The Green Life

Daily Roundup: June 19, 2009

Under Pressure: The government of Cameroon has granted Wildlife Works, an environmental group, 30 days to create a conservation proposal for a tract of rainforest. If the group does not come up with an economically viable plan, the forest will be sold to loggers. Mongabay and Treehugger

New Cars on the Block: Nissan Motor Company has plans to build electric cars at its Smyrna, Tennessee plant. Reuters

Break It Down: Researchers in China have isolated a type of microbe with the ability to break down phthalates. The discovery has potential applications in wastewater treatment. Science Daily

Green Jobs: Two recent reports suggest that an annual $150 billion clean-energy investment by the federal government could create 1.7 million new jobs. GreenBiz and Green Inc.

Methane Happens: The House Appropriations Committee approved a $10.6 billion EPA spending bill with an added amendment that prevents the EPA from requiring factory farms to report greenhouse gas emissions. New York Times and Grist

--Della Watson

Energize Your Job

A study released yesterday holds good tidings for the 9 percent of our workforce currently unemployed and looking to trade their old white or blue collars for a green one: The environment is our country's fastest-growing employer, says the Pew Charitable Trusts.

The report found that America's clean-energy economy grew more than twice as fast as overall jobs between 1998 and 2007. Findings also included that well-paying clean energy jobs can be found in any state, for any skill level. But it’s not all energy-related -- green jobs are burgeoning in fields like construction, plumbing, engineering, and teaching. As a Pew spokesperson said, “The clean-energy economy is poised for explosive growth.”

Signs of an even greater industry growth spurt: the White House recently appointed green-jobs innovator Van Jones as the Special Advisor for Green Jobs, and the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act will allocate billions in direct spending and tax incentives for energy-related programs.

Wondering how to join the clean- economy workforce? Check out these Green Life tips, or visit greenforall.org.

--Jamie Hansen

Green Your Computer Use: Screen Savers

Computers help us work faster, find information, and connect with friends and family. They also use energy and create waste. This week, we'll discuss ways to do the most good and minimize harm while using the computer.

Tip #2: Forget the Fractals

They were originally designed to protect monitors, but new technology makes screen savers unnecessary. Save energy by avoiding the hypnotic graphics, which consume as much power as regular processing. Change your computer's screen saver setting to "blank" or simply turn off the monitor when you walk away from your desk.

Share your tips: How do you save power in the office?

Daily Roundup: May 29, 2009

Goats at Work: In lieu of lawn mowers, the Maryland State Highway Administration will enlist the help of 40 goats to keep grass clipped near a road bypass that encroaches on endangered turtle habitat. AFP

Parks in Peril: California could lose funding for 220 state parks if recently proposed budget cuts are passed. Treehugger

Under the Sea: An estimated 13 percent of the earth's undiscovered oil may be located north of the Arctic Circle, most likely in the Chukchi Sea near northern Alaska, said U.S. Geological Survey researchers in a recent report. Los Angeles Times

Green Rules: China's Ministry of Environmental Protection and Ministry of Commerce have drafted a set of environmental guidelines for Chinese companies working on overseas projects. Wall Street Journal

Sicko: According to new research, environmental pollution may be correlated with liver disease. Reuters

--Della Watson

Daily Roundup: May 27, 2009

Green for Green Jobs: Joe Biden and two members of the Middle Class Task Force announced funding for a new program that will train workers to improve the energy efficiency of public housing. Associated Press

Housing Crisis: Another victim of the recession, renowned green architect Michelle Kaufmann is closing her firm. Los Angeles Times

Cat Fight: A lawsuit filed by the Sierra Club and a coalition of environmental groups challenges the U.S. Fish and Wildlife's designation of critical habitat for the endangered Canada lynx. Environmentalists say the designation fails to account for the impacts of climate change and is insufficient to protect the lynx. New York Times and Sierra Club

Sunken Treasure: A World War II military vessel was intentionally sunk near Key West, Florida, to create an artificial reef that residents hope will attract both marine life and tourists. Reuters

Call It a Comeback: Most damaged ecosystems can recover if the source of pollution or disturbance is removed, confirmed an analysis of scientific studies conducted by Yale researchers. Science Daily

--Della Watson

Oh, The Planet You'll Save

 “We are the only species on the planet without full employment,” said Paul Hawken while delivering a commencement address to the University of Portland this May.

A bit dismal for group of people entering a dwindling job market, you say? Not so much. From this harsh reality, Hawken crafted a sense of great hope and possibility: “There is invisible writing on the back of the diploma you will receive,” he said, “You are brilliant, and the earth is hiring."

During his brief, impassioned speech, the environmentalist and entrepreneur urged graduates – and all of us – to join “the largest movement the world has ever seen” by working through numerous possible avenues – engineering, farming, social justice, government, and others – to “reconstitute the world.”

Heed the statistics about the environmental crisis, he said, but be fueled to act, rather than defeated, by their often staggering implications: “Forget that this task of planet-saving is not possible in the time required. Don’t be put off by people who know what is not possible. Do what needs to be done, and check to see if it was impossible only after you are done.”

Words to help save the planet by. To read the full speech, click here.

--Jamie Hansen

New Eco-Font Saves Ink

Double-sided documents, using recycled paper – both great ways to make printing more eco-friendly, but neither is a solution to the millions of leaky ink cartridges piling up in landfills each year.

Using holey cheese as its inspiration, a Dutch communications agency has invented a font designed to cut down on ink consumption.

The new Ecofont, downloadable for free at the company's website, appears at small sizes like any other type, but each letter is actually filled with tiny, inkless circles:  

The design minimizes ink usage by up to 20 percent, the company claims. But even with a more ink-efficient font, the cartridge will eventually run out. When it does, websites like freerecycling.com make it easy – and economical – to keep your used plastic out of the dump.

--Jamie Hansen

Bike to Work Week

Strap on those helmets and get ready to ride: It's Bike to Work Week. While commuting on two wheels is the norm in some European and Asian cities, many Americans are still warming up to the idea. Bike to Work Week (part of National Bike Month) helps energize communities and spread awareness about green transportation. Now's a great time to participate in a local event or talk to your employer about the benefits of biking. Let your boss know that he or she can build a bike-friendly workplace by providing safe bike storage and employee shower facilities. Sweeten the deal by mentioning that some bike-related expenses are tax deductible. Need more inspiration? The League of American Bicyclists recently announced its 2009 Bicycle Friendly Business program honorees. Here are the top scorers:

• Bike Gallery (Portland, OR)
• New Belgium Brewing Company (Fort Collins, CO)
• CatEye North America (Boulder, CO)
• David Baker and Partners (San Francisco, CA)
• Seattle Children's Hospital (Seattle, WA)
• Bear Valley Inn (Olema, CA)
• Kona Bicycles (Ferndale, WA)
• Liberty Bicycles (Asheville, NC)
• Mad Dog Cycles (Orem, UT)
• Providence Portland Medical Center (Portland, OR)

See the full list of winners here (PDF).

--Della Watson

Solar Chicago

Chicago's South Side may soon be home to the largest urban solar power plant in the United States. The proposed project, slated for completion by the end of the year, would provide roughly 200 green jobs and produce 10 megawatts of energy. If Exelon and SunPower Corporation secure a loan through Obama's economic stimulus plan, they'll redevelop 39 acres of an industrial brownfield site to house the 32,800 solar panels. If the $60-million project is built, city residents may breathe a sigh of relief: Cook County (where Chicago is located) is home to three coal-fired power plants, which contribute to at least 2,800 asthma attacks each year. The proposed solar project could power 1,200 to 1,500 homes a year--not nearly enough to replace the coal-fired power plants, but nonetheless a big step toward a clean energy future.

--Della Watson

Daily Roundup: April 17, 2009

Growing Green Kids: The EPA announced a partnership with Boys and Girls Clubs of America and parent-teacher organizations to engage youths in the fight against global warming. EPA

Wilderness Without Weapons: The Interior Department will not appeal the federal court ruling that banned loaded, concealed guns in national parks last month. The National Rifle Association, however, has filed an appeal. Associated Press

Easy Out? Tennessee Valley Authority has requested a dismissal of the seven lawsuits filed in response to the coal-ash spill at the Kingston Fossil Plant in December. Knoxville News Sentinel

Not-So-Free Bird: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced a $14-million recovery plan to save a rare Hawaiian bird from extinction. San Jose Mercury News

Green Amigos: According to a White House statement, the United States and Mexico will cooperate on environmental issues such as renewable energy, green jobs, and land use. Reuters

--Della Watson