Daily Archives: July 6, 2010

EPA Rule Increases Protection from Lead-Paint Poisoning

Posted on July 6, 2010 by Laura B.

Beginning today, all contractors performing renovation, repair or painting work in homes built before 1978 must follow lead-safe work practice requirements.  A new EPA rule removes a provision from existing regulations that allowed owner-occupants of pre-1978 homes to “opt-out” of … Continue reading →

Posted in Environmental Health, Painting & Coating, Regulation | 1 Comment

The 'Living Principles' for Designing Our World

Posted on July 6, 2010 by Laura B.

Read the full story at GreenBiz. We’ve come to learn over the years that the most potent opportunities and solutions in the world of sustainable business involve design, in its broadest sense: design of products, processes, organizations, business models, systems … Continue reading →

Posted in Sustainable Design | Leave a comment

New Online Database: Ecolabelindex.com, Compare Green Certifications

Posted on July 6, 2010 by Laura B.

Via ResourceShelf. From a World Resources Institute Announcement: Ecolabelindex.com allows consumers and companies to compare green certifications side-by-side. As consumers and companies become increasingly aware of their environmental impact, a surge of ecolabels have flooded the marketplace. Today, hundreds of … Continue reading →

Posted in Green Business, Green Products, Green Purchasing, Web Resources | Leave a comment

Certifiably Sustainable?: The Role of Third-Party Certification Systems: Report of a Workshop

Posted on July 6, 2010 by Laura B.

Available as a free PDF download from The National Academies Press. Catalog description Consumption of goods and services represents a growing share of global economic activity. In the United States, consumption accounts for more than two-thirds of gross domestic product. … Continue reading →

Posted in Green Business, Green Purchasing, Publications | Leave a comment

Testing Urban Turbines

Posted on July 6, 2010 by Laura B.

Read the full story in Governing. Renewable energy in the form of wind farms with large wind turbines are becoming increasingly prevalent nationwide. But over the past few years, the market for small wind turbines also has grown–by 15 percent … Continue reading →

Posted in Wind Energy | Leave a comment

Plant a Tree With Linkin Park, and You Could Win an iPad from the Green Music Challenge

Posted on July 6, 2010 by Laura B.

Read the full post at Treehugger. Why should you plant trees? For shade and oxygen? Right, but there’s tons of other things (like the tons of sequestered carbon) to keep in mind. And if these factoids to follow aren’t convincing … Continue reading →

Posted in Awards & contests | Leave a comment

EPA Proposal Cuts Pollution from Power Plants in 31 States and D.C.

Posted on July 6, 2010 by Laura B.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing regulations to cut air pollution that impairs air quality and harms the health of people living downwind. The regulation will target power plant pollution that drifts across the borders of 31 eastern … Continue reading →

Posted in Air, Regulation | Leave a comment

Loan Giants Opt to Block Energy Programs

Posted on July 6, 2010 by Laura B.

Read the full story in the New York Times. Two government-chartered mortgage finance companies are unlikely to accept loans on homes that are part of a special program that lets homeowners repay the cost of energy improvements through a surcharge … Continue reading →

Posted in Energy, Green Building | Leave a comment

What Do Hispanics Buy at Whole Foods? A New Professor Finds Out

Posted on July 6, 2010 by Laura B.

Read the full story from the Chronicle of Higher Education (may be subscriber only access). Now that environmentally friendly products have gone mainstream, Sigal Segev is focused on what everyday consumers—particularly Hispanic ones—consider “green.” The Israeli scholar will bring her … Continue reading →

Posted in Green Business, Green Lifestyle | Leave a comment

Smart Meters Alone Won't Reduce Energy Use, Study Says

Posted on July 6, 2010 by Laura B.

Read the full story at GreenerBuildings. Utilities need to go beyond the smart meter and use a range of energy-feedback tools to achieve significant reductions in customers’ power consumption and their electricity bills, new research shows. In a report released … Continue reading →

Posted in Energy, Green Building, Publications | Leave a comment