Energy 2.0

Will this be the last year of the tiger?

Sarah — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 13:27:46 +0000

The critically endangered tiger could soon join the dragon as a zodiac creature that exists only in legend. The Chinese lunar calendar year known as the Year of the Tiger began on February 14th with only 3200 tigers left in the wild.…

Administration’s overlooked successes

JPierce — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 21:13:08 +0000

A few weeks ago Paul Rogers of the Mercury News wrote that despite the general perception that the current administration having accomplished relatively little Obama has in fact made major strides in national environmental policy. Some examples not included in the article are: the significant tightening of the previously weak regulations surrounding non-conventionally raised livestock, and the FTC’s stepping up efforts to address greenwashing amidst increasing complaints
and problems such as the bogus “bamboo” textiles.

Stop and smell the crocuses

JPierce — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 22:00:24 +0000

If you’re looking for some means of enjoying the fine weather that is expected this weekend, you might consider taking the commuter rail to Salem and checking out the Trash Menagerie, followed by a stroll along the water front.…

How accurate is your “green perception”?

Sarah — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 18:40:40 +0000

A New Scientist report highlights the dramatic differences between consumers’ perception of a company’s “greenness” and reality.

New Scientist investigated consumer perception via a 2008 Earthsense survey of consumer ratings, and compared those numbers to each company’s Trucost score, the estimated cost of its environmental impact as a percentage of its annual revenue.…

Greener Students

JPierce — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 23:20:59 +0000

A quick synopsis of recent/upcoming environmental events at local universities.

MIT’s energy conference begins tomorrow, featuring a free Energy Showcase from 5–8 PM:

Go Green Awards Nominations Deadline: April 5th

LGlick — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 17:32:47 +0000

It is time again for the city of Cambridge’s Go Green Awards, which recognizes businesses and organizations that take exceptional environmental actions in at least one of five areas—energy use, transportation, waste reduction, stormwater, and climate protection.…

Ocean overview

JPierce — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 08:11:04 +0000

Not only is the infamous Pacific Garbage Patch (or gyre as it is properly known) is possibly much larger than previously estimated, an Atlantic counterpart has been discovered.

In more local news, your orders of fried clams this summer might get a little expensive. Researchers have warned that New England may experience major red tide events this year.

Lastly, a potentially positive piece: California is considering “un-grand-fathering” power plants permits to dump waste heat into coastal waters.

Cleaning up New York’s Gowanus Canal

Tara Holmes — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 21:10:32 +0000

According to the NYTimes, the EPA announced that it will designate the Gowanus Canal in Brooklyn, one of the most contaminated waterways in the nation, a Superfund site. This designation paves the way for a federally-funded clean up process of decades of pollution; the 1.8 mile canal was shown to have pesticide pollution as well as PCB cancer-causing pollution. The EPA estimated that the cleanup would last 10 to 12 years and cost $300 million to $500 million.…

Boulder finds out it’s not easy being green.

Anthony Butler — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 21:58:28 +0000

From last week’s Wall Street Journal comes news that despite the best of intentions from the local government and residents of Boulder, CO significant energy savings are yet to be realized.

Beyond the usual justifications on the whys and why-nots of any local initiative, the really interesting thing is that energy audits have not been terrifically successful in getting people to move forward on retrofits, despite understanding exactly where savings can be realized.…

Seasons of Change

JPierce — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 13:59:10 +0000

A reader submitted this link regarding a traveling exhibit dubbed “Seasons of Change” about global warming’s impact on New England. You can find it at the Ecotarium in Worcester through May, where you might also enjoy an Inspiring Breath of Spring! and other exhibits. Eventually, it will be accessible via public transportation at the Museum of Science, but not anytime this year.