December 2009 Archives
December 04, 2009 |
Documentary Imagines World Without Fish
Might all the world’s fish die? This question is posed by a documentary about ocean acidification that will screen at the upcoming Copenhagen 15 climate change conference. A Sea Change: Imagine a World Without Fish, invites viewers to travel along with grandfather Sven Huseby as he learns about what happens as the oceans absorb some of our excess CO2 pollution.
Huseby’s parents were fishermen, and he grew up around the ocean. Early on, he introduces us to his grandson, Elias, a precocious boy with whom Huseby is clearly close. Just because the intergenerational trope is a bit cliché when discussing environmental issues doesn’t mean it can’t be extremely moving, as it is here.
By shadowing ocean scientists, Huseby learns that our oceans are 30 percent more acidic than they were at the beginning of the industrial revolution, and the rate of change is increasing. These changes corrode the shells and skeletons of many marine organisms, including corals and shellfish. Larval fish are also at risk, as are entire food webs.
The fact that we’re not just losing species but major ecosystems is a sign of bad planetary stewardship, said Ken Caldeira, a scientist at Stanford University who is interviewed in the film. “It raises deeper concerns, like, what else are we screwing up that we’re not aware of?”
However, all fish will likely not die. Rather, species evolved for highly specific environments will likely disappear, in favor of invasive generalists. CO2 appears to be a common factor in the major mass extinctions in Earth’s history, said Caldeira.
Ocean acidification is such a scary problem that many people would rather not think about it — kind of like climate change. But “A Sea Change” goes a long way toward making this uncomfortable topic oh-so-human.
See also: EPA Could Expand Ocean Protection, Limit CO2 This is a revised version of an article that appeared previously
Ferrostaal Opens First Palestinian Solar Thermal Plant
By Beit Jala This week, the first solar thermal plant for warm water and central heating on Palestinian territory has gone into operation. The solar plant was built by MAN Ferrostaal AG and the Deutsche Energie-Agentur GmbH (dena) within the framework of the "dena Solar Roofs Programme for Foreign Market Development."
The facility has a total collector surface of more than 200 square metres and was a donation made by MAN Ferrostaal to a Palestinian school. Utility costs of close to €80,000 per year had put a large burden on the budget of the institution, which relies on financial contributions.
About 21,000 litres of diesel fuel per year are about to be saved. Aside from the immediate support for the school, the project underlines the industrial potentials for solar energy generation in the whole MENA region, the company said.
The project is being supported by the German Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology (BMWi).
Reprinted with permission from RenewableEnergyWorld
European Legislation Creates 62 MPG Gas Cars… From Ford
By Susan Kraemer In the US, Ford is still behind the 5 major foreign auto makers in fuel efficiency, surpassing only GM and Chrysler. Yet Ford of Europe already achieves dazzling mileage that we Americans can only dream of.
Imagine a gas-fueled car that gets 62 miles to the gallon: “With start-stop, regenerative brakes and an Eco Mode system, the new Focus gets 62 MPG (U.S.) on the European scale and emits just 99 grams of CO2 per kilometer” Available in Europe next Spring.
What is even more startling about this achievement by European Ford is that this mileage is achieved with just good old-fashioned tweaks on the traditional ICE gas car. There is no major technological breakthrough.
Why doesn’t Ford make cars like that here?
It’s partly to do with differences in regulations making it hard to build those engines to meet US specs, but a large part of it has to do with differences in attitudes towards the climate change crisis we are facing.
The European political landscape has largely signed on to global warming as fact. European laws force European auto makers to adhere to strict low-emissions standards. Low carbon emissions and better mileage are co-related.
Europe has already passed legislation limiting carbon emissions. Engineers swiftly revamped the auto industry over there and achieved the new carbon emissions and mileage standards for their fleets.
So European consumers who want better green choices benefit. Voters over there are presumably similar to us in terms of the average understanding of the environmental issues facing the world, yet they elected politicians who have acted to reduce the environmental impact of living.
As long ago as 2006, polls of Americans showed that we realize that we don’t get what the Europeans do, and wanted an average fuel economy of 40 MPG legislated. Yet we keep supporting those who encourage us to heap contempt on Europe for signing Kyoto and passing climate and energy legislation.
That political battle has only stepped up in these weeks leading up to another potentially world-changing agreement on climate change at Copenhagen. As much as Kyoto changed Europe, Copenhagen could change America.
Europe’s Ford buyers are offered a Ford Focus Econetic that is capable of (US) 62 MPG: available next month. Americans are offered a Fiesta getting just 40 MPG, that won’t even be available till 2011.
Reprinted with permission from December 02, 2009 |
Located outside Tokyo in Tsukuba City--a hub for scientific R&D--the project involves more than a dozen major partners from around the globe, including Mazda Motor Corporation (MZDAF.PK) and the Japanese industrial trading giant Itochu Corporation (ITOCF.PK). "This is by far the most comprehensive integration of smart grid and EV technologies ever undertaken, and it represents a tremendous milestone," said Charles Gassenheimer, Chairman and CEO of EnerDel parent company Ener1, Inc. (Nasdaq: HEV). Scheduled to come online in March of 2010, the effort involves a set of Mazda vehicles specially converted to electric drive using EnerDel batteries and drivetrain components from EnerDel customer Think Global that will be offered to the public through a car-sharing service akin to America's Zipcar. The compact 5-door Mazda Demios (sold outside Japan as the Mazda2) will be based at a Family Mart convenience store equipped with solar panels, high-speed recharging stations and a stationary battery array used to move energy to and from the electric grid. The unique combination of on-site battery storage with rapid charging allows the use of direct current throughout the system, sharply reducing the amount of time needed to charge a vehicle, EnerDel said. It also allows users to recharge without drawing power from the grid, a significant advantage at peak load times. The project will use a 24-kilowatt-hour battery pack initially designed for the Think City EV to demonstrate that automotive systems can be used in stationary applications without major modification. Once the batteries are cycled through their useful vehicular lifespan, the project will showcase their valuable afterlife in stationary grid applications, where operating parameters are much less taxing. A viable battery aftermarket would significantly lower costs for both automotive and utility buyers. Itochu is EnerDel's official sales and marketing partner in Japan, and has been a significant investor in Ener1 since 2003. In July, EnerDel and Itochu joined forces with longtime EnerDel customer Think Global to convert electric drive delivery trucks for Japan's postal service. Itochu is also the largest shareholder in Family Mart, which has more than 14,000 stores across Asia. The $90 billion conglomerate has deep ties to the automotive, utility and renewable energy industries, and is the largest global reseller of manufacturing equipment for lithium-ion battery production, providing EnerDel with unique access to specialized equipment and material markets. EnerDel is based in Indianapolis, IN. Website: www.ener1.com/ Reprinted with permission from SustainableBusiness.com
The Aspen Institute recently released the 2009-2010 edition of Beyond Grey Pinstripes, a biennial survey and popular alternative ranking of full-time MBA programs that integrate sustainability and social responsibility into the curriculum. This year, 149 business schools from 24 countries participated in the survey, up from 111 schools in 18 countries. Beyond Grey Pinstripes is one of the few MBA rankings that look beyond reputation and test scores to measure how well schools are preparing their students for the environmental, social and ethical complexities of modern-day business. School highlights from this Beyond Grey Pinstripes survey cycle are featured in a new guidebook for prospective MBA students, titled The Sustainable MBA: The 2010-2011 Guide to Business Schools That are Making a Difference The Top Schools Integrating Sustainability and CSR into MBA Programs Ranked by The Aspen Institute. The guide Providing highlights on over 150 MBA programs located in 20 plus countries-including course offerings, activities, clubs, joint degrees, and career resources-this book is a must-have for any prospective business student interested in creating positive change in the world. For the first time, the Schulich School of Business at York University in Toronto, Canada, ranked first in the survey, getting high marks for the extraordinary number of courses available to students that contain environmental, social and ethical content as well as for the number of relevant scholarly articles being published by the School’s faculty members. The Top 20 Schools Globally 1. York (Schulich) 2. U. of Michigan (Ross) 3. Yale School of Management 4. Stanford Graduate School of Business 5. Notre Dame (Mendoza) 6. UC Berkeley (Haas) 7. RSM Erasmus 8. NYU (Stern) 9. IE Business School 10. Columbia Business School 11. U. of Virginia (Darden) 12. Cornell (Johnson) 13. GWU School of Business 14. U. of North Carolina (Kenan-Flagler) 15. Simmons School of Management 16. Duke (Fuqua) 17. Wisconsin School of Business 18. Duquesne (Donahue) 19. U. of New Mexico (Anderson) 20. U. of Denver (Daniels) “The best MBA students move quickly into the front ranks of business–and the attitudes and values they bring to the table are deeply influenced by their time in business education,” said Judith Samuelson, Executive Director of the Aspen Institute’s Business and Society Program. “Will they accept the status quo or act on their passion about the positive role business can play at the intersection of corporate profit and social impact? The schools that are competitive in the Beyond Grey Pinstripes ranking are the real trailblazers–they assure that students have the right skill as well as the will to make things happen.” “In these challenging economic times, the general public, not just scholars, are questioning whether the established models of business are broken,” said Rich Leimsider, Director of the Aspen Institute’s Center for Business Education. “Beyond Grey Pinstripes schools are thoughtfully pursuing new approaches. They are preparing students who take a more holistic view of business success, one that measures financial results as well as social and environmental impacts.” As sustainability gains traction around globe, in society at large, well as in the business community, the demand for courses and programs focused on sustainability and social responsibility has increased dramatically; and business schools are stepping up to the plate. The percentage of schools surveyed that require students to take a course dedicated to business and society issues has increased dramatically over time. In 2001, 34% had the requirement. Now, 69% require students to take a course dedicated to business and society issues. Since 2007, the number of elective courses offered per school that contain some degree of social, environmental or ethical content has increased by 12%, from approximately 16.6 to 18.6 electives.The proportion of schools offering general social, environmental or ethical content in required core courses has increased in many business disciplines–Accounting, Economics, Finance, Management, Marketing, Operations Management–since the last survey in 2007. However, the percentage of schools requiring content in a core course on how mainstream business can act as an engine for social or environmental change remains low, at 30%. Only approximately 7% of faculty at the surveyed business schools published scholarly articles in peer-reviewed, business journals that address social, environmental or ethical issues. Relevant data collected in the survey, as well as the entire “Global 100” list of business schools, is available at: www.BeyondGreyPinstripes.org. Reprinted with permission from GreenEconomyPost
I have many a fond memory of my friend’s old supercharged Toyota MR2. The peppy two-seater was a rarity for its day; an affordable, fun, mid-engine sports car from the generally conservative Toyota. We used to whip around parking lots, burning rubber, and raise a ruckus… until the car wound up on its roof due to, uh, mysterious circumstances. So the news that Toyota might be considering bringing back the MR2, as a hybrid, fills me with mixed emotions, but mostly hope that the ‘yota might be making a comeback to old-fashioned fun [Ed. Note: Toyota could do for a good dose of that these days, what with all the recalls, lawsuits, and generally bad karma]. Now this is pretty much pure speculation on the part of Japanese magazine Best Car, but, with Toyota’s crosstown rival Honda bringing their hip CR-Z hybrid to market sometime in the next year, Toyota might be wise to deliver a competitor. Honda’s CR-Z recalls its CRX roots; why shouldn’t Toyota bring the MR2 out of retirement? Reportedly, the car would be called the MR-S (Can someone explain to me why most modern cars lack proper names? Would you like to drive a Mrs.? Er, on second thought, don’t answer that) and would use a reworked version of the Prius hybrid synergy system. As I like to remind my readers, electric motors provide 100% of their available torque at 0 RPM, making them an excellent choice for performance applications. An MR-S with an electric torque dump could prove quite the competitor, though the rendered styling could use some help. It reminds me a little too much of an Audi TT. With many customers focused on fuel economy—yet still demanding performance—a line up of quick, fuel-efficient cars should sell well. Source: Best Car via Car Scoop Reprinted with permission from Gas 2.0
Together these two policies empower energy customers to use solar and other renewables to meet their own electricity needs. This third edition of the report finds that, although net metering and interconnection policies still vary widely, states have made significant strides in adopting the best practices that drive renewable energy market growth and job creation. “Understanding these policies is critical because each provision in a state’s rules for net metering and interconnection has the potential to be a powerful incentive or a poison pill for the growth of renewables in that state,” said Kyle Rabin, Executive Director of Network for New Energy Choices (NNEC)(www.newenergychoices.org), which produced the report. Interconnection Standards are the technical requirements and legal procedures that allow a customer-sited generator to “plug-into” the electricity grid. To ensure best practices and eliminate the potential for utility interference, this interconnection process should be governed by a transparent, non-arbitrary set of provisions that facilitate rather than hinder connection to the grid. The new edition of Freeing the Grid reports 15 states with A or B grades in interconnection standards, a significant improvement from only one state in 2007. Virginia is the first and only state to receive an A for excellent interconnection rules. Net Metering is a simple billing arrangement that allows solar customers to get fair retail credit for the excess electricity their systems generate during daytime hours. Under best practices, 1 kWh generated by the customer has the exact same value as 1 kWh consumed by the customer. There should not be arbitrary limits on the size of the systems nor the total number of systems allowed to participate. The new edition of Freeing the Grid reports 27 states with A or B grades in net metering standards, up from 13 in 2007. Eight states (Alabama, Alaska, Idaho, Mississippi, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee and Texas) still do not have statewide net metering programs. Best Practices Case Study Using best practices proven in other states as a starting point, Oregon has implemented net metering and interconnection standards that put the state at the head of the class. Oregon’s inclusive net metering program goes beyond standard practices with its aggregation rule that allows customers, such as farmers, who may have more than one electric meter on their property, to use net metering credits at multiple sites, allowing more cost effective use of renewable energy. State regulators have set up simplified interconnection procedures and reduced unnecessary safety requirements for smaller systems. By combining strong net metering and interconnection procedures with an over-all comprehensive renewable energy strategy--which includes generous rebates and a strong RPS with a 20-megawatts (MW) solar carve-out--Oregon is set to expand renewable energy statewide. “Looking at how many of these states have moved from lackluster to stellar grades in just three years, it’s clear that there is a growing understanding of the benefits that these policies deliver,” said Adam Browning, Executive Director of Vote Solar. “Although we still have much room for improvement, this country is moving quickly toward a place where these once-obscure concepts--good net metering and interconnection standards--are becoming accepted best practices for supporting customer investment in renewable energy.” “Along with incentives and fair utility rate structures, these two policies form the backbone of our nation’s rooftop solar energy markets and the local jobs they create. If unnecessary hurdles are removed and customers are fairly compensated for delivering clean electricity to the grid, U.S. homes and businesses can and do go solar,” said Jane Weissman, Executive Director of the Interstate Renewable Energy Council. 2009’s Freeing the Grid also explores best practices and market implications for some new mechanisms including: third-party Power Purchase Agreements, community net metering, and Feed-in Tariff incentive structures. About NNEC: Network for New Energy Choices (NNEC) promotes policies that ensure safe, clean, and environmentally responsible energy options. The full report is available at the link below. Website: www.freeingthegrid.org Reprinted with permission from SustainableBusiness.com
We are living in a world where high consumption has been relentlessly praised, suggesting that we should buy, consume and dispose more stuff than our grandparents used to do. With some nations consuming more than others, the quality and quantity of waste varies across borders. And so does the way it is managed.
An important report from the British Antarctic Survey (BAS) shows things aren’t always what they seem to be, and that our knowledge of our complex Earth is not a good as we thought. Sometimes problems are not what they seem to be, and sometimes a problem in one sense carries unknown benefits in other senses. The BAS is a global leader in studying the Antarctic, and it has recently published the first comprehensive review of the state of Antarctica’s climate and its relationship to the global climatesystem. The review — Antarctic Climate Change and the Environment — presents the latest research from the icy continent, identifies areas for future scientific research, and addresses the urgent questions that policy makers have about Antarctic melting, sea-level rise and biodiversity.
Based on the latest evidence* from 100 world-leading scientists from 13 countries, the review focuses on the impact and consequences of rapid warming of the Antarctic Peninsula and the Southern Ocean; rapid ice loss in parts of Antarctica and the increase in sea ice around the continent; the impact of climate change on Antarctica’s plants and animals; the unprecedented increase in carbon dioxide levels; the connections between human-induced global change and natural variability; and the extraordinary finding that the ozone hole has shielded most of Antarctica from global warming. Professor John Turner of British Antarctic Survey is the lead editor of the review. He said, “For me the most astonishing evidence is the way that one man-made environmental impact — the ozone hole — has shielded most of Antarctica from another — global warming. Understanding the complexities surrounding these issues is a challenge for scientists — and communicating these in a meaningful way to society and to policymakers is essential. There is no doubt that our world is changing and human activity is accelerating global change. This review is a major step forward in making sure that the latest and best evidence is available in one place. It sets the scene for future Antarctic Research and provides the knowledge that we all need to help us live with environmental change.” Key Findings of the report include: 1. Hole in ozone layer has shielded most of Antarctica from global warming The ozone hole has delayed the impact of greenhouse gas increases on the climate of the continent. Consequently south polar winds (the polar vortex), have intensified and affected Antarctic weather patterns. Westerly winds over the Southern Ocean that surrounds Antarctica have increased by around 15%. The stronger winds have effectively isolated Antarctica from the warming elsewhere on the planet. As a result during the past 30 years there has been little change in surface temperature over much of the vast Antarctic continent, although West Antarctica has warmed slightly. An important exception is the eastern coast of the Antarctic Peninsula, which has seen rapid summer warming. This warming is caused by stronger westerly winds bringing warm, wet air into the region from the ocean. 2. Warming of the Southern Ocean will cause changes in Antarctic ecosystem The largest ocean current on Earth (the Antarctic Circumpolar Current) has warmed faster than the global ocean as a whole. The Southern Ocean is one of the major sinks of atmospheric CO2, but increasing westerly winds have affected the ocean’s ability to absorb CO2 by causing the upwelling of CO2 rich water. 3. Rapid increase in plant communities across Antarctic Peninsula Rapid warming has been seen along the western Antarctic Peninsula, along with a switch from snowfall to rain during summer, resulting in expansion of plant, animal and microbial communities in newly available land. Humans have also inadvertently introduced "alien" organisms such as grasses, flies and bacteria. 4. Rapid ice loss in parts of the Antarctic The West Antarctic Ice Sheet has significantly thinned particularly around the Amundsen Sea Embayment as a result of warmer ocean temperatures. Regional warming caused by intensification of the westerly winds (due to the ozone hole) is melting ice shelves along the eastern Antarctic Peninsula (e.g. Larsen B Ice Shelf). 5. 10% increase in sea ice around the Antarctic Since 1980 there has been a 10% increase in Antarctic sea ice extent, particularly in the Ross Sea region, as a result of the stronger winds around the continent (due to the ozone hole). In contrast, regional sea ice has decreased west of the Antarctic Peninsula due to changes in local atmospheric circulation and this has also been linked with the very rapid warming seen over land on the west coast of the Peninsula. 6. Carbon dioxide levels increasing at fastest pace in 800,000 years Atmospheric concentrations of CO2 and CH4 are at higher levels than experienced in the last 800,000 years and are increasing at rates unlikely to have been seen in the (geologically) recent past. Antarctica was warmer in the last interglacial (130,000 years ago) and sea levels were higher, but the contribution of West Antarctica to that rise is currently unknown. 7. Sea ice loss directly affecting krill levels and penguin colonisation Loss of sea ice west of the Antarctic Peninsula has caused changes in algal growth. This loss of sea ice has also caused a shift from large to smaller species. Stocks of krill have declined significantly. In some areas Adélie penguin populations have declined due to reduced sea ice and prey species (on the northern Antarctic Peninsula), but they have remained stable or increased elsewhere (Ross Sea and East Antarctica). 8. Antarctica predicted to warm by around 3 degrees Celsius over this century Over this century the ozone hole is expected to heal, allowing the full effects of greenhouse gas increases to be felt across the Antarctic. Models suggest that the net effect will be continued slow strengthening of winds across the Southern Ocean, while sea ice will decrease by a third, resulting in increased phytoplankton productivity. The predicted warming of about 3°C across the continent is not enough to melt the main ice sheet and an increase in snowfall there should offset sea level rise by a few centimetres. 9. West Antarctic ice loss could contribute to 1.4 m sea level rise Loss of ice from the West Antarctic ice sheet is likely to contribute some tens of centimetres to global sea level by 2100. This will contribute to a projected total sea level rise of up to 1.4 metres (and possibly higher) by 2100. 10. Improved modeling of polar processes required for accurate predictions Climate variability in the Polar Regions is larger than in other parts of the world, yet these remote regions are sparsely sampled. These areas need to be monitored in much greater detail in order to detect change, to improve understanding of the processes at work, and to distinguish between natural climate variability and variability caused by human influences. Reprinted with permission from EnvironmentalNewsNetwork
“The century ahead of us will be defined by energy innovation,” he said in his keynote address. “We need availability and security of energy, and a depth and diversification of energy sources.” He spoke of the odd timing of the Copenhagen agenda of lowering carbon emissions (of which fossil fuel energy sources are a key contributor) by 2050, as well as projections that by 2030, there would be a substantial growth of energy needs worldwide. Some 80% of which these energy demands are to be met by hydrocarbon sources. Indeed, humanity faces some difficult decisions and conflict in the years ahead: development at what cost? Beyond the issue of climate change, many call into question the phenomena of peak oil , that is the tipping point at which worldwide oil production peaks and eventually slips into decline. This would cause massive problems worldwide as the global economy is effectively built on the notion that cheap, abundant fossil fuel energy sources will always be available. A whopping 40% of the world’s energy comes from oil. Dr. Yergin politely cast aside this notion that the world was running out of oil, citing amongst other examples, recent oil discoveries off the coast of Brazil. “Rather than a peak, production seems to resemble more of a plateau,” he said. According to Yergin, the world has plenty of supply. It is a sentiment echoed by the International Energy Agency (IEA), whose most recent World Energy Outlook 2009 Report indicates that world energy resources are adequate to meet projected demand increase through 2030 and well beyond. However, any IEA projections should be taken with a pinch of salt, as there have been serious allegations their numbers have been exaggerated. Also worth taking into account are the severe environmental implications for developing fossil fuel sources in relation to climate change. Ultimately, to combat carbon emissions that fuel climate change, the world needs to evolve away from fossil fuels. Yergin remained optimistic that technological innovation would continue to aid in the discovery, recovery, and refinement of oil in the years ahead. He also spoke highly of the renewable energy possibilities. However, merely having technology available does not solve all energy woes. For example, within recent decades, the nature of oil recovery operations has become increasingly complex and expensive. In the 1980’s, it was a matter of a several million dollar off-shore project drilling down several hundred feet to recover oil. Oil developments today involve several billion dollars of investment into an off-shore project go down thousands of feet to the ocean floor. The location of oil stocks is getting more difficult to access, and more costly to recover. Enter into this scenario a global economic downturn, and suddenly investment into recovering and refining oil dries up. According to the IEA, most oil and gas companies have announced cutbacks in capital spending, as well as project delays and cancellations in 2009. Overall, investment budgets have been cut by 19% this year. While the demand for oil has softened with the recession, it will inevitably recover. When it does, there will be a big problem as production has been substantially cut back and the implications for the price of oil are not pretty. And what of the price of oil topping US$147 a barrel last year, amidst the onset of the financial crisis and recession? Peak oil proponents believe that the price spike was due to an increase in demand and decrease of supply just ahead of the recession, a confirmation that peak oil’s onset was nigh. Dr. Yergin however offered another entirely plausible explanation. With the US dollars weakness over the last several years, investors lost their usual safe haven when the financial crisis set in. As a result, they began to speculate in other areas, including commodities like oil. According to Yergin, this explains why the price stayed at record highs, even though demand was dropping due to the recession. Oil is emerging as a financial instrument, not just a commodity, and this can conjure greater volatility in price. In the years ahead, Yergin noted that globalization of demand, centered in developing countries would be a major trend. Not only that, but climate change and a price on carbon would increase cross-border tensions. Think of China’s manufacture of many U.S. consumer goods—who bears responsibility for the cost of the carbon footprint? The manufacturing country, or the ultimate consumer? All things considered, Yergin remains the optimist. He cites positive developments of unconventional natural gas (e.g. shale gas) and investment in renewable energy sources as great steps forward, ones that weren’t imaginable 20 years ago. Still, the unfolding uncertainty of the global financial situation in decades ahead, as well as unforeseen impacts of climate change present formidable challenges. A global economy has tethered us all to an incredibly uncertain and unclear future. Chris Tobias is Celsias Editor-at-Large and Lead Strategist at Forward. Reprinted with permission from Celsias
EnerDel, Mazda, Itochu Collaborate on EV Project
American lithium-ion battery producer EnerDel announced today that it will supply the advanced battery systems at the heart of a project integrating the smart grid, electric vehicles and renewable energy technologies in Japan. The Top MBA Programs Integrating Sustainability and CSR
The Aspen Institute releases its ranking of MBA programs that integrate sustainability and social responsibility.By Tracey de Morsella Toyota May Bring Back MR2 Sports Car As a Hybrid
By Christopher DeMorro Oregon Is Tops in Net Metering, Interconnection - Report
Oregon is at the head of the class in implementing net metering and interconnection standards, according to the 2009 Edition of Freeing the Grid, a policy guide that grades states on their current net metering and interconnection practices. Waste-to-Energy: Less Trash in Landfills, More Heat and Electricity
By Levant Bas Report: Ozone Hole Has Shielded Antarctica from Global Warming
By Roger Greenway Energy, Peak Oil, and Development 2010 and Beyond
As the keynote speaker at the Singapore Energy Lecture, Dr. Daniel Yergin was toeing his usual line of optimism on the subject of oil and energy. As the Founder and Chairman of Cambridge Energy Research Associate (CERA), Dr. Yergin has a long career in the energy industry, though one some challenge as upholding the status quo of business and industry.