Daily Archives: July 10, 2009

In Public Housing, Talking Up the Recycling Bin

Posted on July 10, 2009 by Laura B.

Read the full story in the New York Times. In the General Grant Houses in Manhattan, two women are spreading the word about recycling, door by door.

Posted in Local Initiatives, Recycling | Leave a comment

Plastic Not-So-Fantastic: How the Versatile Material Harms the Environment and Human Health

Posted on July 10, 2009 by Laura B.

Read the full story in Scientific American. From cell phones and computers to bicycle helmets and hospital IV bags, plastic has molded society in many ways that make life both easier and safer. But the synthetic material also has left … Continue reading →

Posted in Environmental Health, Plastics, Publications | Leave a comment

Eastman Earns Cradle to Cradle Certification for 10 Polymers

Posted on July 10, 2009 by Laura B.

Read the full story at GreenerDesign. Ten polymers developed by Eastman Chemical Company have received Cradle to Cradle (C2C) silver certification. The materials are used in a wide range of products and industries, including architecture, design and construction. The polymers … Continue reading →

Posted in Green Business, Green Products, Plastics, Sustainable Design | Leave a comment

The Next Generation of Fireworks May All Be Green

Posted on July 10, 2009 by Laura B.

Read the full story at GreenBiz. Despite being a centerpiece of celebrations the world over, fireworks displays often release toxic chemicals into the environment, from heavy metals to perchlorate… But researchers are developing a new generation of fireworks that can … Continue reading →

Posted in Air, Environmental Health, Green Business, Holidays | Leave a comment

First Biodiesel Pipeline Starts Operations

Posted on July 10, 2009 by Laura B.

Read the full story at Green Inc. A commercial shipment of biodiesel has moved through a pipeline in the United States for the first time, according to Kinder Morgan Energy Partners, a pipeline company.

Posted in Biofuels | Leave a comment

Carbonomics: The Price vs. Quantity Debate

Posted on July 10, 2009 by Laura B.

Read the full story at Green Inc. If the nation’s goal is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and promote the development of clean energy, is it easier to do this by managing the price of emissions and renewables, or by … Continue reading →

Posted in Climate Change | Leave a comment

Can Mud Make the Perfect Biofuel?

Posted on July 10, 2009 by Laura B.

Read the full story at ClimateBiz. Dozens and perhaps hundreds of companies are frantically searching for the perfect biofuel. One is Qteros, a Massachusetts-based startup, spun off from Umass-Amherst, that has discovered and refined a microbe called the Q Microbe … Continue reading →

Posted in Biofuels, Research | Leave a comment

A Clarion Call to Insurers

Posted on July 10, 2009 by Laura B.

Read the full story at ClimateBiz. The insurance industry should view two recent climate change stories of significance as a clarion call to action.

Posted in Climate Change | Leave a comment

EPA Looking to Replace Bush-era Pollution Rules

Posted on July 10, 2009 by Laura B.

Read the full story in Scientific American. U.S. EPA is working to issue replacement rules for Bush-era regulations aimed at slashing power plant emissions of soot, smog and mercury as quickly as possible, the agency’s top air official told a … Continue reading →

Posted in Air, Regulation | Leave a comment

Powering Cars with Potholes

Posted on July 10, 2009 by Laura B.

Read the full story in Scientific American. Automakers are examining a variety of technologies to enhance fuel economy. But a group of undergraduate students at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology has found an overlooked source: shock absorbers.

Posted in Research, Transportation | Leave a comment