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posted Nov 5, 2009 6:45 AM by Jasmin Moore
November 19 1:00 - 2:15 p.m. The event is free to attend, but registration is required. Learn about new developments in the world of greener office electronics and computers by joining the Responsible Purchasing Network’s (RPN) webinar: “Green Your Office Electronics and Computers.” This webinar accompanies the release of the updates to two Responsible Purchasing Guides, Office Electronics and Computers. Energy-efficient electronics can help any institution reduce costs and prevent harmful emissions. Attend this webinar to learn how to save on electricity bills, reduce waste, and soften your office's environmental impact. Machines covered include: copiers, printers, scanners, fax machines, multifunctional devices (MFDs), digital duplicators, external power adapters, mailing machines, desktops, laptops, and monitors. This Webinar will cover: - Updates to the Purchasing Guides for Office Electronics and Computers
- Developments on standards, specifications, and policies
- Updates to the EPEAT and ENERGY STAR Programs
- "Best practices" for offices on electronic usage
- Strategies to reduce paper waste and electricity bills
- Case studies from both private and public organizations on greening their electronics
The webinar will feature the following speakers: Vincent Kitira, RPN Manager, to speak about the updates to the Guides as well as best practices for office electronics usage.
Sarah O'Brien, EPEAT Outreach Director, to give updates on EPEAT's computer standard, internationalization of its computer standard, and the new EPEAT standards for TVs and imaging equipment.
Una Song, ENERGY STAR Program Manager, to fill us in on the latest ENERGY STAR standards for imaging equipment and computers.
Alison Waske, Warner, Norcross, & Judd LLP Sustainability Manager, to share her organization's efforts to reduce electricity consumption and waste.
Sharon Clanton, State of Illinois Department of Child and Family Services, to discuss sustainability initiatives underway at her agency.
The event is free to attend, but registration is required. Register now.
The Responsible Purchasing Network (RPN), at the Center for a New American Dream, helps institutions incorporate environmental, human health, and social justice considerations into their purchasing decisions. RPN promotes responsible purchasing through outreach, trainings and presentations, conference calls, and media and communications efforts. For more information, visithttp://www.responsiblepurchasing.org. |
posted Oct 27, 2009 1:53 PM by Jasmin Moore
Source: APA Advocate, October 27, 2009 Full Story: http://www.planning.org/apaadvocate/2009/oct27.htm Sustainable Communities Partnership Makes
Progress
Earlier this year the U.S. Departments of Housing and Urban
Development and Transportation and the Environmental Protection Agency
established an interagency partnership to foster sustainability through better
coordination of federal housing, transportation, and environmental programs.
This partnership among HUD, DOT, and EPA has worked to define core principles
of livability and identify barriers to coordination and integration of federal
programs in support of sustainable communities. Among the efforts is a review
of opportunities to integrate existing planning requirements and focus research
and technical assistance programs on joint sustainability priorities. The HUD FY 2010 budget request proposed setting aside $150
million within the Community Development Block Grant program for a new
sustainability initiative that includes regional planning and metropolitan
challenge grants. Both the House and Senate have adopted HUD appropriation
bills that include the requested funding.
Sen. Christopher Dodd (D-Conn.) has introduced the Livable Communities
Act (S. 1619). This legislation would provide a multi-year authorization for
sustainability planning grants and a new sustainable communities office at HUD.
The bill authorizes funds for regional planning to make communities more
livable and creates an interagency council to promote sustainable development.
A House companion bill is expected to follow soon.Key provisions of S. 1619 include:
- Incentives for regional comprehensive planning. The
bill authorizes $400 million over four years to help regions develop plans
that link transportation, housing, community and economic development, and
environmental needs.
- Funding to implement sustainable development projects.
Through challenge grants, communities could seek funding to implement key
projects contained in regional plans. This new capital fund source would
focus on affordable housing, transit-oriented development, transit,
bike-ped projects, and brownfield and infill redevelopment. The bill calls
for $3.75 billion over three years.
- Assistance for regional livability initiatives. The
legislation ensures that federal agencies are a supportive partner in
regional planning by establishing critical research and technical
assistance capacities. A new Office of Sustainable Housing and Communities
would become a resource for best practices and technical assistance.
- An interagency council on sustainable communities. This
group would bring together a variety of agencies to coordinate federal
policy, research, training, and funding. The council would also identify
barriers to sustainable development and promote linking transportation,
housing, environmental, and energy policies.
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posted Oct 14, 2009 7:03 AM by Jasmin Moore
Full Story: West Union awarded $1 million for green projectsSource: KWWL-TV Waterloo, IA (10/13) "Governor Chet Culver Tuesday announced another step forward in Iowa's
efforts to become the center of green energy in the country with the awarding
of $1 million to the City of West Union. The funds will be used to establish an
innovative geothermal district-wide heating and cooling system (DHCS) and a
radiant-heat snow-melt system." West Union will use the grant to
"replace aging infrastructure such as water, storm and sanitary sewers,
streets, sidewalks and lights using environmentally friendly materials. The
city also intends to complete a six block green streetscape" with
"porous pavement, rainwater harvesting and reuse, rain gardens and bioswales
for stormwater retention." After it is completed, "no other community
in the country will have integrated as many green infrastructure practices in
one place and at one time as West Union." The funding comes thanks to West
Union being "named one of Iowa's two Green Pilot Communities."
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posted Oct 12, 2009 7:37 AM by Jasmin Moore
According to the White House Blog, on October 5, "President Obama signed a new Executive Order on Federal Sustainability. The Executive Order challenges agencies to lead by example in energy and environmental performance and gives them 90 days to set a 2020 greenhouse reduction goal. It also sets targets for efficient, sustainable buildings, petroleum use reduction in fleets, water efficiency, waste reduction, purchasing green technologies and product, and supporting sustainable communities."
"By fulfilling this Executive Order, the Federal government will demonstrate that economic performance and a healthy environment go hand-in-hand. And by putting Federal purchasing power to work – more than $500 billion per year in goods and services – the government can build on the momentum of the Recovery Act to help turn good entrepreneurial ideas into great American enterprises that create jobs."
A summary of the E.O is attached.
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posted Sep 1, 2009 11:28 AM by Jasmin Moore
Full Story: EPA Announces Houses of Worship Can Now Earn Energy Star Label and Reduce Their Carbon Footprint Approximately 370,000 can track their energy useSource: EPA News Feed, Enesta Jones. (9/1/09)
"WASHINGTON – America’s houses of worship can now earn the Energy Star label, joining the nation’s schools, hospitals, hotels, and other facilities in their efforts to fight climate change, save energy and reduce their carbon footprint. EPA’s energy tracking tool, Portfolio Manager, currently allows facilities to track energy use and the associated greenhouse gas emissions, set targets for investment priorities and verify efficiency improvements. Now the estimated 370,000 houses of worship across the United States can use Portfolio Manager to receive an energy performance rating, and the most energy efficient among them can earn the Energy Star label." |
posted Sep 1, 2009 6:30 AM by Jasmin Moore
Special Assistant to the President on Urban Policy Derek Douglas, Special Advisor for Green Jobs Van Jones, and Adolfo Carrion, Jr., Director of Office of Urban Affairs Policy will be joined by HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan and Transportation Deputy Secretary John Porcari on September 1 to visit with local leaders in Kansas City about the Green Impact Zone. "With the leadership of Congressman Emanuel Cleaver in partnership with the Mid-America Regional Council and community members, the Green Impact Zone is a comprehensive place-based plan to invest public and private funding to transform a neighborhood plagued by high rates of poverty and violence, unemployment and abandoned property. The Green Impact Zone will improve housing conditions through the rehabilitation and weatherization of the entire 150 block area neighborhood, develop a green workforce through the training of residents from the urban core in green technology, and invest in sustainable transportation through a green bus rapid transit system. Moreover, investors of the Green Impact Zone believe that the effort will break down cost barriers that make "going green" a luxury. The Green Impact Zone provides lessons for investments in sustainability, workforce development, neighborhood stabilization, transportation, energy efficiency, and inclusion." |
posted Jun 16, 2009 12:29 PM by Jasmin Moore
Full Story: Climate Change Impacts Across America -- Renewed Focus for Decisions
"Today, the White House helped to launch a new science report representing a consensus of 13 agencies developed over a year and half and focused on potential climate change impacts on the United States."
"It’s the most comprehensive report to date on the possible impacts of climate change for everyone across America, and begins an important process of redefining the sort of information we need in order to deal with climate change at national and regional scales. Effectively managing our response to a changing climate falls  into two general categories:
1) Implementing measures to limit climate change and therefore avoid many of the impacts discussed in the report. These measures must reduce the amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere and might include increasing our reliance on clean energy, and developing energy efficient technologies
2) Reducing our vulnerability and increasing our resilience to ongoing climate change in pro-active, community-based ways. Examples of this include such measures as developing more climate-sensitive building codes to keep people out of harm’s way, or planting more drought or heat tolerant crops, for example."
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posted Jun 15, 2009 8:28 AM by Jasmin Moore
The University of Washington is offering a new online
certificate program in Sustainable Transportation this fall. There will be an
online information meeting June 18. A brief description follows.
University of Washington Professional & Continuing
Education
Certificate in Sustainable Transportation (online) – NEW!
In this online professional program, developed by
UW faculty and leaders in the field, explore the critical concepts and issues
inherent in developing a sustainable transportation system, including policies
and programs to encourage sustainable practices. The program includes three
courses: Transportation Planning, Livable Communities,
and Transportation Choices. Approved by the University of Washington’s College of Engineering,
Civil & Environmental Engineering Department. Online information meeting: 6/18, 4:30-5:30 Pacific Time.
Apply now to start this fall. For more information, visit http://www.extension.washington.edu/ext/certificates/sus/sus_gen.asp
or call 888-469-6499.
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posted May 22, 2009 6:31 AM by Jasmin Moore
Full Story: City to spend $849 million for conservationSource: San Antonio Express
News, May 21, 2009
"City leaders took a big step toward making San Antonio energy-efficient Thursday, dedicating $849 million over the next 12 years to programs that save energy and spur solar power." "Council
members...were swayed by CPS Energy's argument that conservation is less expensive
than building more power plants."
"The program, called Save for Tomorrow Energy Plan, or STEP, will save 771 megawatts of electricity by 2020, according to the city-owned utility. That's about the same amount of power produced by one of CPS Energy's large coal-fired power plants." "STEP will be funded by an increase in utility bills. It will translate into an extra 3 cents a month on the average customer's bill this year. That will increase to $1.38 a month by 2012. The savings created by the STEP plan, according to CPS Energy, include $500 million in fuel cost savings by forgoing coal and natural gas that would have to be bought to create the power. And the power plant that STEP will replace could cost as much as $2 billion." |
posted May 21, 2009 2:22 PM by watkins@metroplan.org
Full story: The Race for Better Building Codes
Source: The New York Times, May 21
"Buildings account for more than one-third of national energy use and 30 percent of greenhouse gas emissions, according to the Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Green Building Council.
"Experts say that there is an easy way to reduce that number: tightening up building codes, so that they require more effective insulation and other improvements.
"The stimulus package passed in February aims to do this, by requiring that states receiving certain types of energy monies pledge to bring their codes up to an internationally accepted standard — and draft a plan to achieve 90 percent compliance in new and renovated buildings by 2017 (see Section 410 in the law)." |
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