IWC Draft Document Promotes Regulated Whaling

Submitted by Nate Kharrl on Fri, 2010-03-05 17:07
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IWC Draft Document Promotes Regulated Whaling

A recent meeting of the International Whaling Convention drafted a plan to begin regulated whaling.
Photo credit: Michael Dawes

A special working group working to save the International Whaling Commission met in St. Petersburg Beach, Florida to propose a "package" that could bring whaling and anti-whaling countries closer together. Notes from the Chairman, which clearly state that "nothing is agreed until everything is agreed," recognize that the body has not performed to the satisfaction of whaling and anti-whaling nations alike.

March 11th Forest Certification Webinar Examines Competing Programs and Trends

Submitted by Nate Kharrl on Tue, 2010-03-02 19:16
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Press Release:

March 11th Forest Certification Webinar Examines Competing Programs and Trends

(St. Paul, MN) – A series of webinars offered by the Forest Products Management Development Institute (FPMDI), Department of Bioproducts and Biosystems Engineering, and Dovetail Partners will address key aspects of green marketing and related trends. The series, Positioning for Green – Opportunities for Forest Products, includes five online events that participants can access from their offices or home computers. The fourth webinar in the series will take place on March 11th and will examine the competing forest certification programs and trends in forest certification.

PlanetSolar Prepares to Launch Solar-Powered Voyage

Submitted by Nate Kharrl on Mon, 2010-03-01 16:37
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PlanetSolar Prepares to Launch Solar-Powered Voyage

PlanetSolar unveiled their recently finished solar catamaran to press last weekend, and simultaneously announced the beginning of their round-the-world voyage.
3D model of the PlanetSolar boat with flaps attached

The worlds largest solar powered boat begins preparations to journey around the globe using nothing but the power of the sun. The 100 foot catamaran has been developed to be silent and 100% clean, and generates enough power to propel 50 people across the high seas. Despite the large size of the vessel, a crew of two will pilot this ship around the world, stopping in numerous countries to allow journalists and fans to tour the ship at each port of call.

Bloom Energy to Unveil "World-Changing" Energy Device

Submitted by Nate Kharrl on Tue, 2010-02-23 16:04
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Bloom Energy to Unveil "World-Changing" Energy Device

Bloom Energy will unveil the Bloom Box, a fuel cell that allows consumers to generate their own electricity with double the efficiency and less than half the emissions of commercial power plants.
Bloombox Founder KR Sridhar on 60 Minutes

After over a decade of secretive development, Bloom Energy revealed their fuel cell design that they believe could transform the electricity industry forever. Their fuel cell, which generates electricity by combining natural gas and oxygen without combustion, is small and scalable, enabling consumers to generate electricity in their own back yard. A fuel cell large enough to power an American home is small enough to be held in your hand.

Unilever Fined for Polluting California Air With Deodorant Spray

Submitted by ecofactory on Mon, 2010-02-15 23:45
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Unilever Fined for Polluting California Air With Deodorant Spray

SACRAMENTO, California, February 15, 2010 (ENS) - A fragrant personal care spray designed to make men appear to be free of unpleasant body odor has polluted California air to the degree that the state has fined the brandowner's corporate parent more than $1 million.

The California Air Resources Board announced Wednesday that it has penalized Conopco Inc. d/b/a Unilever $1.3 million for illegal consumer sales of AXE Deodorant Bodyspray for Men.

Top US Scientist: Farming Must Embrace GMO

Submitted by Nate Kharrl on Fri, 2010-02-12 17:20
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Top US Scientist: Farming Must Embrace GMO

The top scientist to the Secretary of State released findings from a special research group that point to genetically modified crops as a key tool to fight hunger.
Soybeans

Nina Fedoroff, the chief scientist of Secretary of State Clinton, has come forward with new research advocating the expansion of genetically modified organisms in farming.

Green Product Webinar Examines Chain-of-Custody Certification

Submitted by Nate Kharrl on Tue, 2010-02-09 23:19
in
Press Release:

Green Product Webinar Examines Chain-of-Custody Certification

(St. Paul, MN) – A series of webinars offered by the Forest Products Management Development Institute (FPMDI), Department of Bioproducts and Biosystems Engineering, and Dovetail Partners will address key aspects of green marketing and related trends. The series, Positioning for Green – Opportunities for Forest Products, includes five online events that participants can access from their offices or home computers. The second webinar in the series will take place on February 11th and will address chain-of-custody certification.

Green Home vs Hurricane Debris Blast Cannon

Submitted by Nate Kharrl on Fri, 2010-01-22 22:13
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Green Home vs Hurricane Debris Blast Cannon

Green TV

Jeff Alexander of the Insulated Concrete Form Association and Greenblock invited us out to a demonstration of just how durable green building can be. With the tools and talents of the University of Florida's department of Hurricane Research on tap, the demonstration would simulate a direct blow from a piece of lumber flying at 50mph. To compare, a pair of ICF walls would be tested against stick frame and hollow cinder block walls to demonstrate the clear advantage of a solid concrete solution.

World Future Energy Summit Showcases Solar Thermal Reactor

Submitted by Nate Kharrl on Thu, 2010-01-21 16:28
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World Future Energy Summit Showcases Solar Thermal Reactor

A recently unveiled solar thermal reactor promises to turn solar energy into base load power.
The heat exchangers and reactor of a solar thermal reactor.

The World Future Energy Summit, held in Abu Dhabi, is showcasing some of the biggest and most imaginative technologies the green sector has seen in decades. One of the most unique items on display is a solar thermal reactor by a group calling itself Solar Fusion Power. With a 1-megawatt demonstration reactor set to be ready in about nine months, the solar thermal reactor could shake up our expectations for solar power.

California Adopts Mandatory Green Building Code

Submitted by Nate Kharrl on Mon, 2010-01-18 17:57
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California Adopts Mandatory Green Building Code

State Regulators unanimously approved Calgreen, a mandatory green building standard administered by the state that threatens independent green certification outfits like LEED.
San Francisco skyline

California led the nation in establishing the first mandatory green building code, Calgreen. While this move promises to slash water use and electricity consumption across the state, green groups say this could have dire implications for independent green building standards like the LEED program.