Category Archives: Air Quality

Investment in Green Telecom Could Reduce Greenhouse Gases

by CGR Staff Writer
Posted on October 8, 2012 by CGR Staff Writer

Investment in Green Telecom Networks Could Reduce Worldwide Emissions of Greenhouse Gases from Network Operations by 32 Percent between 2011 and 2016

Telecommunications network operators are faced with the challenge of balancing their growing subscriber bases and rising mobile data usage with their public pledges to reduce both capital and operating expenditures, along with emissions of greenhouse gases (GHGs).  As such, robust alternative energy solutions to power fixed and mobile networks are increasingly important.  The goal of creating more efficient and sustainable networks is a top priority for nearly every telecom service provider today.  According to a recent report from Pike Research, a part of Navigant’s Energy Practice, investment in energy-efficient telecom network infrastructure will reach $194 billion annually by 2016.

All told, these investments could reduce GHG emissions from the telecom industry by 32 percent by 2016 compared to a business-as-usual scenario, the study concludes. Continue reading →

Posted in Air Quality, Business, Carbon Management, CSR, Data Centers, Energy, Energy Management, Green Business, Green IT, Information Systems, Sustainability News, Technology | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

PennFuture, Sierra Club, and NRDC Slam EPA for Proposing a Free Pass for Toxic Air Pollution

by CGR Staff Writer
Posted on May 25, 2012 by CGR Staff Writer

PHILADELPHIA–(BUSINESS WIRE)–The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released draft proposed rules this week that would create special loopholes for dirty diesel and gas electricity generators, allowing them to avoid installing pollution controls for toxic and other air pollution emissions.

“These proposed rules sacrifice local air quality and public health, distort energy markets, and could endanger electricity reliability in our region,” said Christina Simeone, director of the PennFuture Energy Center, a program of Citizens for Pennsylvania’s Future.

“The loophole in these rules could result in reduced reliability and will result in increased air pollution, by making the electricity system more dependent on small, dirty sources of electricity. Closing this loophole will send market signals to invest in cleaner generation and conservation while better protecting Americans’ health”

Several years ago, EPA adopted rules limiting the amount of toxic air emissions – like formaldehyde and benzene – that are released from small diesel and gas-fired generators. EPA is now proposing to allow dirty generators to increase by six times the number of hours they may operate in electricity planning programs without any pollution controls. Continue reading →

Posted in Air Quality, BusinessWire, Green Facilities, Pollution, Sustainability News | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Global Clean Technology Venture Deals Rise While Dollars Fall in 1Q 2012

by CGR Staff Writer
Posted on April 8, 2012 by CGR Staff Writer

SAN FRANCISCO–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Cleantech Group™, a global market intelligence firm helping executives connect with cleantech innovation, today released preliminary 1Q 2012 results from its i3 platform (http://i3.cleantech.com) for worldwide clean technology venture investments, totaling $1.81 billion.

“North American cleantech investors are exhibiting caution on the large dollar deals that often drive total venture investment”
185 deals were recorded in 1Q12 – up from 176 in 4Q11 and flat year-over-year – and the tally may rise again once all investors have reported all deals. Of these deals, 56 percent (104) were Series B or later rounds, accounting for 88 percent ($1.59 billion) of all money invested during the quarter. While deal counts rose, the total amount invested in cleantech companies dropped by 19 percent compared to the previous quarter ($2.23 billion) and was 31 percent lower than 1Q11 ($2.62 billion).

“North American cleantech investors are exhibiting caution on the large dollar deals that often drive total venture investment,” explained Cleantech Group CEO Sheeraz Haji, “yet the continued strength in deal count means that promising, early stage teams are finding a receptive audience.” Reflecting on the strength of the M&A market, Haji commented that, “we continue to see very active acquirers and blockbuster mergers, indicating that global corporations take competitiveness in this sector more seriously than ever.” Continue reading →

Posted in Air Quality, Alternative Energy, Business, Energy Management, Goods, Services & Product Design, Green Business, Green Facilities, Sustainability News | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Parisleaf Printing and Design Receives CurrentState™ Platinum Certification

by 3BL Media Press Release
Posted on March 20, 2012 by 3BL Media Press Release

(3BL Media / theCSRfeed) Tulsa, OK – March 19, 2012 – Parisleaf Printing and Design recently completed the CurrentState™ Sustainability Audit and received Platinum Certification – the highest certification level available.

The Client’s Challenge

Parisleaf is a Printing and Design company located in Gainesville, Florida.  Parisleaf provides a variety of services which include printing, branding packages, web and logo design.

Parisleaf’s largest challenge is that traditional print related goods and services can have a significant negative impact on the environment.  Negative impacts occur at all stages of the paper life cycle -  the harvesting of trees, the processing of wood fiber into pulp and  the disposal of paper products at the end of their useful life.

However, Parisleaf has overcome these challenges. They offer carbon negative printing and web solutions to its clients. Parisleaf is able to achieve this because of their innovative green practices and the steps they take to mitigate their effect on the environment.   Continue reading →

Posted in 3BL Media, Air Quality, Business, Business Transportation, Carbon Management, CSR, Emissions Trading, Energy Management, Environment, Furnishings, Goods, Services & Product Design, Green Business, Green Facilities, Green IT, Green Marketing, Green Supply Chain, Heating & Cooling, Information Systems, IT Asset Management, IT Policies, Procedures & Strategy, Janitorial, Kitchen, Food & Catering, Landscaping, Lighting, Office Management, Print Management, Recycling & Waste, Renovations & Construction, Storage Solutions, Sustainability News, Sustainability Practices, Tips to Green Your Business, Water Usage | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Compare Ratings, Data and Reviews for Any Building in the U.S.: HonestBuildings.com™ Launches Free Service

by CGR Staff Writer
Posted on March 20, 2012 by CGR Staff Writer

 

 

NEW YORK–(BUSINESS WIRE)–HonestBuildings.com announced today the release of its beta platform, a free web service allowing users to find and compare information, ratings and reviews for any commercial or residential building in the U.S.

“We are bringing transparency and connectivity to the massive real estate industry, which has traditionally been fragmented, opaque and inefficient”
Simply by searching for an address or zip code, anyone can access reviews, Honesty Ratings™, energy data, projects and renovations, and view the people and organizations associated with that building, for free.

“We are bringing transparency and connectivity to the massive real estate industry, which has traditionally been fragmented, opaque and inefficient,” said Riggs Kubiak, CEO of Honest Buildings. “Our goal is to connect people, catalyze transactions, and accelerate the development of high performance buildings on a global scale.”

Anyone can use Honest Buildings to compare buildings based on size, location, type, ratings, associated organizations, and the types of projects that have been completed, helping them to make better-informed decisions about real estate. Continue reading →

Posted in Air Quality, Business, BusinessWire, Energy Management, Furnishings, Green Business, Green Facilities, Heating & Cooling, Janitorial, Kitchen, Food & Catering, Landscaping, Lighting, Office Management, Recycling & Waste, Renovations & Construction, Sustainability News, Sustainability Practices, Water Usage | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Revenue From Net Zero Energy Buildings to Reach $1.3 Trillion by 2035

by CGR Staff Writer
Posted on January 31, 2012 by CGR Staff Writer

As green building practices become more commonplace in the global construction industry, the goal of designing zero energy buildings, or buildings that consume as much energy as they produce through on-site and renewable energy systems, has emerged as the next major frontier.  A number of countries and regions have already established long-term targets and regulations requiring zero energy building construction that will come into effect over the coming years, some as soon as 2016.  These stringent regulations will accelerate adoption around the world, causing the industry to undergo a significant transformation in the coming years.  According to a new report from Pike Research, worldwide revenue from zero energy buildings will grow rapidly over the next two decades, reaching almost $690 billion by 2020 and nearly $1.3 trillion by 2035.  That represents a compound annual growth rate of 43%, with much of that growth occurring in the European Union.

“Following the surge in LEED and other green building certifications worldwide over the last few years, zero energy building has emerged as the ‘holy grail’ in green building design,” says research analyst Eric Bloom.  “Technically, zero energy building design is feasible for many building types in many regions, but concerns about the upfront cost continue to impede it in the market.” Continue reading →

Posted in Air Quality, Alternative Energy, Business, Energy, Energy Management, Environment, Furnishings, Green Business, Green Facilities, Heating & Cooling, Janitorial, Kitchen, Food & Catering, Landscaping, Lighting, Recycling & Waste, Renovations & Construction, Sustainability News, Water Usage | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Sustainability in the Workplace: Healthier Air, Higher Morale

by CGR Staff Writer
Posted on January 27, 2012 by CGR Staff Writer

By taking simple steps like using energy-efficient air filters, companies can boost the health and happiness of their employees, while cutting expenses, too.

RIVERDALE, N.J., Jan. 27, 2012 /PRNewswire-iReach/ – Sustainability isn’t only on the minds of consumers, shareholders, and environmentalists. Employees and companies are finding they are becoming increasingly concerned with how their workplaces interact with the world around them. Businesses that have embraced sustainability initiatives have discovered that while these programs can cut down on waste, energy, and costs, they can also boost employee morale. To put it simply, workers want to be associated with companies that do the right thing. And the responsible use of resources has clearly become a “right thing” to do.

Fortunately, sustainability doesn’t have to be difficult. In fact, some measures are surprisingly straightforward and simple. Just by replacing older commercial air filter designs with cutting-edge, energy efficient models, manufacturers, hospitals, office buildings, pharmaceutical companies, and other businesses have achieved the hat trick of sustainability: cleaner air that keeps employees comfortable and healthy; reduced energy costs thanks to more efficient designs; and the increased goodwill and morale that comes from knowing that the C-suite cares about the environment and is actively taking steps to reduce energy use and waste. Continue reading →

Posted in Air Quality, Business, Green Business, Green Facilities, Health, Pollution, Sustainability News, Sustainability Practices | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Greenest University Building ever – The Student Services Building at the University of Texas at Dallas

by CGR Staff Writer
Posted on December 13, 2011 by CGR Staff Writer

Recent Awards Bring Total to 5 Won by LEED Platinum Student Services Facility

Dec. 13, 2011 – Press Release – Source: University of Texas Dallas News Center

The Student Services Building, the University’s “one-stop shop” for help on enrollment matters, financial aid, career services and more, has won a new sustainability award.

The building, which opened last fall, has now won five awards for its eco-friendly design.

The Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE), in conjunction with the Center for Green Schools at the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), honored the structure’s design with its 2011 Innovation in Green Building award.

The inaugural award recognizes a college or university that is revisiting the way it develops its physical campus and examines how the school is using Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) as a tool for campus greening. Continue reading →

Posted in Air Quality, Alternative Energy, Business, Furnishings, Green Business, Green Facilities, Green IT, Green Living, Heating & Cooling, Home Improvement & Decor, Information Systems, Janitorial, Kitchen, Food & Catering, Landscaping, Lighting, Recycling & Waste, Renovations & Construction, Sustainability News, Technology, Water Usage | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment
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