Monthly Archives: January 2010
Obama speaks to the American people
President Obama’s State of the Union address yesterday night was, in my mind, expertly delivered. Like a good politician, Obama played to various interest groups and in no area did he do this more than in the energy sector. He [...]
The American Recovery & Reinvestment Act and the environment – Part I
In February 2009, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act was passed by the Congress, and signed into law by President Barack Obama. Its main goal is to spur economic activity and growth, creating and saving jobs. Recovery funds are around [...]
Samso: 100% renewable energy island
It seems like a school project, or a game, too perfect to be real. Yet it does exist; Samso Island, in Denmark, uses nearly 100% renewable energy. In 1997, it won a competition launched by the Ministry of Energy of [...]
Restaurants are getting greener in Chicago
Restaurants and other commercial food entities generate more than 1/3 of the total waste of Illinois. That’s a lot. Luckily, in 2007 the Green Chicago Restaurant Co-op was launched, by Dan Rosenthal, in partnership with Ina Pinkney, two well-known restaurant [...]
Grameen Shakti: deploying renewable energy in Bangladesh
Grameen Shakti or Grameen Energy is part of the Grameen family of organizations, and its objective is to promote and develop renewable energies in rural areas of Bangladesh. It was born in 1996, and follows some of the guidelines of [...]
Green help for Haiti
Haiti has not only lost more than 100,000 people, but its housing has crumbled down, its already weak energy infrastructure has been destroyed, there is a lack of water and food, as well as many wounded. International aid is being [...]
What is microgeneration?
Microgeneration is the generation of zero or low carbon heat and power by individuals, small businesses and communities to meet their own needs. It includes small scale wind turbines, hydroelectric plants, photovoltaic solar systems and ground source heat pumps. It [...]
Masdar: the city of the future?
Many tend to relate the Middle East with crude. Some may consider that Middle Eastern countries owe their wealth to exporting crude to Western states. But some countries there have started to worry about sustainability and the need to search [...]
California implements first mandatory green building code
California is one of the most progressive states in terms of environmental action and policy. This particular case is yet another proof of it. Starting on 2011, California will demand new buildings to comply with a number of green regulations. [...]
Walmart’s environmental initiatives
Being Walmart “the largest private employer and the largest grocery retailer in the US”, its impact on the environment is huge. It operates in several countries besides the US, such as Mexico, the UK, Japan, and India. It was founded [...]
Cambridge University and its impressive green development plans
Cambridge University is extremely well-known for the outstanding education it provides. However, concerning its environmental performance, it isn’t nearly as successful. Thanks to the North West Cambridge development, this will most likely change. Construction of North West Cambridge begins in [...]
A Small Change Goes a Long Way
‘Do you have your own bag?’, the ‘Giant’ supermarket attendant asked me the other day. Starting January 1st, 2010, businesses in Washington D.C. selling food or alcohol have to charge 5 cents for every disposable paper or plastic carryout bag. [...]
