAMMY Awards. Maintaining its commitment to sustainability, the 54th GRAMMY Awards will host two events featuring wines sealed exclusively with natural cork and will recycle the closures.  Natural cork is biodegradable, recyclable and sustainable, and its use encourages the stewardship of cork oak forests that offset carbon pollution.

The awards show will take place at Staples Center in Los Angeles and will air on CBS at 8/7 p.m. CT on Sunday, Feb. 12, 2012. The Recording Academy, internationally known for the GRAMMY Awards, continues its ongoing effort to reduce the environmental impact of its annual awards ceremony, telecast, and associated GRAMMY Week events.

Wines sealed with cork will be served at the MusiCares Person of The Year tribute dinner and concert honoring Paul McCartney two days prior to the awards ceremony and at the official GRAMMY Celebration® following the awards show.

The events will be equipped with recycling bins provided by ReCORK, a cork recycling organization that will collect the stoppers and provide them to SOLE, a company that manufactures shoes and sandals from recycled cork.

“We are honored that The Recording Academy has made natural cork a component of its sustainability program,” said Peter Weber, executive director of the Cork Quality Council.  “The Academy joins a growing list of organizations, including the Major League Baseball Association and the National Basketball Association, that has recognized the environmental benefits of natural cork.”

Natural cork is one of the world’s most sustainable products. Biodegradable and recyclable, its use provides an economic incentive to preserve vast cork oak forests in the Mediterranean Basin that trap greenhouse gases, prevent desertification and provide habitat for hundreds of plant and animal species. There is no shortage of cork, and cork oaks are not cut down to make cork.  A portion of their bark is removed every nine years during a 250-year lifespan.

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Germany recently passed the 20 percent mark for renewable energy in the electricity mix. And the federal KfW bank group has introduced a new plan to further accelerate this shift to renewables, with increases in multimillion euro business loans now available. As more renewable energy is generated, energy management and storage are also receiving increased focus.

Germany Trade & Invest, together with representatives of Germany’s six E-energy model regions, will be at this year’s E-world from February 7-9 in Essen to highlight opportunities for international companies in these growing market segments.

“With such a large share of renewable energy in the mix, it is becoming more urgent to implement smart grid and storage technologies to balance the fluctuating supply. Germany is making an exceptional team effort to achieve our ambitious goals, with businesses, banks, researchers and the government all working together” said Heiko Staubitz, renewable energy expert at Germany Trade & Invest in Berlin.

The new KfW plan outlines efforts to ease the financial burden of a wide-ranging shift to renewable energy. Previously, loans were available to small businesses for their efforts to move to renewables, and these have been expanded to cover companies with annual revenue of up to 3 billion euro. At the same time, loans are available to support research and development of energy storage, transmission, production, and efficiency techniques with grants up to EUR 25 million, marking an increase.

In light of last year’s decision to phase out nuclear power, Germany is further ramping up investments in renewable energy. Already, Germany features the world’s strongest photovoltaic market, with nearly half of all global installations worldwide. In wind power, Germany leads Europe in total installations and is currently preparing for a major expansion in the offshore segment.

Germany Trade & Invest is the foreign trade and inward investment promotion agency of the Federal Republic of Germany. The organization advises foreign companies looking to expand their business activities in the German market. It provides information on foreign trade to German companies that seek to enter foreign markets.

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FirstEnergy has announced that its generation subsidiaries will retire six older coal-fired power plants located in Ohio, Pennsylvania and Maryland by September 1, 2012.  The decision to close the plants is based on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Mercury and Air Toxics Standards (MATS), which were recently finalized, and other environmental regulations.

The total capacity of the competitive plants that will be retired is 2,689 megawatts (MW).  Recently, these plants served mostly as peaking or intermediate facilities, generating, on average, approximately 10 percent of the electricity produced by the company over the past three years.

The following plants will be retired: Bay Shore Plant, Units 2-4, Oregon, Ohio; Eastlake Plant, Eastlake, Ohio;  Ashtabula Plant, Ashtabula, Ohio; Lake Shore Plant, Cleveland, Ohio; Armstrong Power Station,Adrian, Pa.; and R. Paul Smith Power Station, Williamsport, Md.

In total, 529 employees will be directly affected.  Existing severance benefits will apply to eligible, affected employees.  However, the final number of affected employees could be less as some are considered for open positions at other FirstEnergy facilities and work locations, and eligible employees take advantage of a retirement benefit being offered to those 55 years and older.

“This decision is not in any way a reflection of the fine work done by the employees at the affected plants, but is related to the impact of new environmental rules,” said James H. Lash, president, FirstEnergy Generation and chief nuclear officer.

“We recently completed a comprehensive review of our coal-fired generating plants and determined that additional investments to implement MATS and other environmental rules would make these older plants even less likely to be dispatched under market rules. As a result, it was necessary to retire the plants rather than continue operations.”

The plant retirements are subject to review for reliability impacts, if any, by PJM Interconnection, the regional transmission organization that controls the area where they are located.

FirstEnergy is finalizing MATS compliance plans for its remaining coal-fired units.  Since the Clean Air Act became law in 1970, FirstEnergy and its predecessor companies have invested more than $10 billion in environmental protection efforts.

Since 1990, FirstEnergy has reduced emissions of nitrogen oxides by more than 76 percent, sulfer dioxide by more than 86 percent and mercury by about 56 percent.  When the six coal-fired plants are removed from FirstEnergy’s competitive generating fleet, more than 96 percent of the power provided will come from resources that are non- or low-emitting, including nuclear, hydro, pumped-storage hydro, natural gas and scrubbed coal units.

FirstEnergy is a diversified energy company dedicated to safety, reliability and operational excellence.  Its 10 electric distribution companies comprise the nation’s largest investor-owned electric system.  Its diverse generating fleet features non-emitting nuclear, scrubbed coal, natural gas, and pumped-storage hydro and other renewables, and has a total generating capacity of nearly 23,000 megawatts.

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Waste Management of Arizona and Arizona State University (ASU) has announced their collaborative program “Roadmap to Zero Solid Waste” that aims to eliminate 90 percent or more of ASU’s solid waste by 2015.

The program is being developed in three phases including waste assessment, roadmap development and program implementation. It includes all four ASU campuses – Tempe, West, Polytechnic and Downtown Phoenix.

Waste Management already is working with an ASU team to assess the university’s complete waste-collection processes, waste generation and material conveyance. Waste Management dedicated an on-site project manager and two student interns to provide continual guidance and direction throughout the roadmap development process, including the execution of the waste-elimination plan.

“Harnessing the expertise of the Waste Management team will enable us to properly align our resources within ASU sustainability operations to achieve our zero solid-waste strategies,” said Ray Jensen, ASU associate vice president University Business Services and university sustainability operations officer. “We are fortunate to work with Waste Management on a ‘Roadmap to Zero Solid Waste’ to keep us on track to our 2015 zero solid-waste goal.”

The objectives outlined in ASU’s current 2015 zero-waste strategy include averting 30 percent of campus solid waste from the landfill and diverting 60 percent. The ASU community can help meet aversion goals in several ways by reducing consumption.

Landfill-waste diversion includes recycling, repurposing, reusing and composting practices. Waste-related operations at each of the four ASU campuses including generation trends, collection flow, container and compactor placement, front and back of house solutions and the final waste elimination processes are key areas for solid waste diversion measures.

“Waste Management’s goal is to extract the maximum value from the waste stream, and we are a company that is truly committed to turning waste into a resource,” said Pat DeRueda, Waste Management of Arizona-New Mexico area vice president. “We are proud to work with ASU, a leader in sustainability, to help them achieve their Zero Waste initiatives.”

Waste Management has provided collection, processing, recycling and transport services of waste materials to Arizona State University since 2007.

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While shared-ride transportation is inherently eco-friendly, many members of The GO Group, the world’s largest airport shuttle provider, are going one step further.

GO companies serving San Francisco International, Seattle-Tacoma International, Milwaukee’s GeneralMitchell International, Dallas-Ft. Worth and Puerto Rico’s Luis Munoz Marin International are converting all or part of their fleets to alternative fuels – either compressed natural gas (CNG) or propane.

While GO companies in Los Angeles (serving all southern California airports) and Chicago (serving Midway and O’Hare) also are in the process of doing so. CNG is a fossil fuel, while propane is a by-product of natural gas processing and petroleum refining.  Both burn cleaner than gasoline or diesel fuels, although CNG is considered the cleaner of the two.

Companies that convert to alternative fuels can earn a 50 cents-per-gallon tax credit as well other incentives from local government and the airports. GO Shuttle Express in Seattle, which has 43 propane-fueled vehicles, began the conversion process last January and has 20 more systems to install.

According to J. R. Rowley, president of GO Shuttle Express, the fuel saving has been around $2 per gallon.  Maintenance costs, however, have been slightly higher due to the learning curve. In San Francisco, GO Lorries has adapted 16 vans to CNG, with another 28 to be retrofitted for CNG by May. ”The conversions are expensive,” says Julio Bonilla, president, “but the fuel savings mitigate the cost.”

As of December, GO Riteway Transportation Group in Milwaukee has moved 21 of its 500-vehicle fleet to propane, experiencing a $7,000 fuel savings since October. According to Jason Ebert, fleet and facilities coordinator, the maintenance costs are lower as oil changes can now be performed every 7,000 rather than every 5,000 miles as in the past.

Ebert reports one reason GO Riteway opted for propane is that it is 90 percent as efficient as gasoline, which allows for a greater vehicle range than CNG, which is only 31 percent efficient.  Also, the cost of a propane conversion is one third less than the cost of a CNG conversion.

The GO Group LLC is a one-stop source for airport shuttles, which transport some 13 million passengers to and from airports in the United States, Mexico, Canada and Europe.

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Walmart’s 2012 Acres for America program is helping conserve more than 49,000 acres of critical wildlife habitat across the United States. Acres projects connect existing lands to protect migration routes, provide access for people to enjoy the outdoors and help ensure the future of rural economies that depend on forestry, tourism and recreation.

Acres for America is a 10-year, $35 million commitment that began in 2005 between Walmart and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) to purchase and preserve one acre of wildlife habitat in the U.S. for every acre of land developed by the company through 2015.  To date, Acres for America has invested in projects in 24 states, protecting more than 687,000 acres.

“It is estimated that America loses nearly three million acres of open space each year,” said Jennifer May-Brust, Walmart vice president of realty supplier management and compliance. “Our strategic partnership with the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation is helping save important wildlife habitats and fits perfectly with Walmart’s larger goal to bring sustainability into the communities we serve.”

In the summer of 2011, Walmart expanded its Acres investments to include urban conservation projects inChicago, Los Angeles, New York, and Washington, D.C.  The six awards announced today will support projects in California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, North Carolina and Tennessee.

“With these new projects, Acres for America extends into five additional states to protect vital areas for wildlife and people,” said Jeff Trandahl, executive director and CEO of NFWF. “These investments will not only benefit endangered species like the Florida panther – they will also expand open space near urban areas and conserve forests and streams along the Appalachian Trail, one of our most treasured natural resources.”

The 2012 Acres for America projects:

Southern Sierra Partnership: Tehachapi Linkage, California

• While protecting more than 22,000 acres of rare blue oak habitat in the Sierra foothills, this project completes a key 50-mile ecological corridor linking the Sierra-Cascade ranges to the California Coast ranges and the lowlands of the Great Central Valley to the Mojave Desert.

Rocky Flats National Wildlife Refuge Expansion: Colorado

• This project protects 1,334 acres of tallgrass prairie adjacent to the Rocky Flats National Wildlife Refuge and connects to 70,000 acres of locally protected open space, greatly expanding recreation opportunities in metropolitan Denver.

Panther Crossing Protection Project: Florida

• This 1,530-acre property protects a key migratory corridor for the endangered Florida panther, of which less than 165 exist in the wild.  It connects existing panther habitat to the south with 1.5 million acres of new habitat in the Northern Everglades, and will also benefit the American black bear, red-cockaded woodpecker, swallow-tailed kite and snail kite.

Almo Tract: Fort Benning, Georgia

• This 7,550-acre tract in Georgia’s Fall Line Sandhills is the eastern anchor of a larger 30,000-acre conservation corridor adjacent to Fort Benning. The project protects longleaf pine forest and provides important habitat for the gopher tortoise and red-cockaded woodpecker, among other species.

The Palila Protection Project: Hawaii

• On the Big Island of Hawaii, two protected parcels (4,469 acres) provide critical habitat to the palila (Loxioides bailleui), one of the rarest birds in the world, and contribute significantly to its recovery.

Appalachian Trail Habitat Protection Project: North Carolina and Tennessee

Partners: The Conservation Fund, Appalachian Trail Conservancy, Blue Ridge Forever and Conservation Trust for North Carolina

• This group of seven key parcels collectively protects nearly 13,000 acres of forest and 40 miles of freshwater streams along the Appalachian Trail Corridor, which are home to the imperiled southern Appalachian brook trout, 1,000 species of plants, at least 300 species of birds and 20 species of rare and declining salamanders.

For more information on Acres for America or to apply for a grant, visit www.nfwf.org or http://walmartstores.com/sustainability.

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The International Window Film Association (IWFA), a non-profit organization, is educating the public on window film use for residential and commercial applications, to reduce harmful solar glare, while delivering significant energy savings.

“People often wear sunglasses outdoors during winter months to protect from glare and UV rays, but glare is ever-present inside too,” said Darrell Smith, executive director of the IWFA.  “With winter sun lower in the sky, it passes directly into windows with damaging effects on furnishings and art, along with unhealthy ultraviolet (UV) rays’ impact on people’s eyes and skin,” he added.

In northern states, snow on the ground can reflect up to 85% of harmful UV rays upwards, according to the Vision Counsel of America. This magnifies the issue of glare coming into windows, added Darrell Smith. “A simple, cost-effective solution is professionally installed window film to make interior environments more enjoyable.”

Glare issues can be ameliorated by window film, which uses advanced technology to deliver energy savings similar to low-e windows. Window film is available in a range of shades from clear to darker. It reduces glare and still allows adequate light in while blocking UV rays that can harm skin and eyes, and fade furniture, carpets and fabrics.

According to the IWFA, window films may also eliminate uncomfortable hot spots by blocking solar heat.  This enables HVAC systems to work more efficiently. For larger commercial and office buildings, which run heating and cooling systems year-round, energy savings are even more significant.

For more information on protecting a home or office from glare, please visit www.iwfa.com online for facts on UV protection and to locate a professional near you who can conduct an energy savings audit and share window film options to best meet your needs.

About the International Window Film Association:
The International Window Film Association (IWFA) (www.iwfa.com) is a unified industry body of window film dealers, distributors, and manufacturers that facilitates the growth of the industry by providing unbiased research, influencing policy and promoting awareness of window film. The organization builds alliances with trade associations, utilities and government agencies to advance dealers and distributors businesses and provide value to their customers.

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