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.

Innovative air filters, like those from Camfil Farr, the world leader in clean air solutions, are designed from the ground up for sustainability. Camfil Farr commercial air filters, for example, use fine fiber media that not only is more effective than more traditional designs — doing a better job of keeping harmful particles out of indoor air — but are more efficient. Indeed, manufacturers, hospitals, and other organizations that have switched to Camfil Farr solutions have seen up to a 40 percent reduction in their annual HVAC energy costs. In addition, because the filters operate at peak efficiency for longer periods of time than their more traditional counterparts, they need to be switched out less frequently. That not only reduces replacement costs, but the amount of filters that need to be disposed of (and the expense involved in that). What’s good for the company turns out to be good for the employees — and for the environment.

Clean air, of course, is just one step companies can take as part of their overall sustainability initiative. Recycling, low-energy lighting, non-toxic cleaning products, and the embrace of recycled paper and duplex printing (using both sides of the page), are other measures that are easy to implement but can bring a significant payoff.

Take note, however, that a crucial component of any sustainability project is to get the word out. Sparking real change throughout the organization — and creating heightened awareness and increased morale — is best accomplished when top management personally promotes and champions the effort. That means more than memos from key executives. It means integrating sustainability into the core business, and making it not just a goal, but a company value. Done right, sustainability will be something employees take pride in — helping them improve not just the business’s future, but that of the world around them.

The world leader in air filtration systems, Camfil Farr provides clean air solutions for hospitals, hotels, office buildings, educational institutions, and pharmaceutical and biotech companies. We provide the tools to achieve sustainability, maintain high air quality, and reduce airborne infections — all while lowering total cost of ownership. Camfil Farr customers go green without ever sacrificing performance. For more information on air filters and sustainability, visit us online at www.green-air-filters.com, or call us toll-free at 888.599.6620.

For the full story read Sustainability in the Workplace.

Media Contact:

Lynne Laake Camfil Farr USA, 888.599.6620, LaakeL@camfilfarr.com

News distributed by PR Newswire iReach: https://ireach.prnewswire.com

Mr. Obama, whose speech talked about making a U.S. economy that’s “built to last,” said some progress on the “clean energy” front has been made in the country, although more needs to be done especially in terms of government support.

“In three years, our partnership with the private sector has already positioned America to be the world’s leading manufacturer of high-tech batteries. Because of federal investments, renewable energy use has nearly doubled, and thousands of Americans have jobs because of it,” Mr. Obama said.

Mr. Obama gave as example the experience of Bryan Ritterb, a furniture worker who was laid off at 55, but who reportedly found work at Energetx, a company which makes wind turbines in Michigan.

Addressing lawmakers, Mr. Obama called on Congress to pass clean energy tax credits; to set a clean energy standard; and to make incentives for businesses to upgrade their buildings for energy efficiency.

“We’ve subsidized oil companies for a century. That’s long enough. It’s time to end the taxpayer giveaways to an industry that rarely has been more profitable, and double-down on a clean energy industry that never has been more promising. Pass clean energy tax credits. Create these jobs,” Mr. Obama said.

Earlier, before Mr. Obama’s speech, the American Wind Energy Association stressed that the extension of the production tax credit for wind should be the first order of the day for renewables.

“Wind energy is one of the few sources of agreement in a divided Washington. But with an expiration of wind’s key federal incentive, the Production Tax Credit, looming at the end of the year, these good manufacturing jobs are in peril,” said Denise Bode, AWEA chief executive.

Currently, a bipartisan legislation introduced by Representatives Dave Reichert, Republican of Washington, and Earl Blumenauer, Democrat of Oregon, is seeking to grant a four-year extension of the existing production tax credit for wind energy.

For more – click HERE.

“Over the last year, the convergence of building equipment and IT has advanced at a rapid pace, enabling a higher degree of control over building energy and operations than ever before,” says research analyst Eric Bloom.  “The BEMS market is evolving rapidly and is enjoying a burst of innovation, leading to an explosion in the amount of data that is available on the energy performance of commercial buildings.”

North America continues to lead the global market for BEMS, but Pike Research expects growth to accelerate worldwide, particularly in Asia Pacific.  While interest in BEMS and energy efficiency is high in Western Europe, Asia Pacific will take its place as the second largest market in coming years, due to the extremely rapid pace of construction in the region as well as the challenge of meeting soaring energy demand with limited supply.  Outside of these three regions, the BEMS market will generally experience single-digit growth and modest levels of overall spending over the forecast period.  In every region, the existing building stock is a large market for BEMS sales – particularly buildings constructed or modernized within the last 30 years with moderately sophisticated building management systems.

Pike Research’s report, “Building Energy Management Systems”, examines the global market for building energy management systems hardware, software, and services, along with trends in new product offerings, new technologies, business models and business strategies, and key industry players.  Market forecasts in this report include total revenue growth from 2011 through 2020, as well as segmentation for seven global regions.  The forecasts also include segmentation by software, services, and hardware spending, along with projections for the leading market segments by building type for each region.  An Executive Summary of the report is available for free download on the firm’s website.

Contact: Richard Martin

+1 303 997 7609

The corporate headquarters of an international manufacturing company, a new university green space and a children’s playground in an urban park are the first to be recognized for their sustainable land practices from among 150-plus pilot projects that began the certification process in summer 2010. These initial projects are the St. Charles, Missouri, campus of Novus International Inc.; the Green at College Park of the University of Texas at Arlington; and the Woodland Discovery Playground at Shelby Farms Park in Memphis, Tenn.

SITES is a partnership of the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA), the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center of The University of Texas at Austin and the United States Botanic Garden. SITES was created to fill a critical need for guidelines and recognition of green landscapes based on their planning, design, construction and maintenance. The partners have collaborated since 2005 in developing a voluntary, national rating system and set of performance benchmarks for sustainable landscapes in areas with or without buildings.

The certified pilot projects are participating in a pilot program begun in June 2010 to test the four-star rating system created by dozens of the country’s leading sustainability experts, scientists and design professionals. Projects selected to be pilots are at various stages of development and represent a diverse mix of project types, sizes, locations and budgets.

The SITES rating system includes 15 prerequisites and 51 additional, flexible credits to choose from. The credit options, totaling 250 points, address areas such as the use of redeveloping brownfields or grayfields; soil restoration; water conservation; use of recycled materials and native vegetation; and sustainable construction and land maintenance approaches.

Certified pilot projects are recognized with one through four stars for obtaining 40, 50, 60 or 80 percent of those 250 points. The Novus headquarters, the Green at College Park, and Woodland Discovery Playground SITES certified projects received a 3-star, 1-star, and 1-star rating respectively.

Among the features Novus developed with SWT Design and others for the nine-acre headquarters was a parking lot with stormwater retention features, a walking trail that winds through restored prairie and other habitat, and a vegetable garden that staff maintains. The garden is fed by a windmill-powered well that retrieves rainwater stored underground. A detention basin captures stormwater on site and provides aquatic habitat and a scenic view from a nearby pavilion topped with a vegetated roof.

“The innovation and analytical thinking of these first certified projects is helping point the way for the next iteration of the guidelines, which will form the basis for open certification in 2013,” said ASLA Executive Vice President and CEO Nancy Somerville.

The Green at College Park project leaders including Professor of Landscape Architecture David Hopman worked with Schrickel, Rollins and Associates Inc. to create an open lawn, pedestrian promenade, shade arbor and more on roughly three acres in downtown Arlington.

The site had served mostly as a parking lot, with poor stormwater drainage that flooded a nearby creek. Now the green space sits next to Arlington’s first mixed-use development, and features native and adapted plants in rain gardens and a water detention system that help slow down the flow of stormwater. That process cleanses the water of impurities and captures it for re-use on the green space’s new vegetation.

“Developing inviting outdoor spaces that make the most of precious resources such as water is critical to our future,” said Susan Rieff, executive director of the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center. “These projects powerfully demonstrate how sustainably designed landscapes can produce environmental, economic and aesthetic benefits.”

The conservancy that oversees Shelby Farms Park developed the Woodland Discovery Playground with James Corner Field Operations and others to restore a woodland and promote children’s health. The 4.25 acre playground with tunnels, swings and other amenities was developed based on current children’s play theories and after workshops with children and adults. It uses recycled athletic shoe material as a surface for several play areas and loose, recycled boot material as a soft landing under a playroom of nets and tree houses. The permeable surface material allows stormwater to soak into the ground to help nourish an arbor enhanced with native trees that surrounds and links playrooms within the space.

“The educational value of these pilot projects is significant. They demonstrate what a sustainable site looks and feels like and now serve as a model to others aspiring for sustainability in a designed landscape,” said Holly H. Shimizu, executive director of the United States Botanic Garden. “Having the first pilot projects certified solidifies years of work into something tangible that we hope will be replicated all around the country.”

SITES will continue to receive feedback from the SITES Certified Pilots and the remaining pilot projects until June 2012. These projects include private residences, streetscapes, industrial complexes and other settings. Their input as well as the public’s will be used to finalize the rating system and reference guide, expected to be released widely in 2013.

For more information about SITES, visit www.sustainablesites.org . For images, interviews, and more on SITES, contact media@sustainablesites.org.

SOURCE: Sustainable Sites Initiative (SITES)

More Than Two-Thirds of Companies Have Placed Sustainability Permanently on Their Management Agenda

CAMBRIDGE, MA, Jan 24, 2012 (MARKETWIRE via COMTEX) — Sustainability now occupies a central and permanent place in corporate boardrooms; 31% of companies say sustainability is contributing to their profits, and 70% have placed sustainability permanently on their management agenda, according to a new global study by MIT Sloan Management Review (MIT SMR) and The Boston Consulting Group (BCG).

The study, released today in a report titled Sustainability Nears a Tipping Point, found that two-thirds of companies see sustainability as necessary to being competitive in today’s marketplace, up from 55% a year earlier. In addition, two-thirds of respondents said management attention to, and investment in, sustainability has increased in the last year.

The third annual Sustainability & Innovation Global Executive Study by MIT SMR and BCG comprises a survey of more than 2,800 corporate leaders representing every major industry and region of the world and a series of in-depth interviews with experts and corporate practitioners from a range of disciplines and organizations.

The study focuses on “Harvesters” — the 31% of companies that say that sustainability is contributing to their profits. Harvesters are not merely implementing individual initiatives such as lowering carbon emissions, reducing energy consumption, or investing in clean technologies; they are changing their operating frameworks and strategies.

Harvesters tend to have a distinctive organizational mind-set and design that supports sustainability. Compared to non-Harvesters, Harvesters are three times as likely to have a business case for sustainability. They are also 50% more likely to have CEO commitment to sustainability, twice as likely to have a separate sustainability reporting process and twice as likely to have a separate function for sustainability. Harvesters are also 50% more likely to have a person responsible for sustainability in each business unit and more than 2.5 times as likely to have a chief sustainability officer.

“Although many companies are still struggling to define sustainability in a way that is relevant to their business, the attention and investment we see indicate the here-to-stay nature of sustainability for organizations everywhere,” said David Kiron, executive editor at MIT SMR and a coauthor of the report. “Further study of the Harvesters will refine where the true tipping point is, when the management focus on sustainability will rival that of marketing or human resources or other key drivers of performance.”

The report identifies three key areas where sustainability has driven significant organizational change among Harvesters:
– Organizational structure: Managers at Harvester companies are often
supported by a separate cross-functional senior management committees
that can sanction as well as support corporate sustainability
objectives.

– Business model: 57% of Harvesters say they have a business case for
sustainability, compared to just 18% among the rest of the
respondents.

– Operations: Greater collaboration among geographic business units is a
hallmark of Harvesters’ sustainable business practices. And,
Harvesters collaborate more with customers and suppliers than other
companies.

“There’s a learning curve to incorporating sustainability into strategy,” explained Knut Haanaes, a BCG partner and coauthor of the report, who leads the firm’s Sustainability practice. “Companies that have had it on their agenda and have worked on it for years are now seeing tangible results. Our research suggests a pattern: First a company focuses on reducing costs, boosting efficiency, and enhancing its corporate reputation. Then, after a while, it takes a broader view, becoming innovative with products and processes, and gaining access to new markets.”

For more details on the study’s findings and interview transcripts, please visit the Sustainability & Innovation website.

To receive a copy of the special report or arrange an interview with one of the MIT SMR authors, please contact David Kiron at +1 617 253 8071 or dkiron@mit.edu.

To arrange an interview with one of the BCG authors, please contact Alexandra Corriveau at +1 212 446 3261 or corriveau.alexandra@bcg.com.

About the Sustainability & Innovation project

MIT SMR’s Sustainability & Innovation project is an exploration, in partnership with BCG, into how sustainability pressures are transforming the ways we all work, live, and compete. S&I’s research, reporting, and community help managers to understand better the new forces that will affect their organizations, to navigate through the overwhelming mass of information about sustainability, and to fend off threats and capitalize on opportunities that sustainability issues present.

About MIT Sloan Management Review

MIT Sloan Management Review leads the discourse among academic researchers, business executives and other influential thought leaders about advances in management practice that are transforming how people lead and innovate. MIT SMR disseminates new management research and innovative ideas so that thoughtful executives can capitalize on the opportunities generated by rapid organizational, technological and societal change.

About The Boston Consulting Group

The Boston Consulting Group (BCG) is a global management consulting firm and the world’s leading advisor on business strategy. We partner with clients from the private, public, and not-for-profit sectors in all regions to identify their highest-value opportunities, address their most critical challenges, and transform their enterprises. Our customized approach combines deep insight into the dynamics of companies and markets with close collaboration at all levels of the client organization. This ensures that our clients achieve sustainable competitive advantage, build more capable organizations, and secure lasting results. Founded in 1963, BCG is a private company with 74 offices in 42 countries. For more information, please visit bcg.com.

David Kiron
+1 617 253 8071
Email Contact

Alexandra Corriveau
+1 212 446 3261
Email Contact

New Report Confirms the Extended Use of Social Media; Highlights Best Practices for Communicating Sustainable Business

CHICAGO, IL and PARIS, Jan 24, 2012 (MARKETWIRE via COMTEX) — Wizness, the online network dedicated to sustainability professionals, today announced it has partnered with the Social Media Sustainability Index (SMI) to identify social media sustainability best practices and trends. The newly released report, “The SMI and Wizness Social Media Sustainability Index,” http://socialmediainfluence.com/SMI-report/ found that the number of companies embracing social media for their sustainability initiatives more than doubled in 2011 and predicts further increases in 2012. Today, more than 250 brands are using social media as a key tool to communicate sustainability initiatives and bring audiences together for the greater good.

The goal of “The SMI and Wizness Social Media Sustainability Index” is to provide a social media roadmap for communicators throughout the sustainability and CSR community. It ranks the ways in which 100 of the world’s largest companies communicate their CSR initiatives with social media, provides recommendations on managing reputation and highlights the top 10 companies on the list.

The Methodology Researchers scanned leading sustainable company lists including: Corporate Knights Global 100, Newsweek’s Green Rankings, The Dow Jones Sustainability Index and Interbrand’s Best Global Green Brands. The resulting list was then reduced significantly to include only companies that publish a blog, Facebook page or subpage, Twitter account or YouTube channel dedicated to sustainability/CSR. The top 100 companies have social media channels that demonstrate a real commitment to sustainability communications in terms of resource and community building.

Key Findings When compiling the metrics for the report, researchers made the following observations of the 100 companies that made the Index:

• Consumer Goods is the strongest reporting sector on the Index
• Oil & Gas is the weakest reporting sector on the Index
• 53 have dedicated sustainability blogs, 67 have Facebook pages and 70 have twitter feeds
• 36 have Sustainability/CR reports that they share through social media
• 40 North American companies are on the Index
• 54 European companies are on the Index

The Leaders The stand out leaders in this year’s Social Media Sustainability Index all fully embrace their new-found power to publish and provide useful, regular, transparent and creative sustainability content for their social media communities. They are:

1. GE
2. IBM
3. Ford
4. Pepsico
5. BBVA
6. Allianz
7. VF Corporation
8. Levis
9. Siemens
10. FedEX & Kimberly Clark

The report concludes that good social media communication shouldn’t be judged by the number of fans on Facebook or followers on Twitter. Ultimately, successful community building and social media engagement is about attracting the right audience, not necessarily the biggest audience.

The report is available for download from SMI website at http://socialmediainfluence.com/SMI-report/

About Wizness Wizness is an online network dedicated to Sustainability Professionals. Wizness features intuitive services that help professionals promote their expertise and share best practices and allows companies to engage in meaningful conversations with their stakeholders in private and public communities. Wizness enables industries to gather together to solve the most pressing compliance issues and shape the sustainability agenda. Wizness is powered by Enablon, the world’s leading software provider of Sustainability Management solutions. For more information about Wizness: www.wizness.com

About SMI SMI provides intelligence and analysis for business professionals looking to understand and navigate the ever-evolving world of online communication.

SMI runs one of the longest-established social media conferences, publishes industry reports and best practice white papers for social media practitioners as well as providing social media training and consultancy. For more information about SMI: socialmediainfluence.com

“We are proud to partner with suppliers that share the same values as we do, particularly those like Kimberly-Clark Professional that support our more than 20-year commitment to conservation and preservation,” said John Adams, Senior Vice President – Global Operations Services, Marriott International.  “With the increase in global travel, we have a responsibility to ease our business impact on our natural environment.  Working in partnership with our suppliers to create more sustainable products helps us uphold that commitment to our sustainable initiatives in our hotels and beyond.”

“We are honored to be recognized by Marriott for our mutual dedication to environmental sustainability,” said Howard Connell, Global Sustainability Leader, Kimberly-Clark Professional.  “As an organization, we examine the entire lifecycle of our products – from raw material sourcing through consumer use and final disposal – to reduce the amount of natural resources used.  This award reinforces how our commitment to sustainability is impacting our customers and their businesses in a positive way.”

Two of the Kimberly-Clark Professional products Marriott uses are Kleenex Cottonelle Bath Tissue, which meets Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) standards for 20 percent recycled fiber and which holds Chain of Custody certification by the Forest Stewardship Council™ (FSC), and Kleenex Naturals Facial Tissue, which meets EPA requirements for 20 percent recycled fiber and is certified to EcoLogo standards as well as holding FSC Chain of Custody Certification.  These products also qualify for “sustainable purchasing” credits under the LEED Green Building Rating Program.

These products are among the 95 percent of Kimberly-Clark Professional tissue and towel products that are Chain of Custody certified by FSC.  In addition, the majority of the company’s towel and tissue products are EcoLogo-certified, allowing Kimberly-Clark Professional to offer a comprehensive bundle of certified-sustainable products and demonstrate a high standard of environmental leadership in providing products from responsibly managed forests.

“Kimberly-Clark Professional has been consistently responsive to our needs to develop more sustainable products, which helps us move closer to our global sustainable goals,” added Brad Colton, Senior Director of Strategic Projects, Global Procurement, Marriott International.

About Kimberly-Clark Professional

Kimberly-Clark Professional partners with businesses to create Exceptional Workplaces for their employees and patrons.  Kimberly-Clark Professional helps transform workplaces making them safer, healthier, and more productive.   Key brands in this segment include: Kleenex, Scott, WypAll, Kimtech, and Jackson Safety. Kimberly-Clark Professional, located in Roswell, Ga., is one of Kimberly-Clark Corporation’s four business segments and can be visited on the web at www.kcprofessional.com.

Kimberly-Clark Professional products are FSC certified under license FSC C103572, FSC C068161, and FSC C013545.

About Kimberly-Clark

Kimberly-Clark and its well-known global brands are an indispensable part of life for people in more than 175 countries. Every day, nearly a quarter of the world’s population trust K-C’s brands and the solutions they provide to enhance their health, hygiene and well-being. With brands such as Kleenex, Scott, Huggies, Pull-Ups, Kotex and Depend, Kimberly-Clark holds the No. 1 or No. 2 share position in more than 80 countries. To keep up with the latest K-C news and to learn more about the company’s 140-year history of innovation, visit www.kimberly-clark.com.

Note to Editor: Please send reader inquiries to Kara Herron, Kimberly-Clark Corporation: kara.herron@kcc.com.

Sustainability is the life blood of cities and in today’s increasingly urbanized world, coping with rising demands for better infrastructure, more energy, clean water and adequate housing is a global challenge.

GLOBE-Net, January 20, 2012 – For the first time in human history, more than half the world’s population now live in cities. By 2050 that percentage will rise to over 70 percent, and the social, economic, environmental challenges associated with this transformation will largely define how our societies evolve in the 21st Century.

Equally challenging will be the task of mitigating the environmental impacts of mass urbanization and improving the lives of the millions of new migrants to the world’s already burgeoning cities.

The transformation of our urban future is what will be discussed in mid-March when thousands of city leaders, planners and technology experts from around the world gather in Vancouver for GLOBE 2012 – North America’s longest running and most successful international forum on the business of the environment. 

They will be addressing issues such as energy management and conservation, green building and sustainable construction, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, protecting urban air and water quality, and ensuring environmental health and safety -the basics for sustaining and improving the quality of life in urban settings.

Building Eco-friendly Cities

Urban visionaries will be discussing how the basic design of cities can help meet these challenges by better managing energy supply and demand, reducing wastes, and by conserving our use of water.

In a special session on Building Eco-friendly Cities from Within,Teresa Coady, Principal of Bunting Coady Architects, will discuss how new green building codes and minimum standards are driving “green makeovers” of cities.

In a session on Burning Issues for Tomorrow’s Cities Paul Sellew, CEO of Harvest Power will discuss how his company is pioneering the commercial development of anaerobic digestion and composting technologies that will enable communities to produce low-cost renewable energy and high-value soil products from organic materials.

Says Sellew,”We envision a world where valuable resources are harvested rather than wasted. Our business is to help society live in balance with nature by providing products and services that harness the energy and nutrients of organic materials, creating a path that transforms wastes into valuable resources that enable communities, businesses, and individuals to thrive sustainably.”

Speaking in a session on Green Infrastructure Integration in Cities, Paul Lander, who led the City of Boulder Colorado’s award-winning water conservation program, will discuss how infrastructure integration is the key to a successful city.

Lights, Power, Action

Cities are responsible for between 60% and 80% of the world’s energy use and about the same percentage of greenhouse gas emissions. In order to meet the growing demand for energy while curbing greenhouse gas emissions, a fundamental transformation of how we produce, deliver, and use energy in urban areas is required.

Many of the technologies being applied in this area will be on display at GLOBE 2012, along with the innovators that are leading the charge for building better cities.

In a session on Community Energy and Waste-to-Energy Systems, Peter Heusser, a Process Technology Consulting expert from I.C.E. AG, Switzerland, will discuss how cities around the world are working to improve energy efficiency and reduce greenhouse gas emissions as part of their sustainability planning.

In another session on Energy Management and the Growth of Smart Cities, David Helliwell, CEO of Vancouver’s Pulse Energy will discuss how technologies designed to manage energy demand in houses, buildings and for other municipal infrastructure.

He will be joined by Harry Verhaar, Senior Director, Energy and Climate Change of Philips Lighting from the Netherlands.

Bullfrog Power, one of Canada’s most recognized providers of reliable, renewable energy solutions for homes, businesses and for transportation, will be demonstrating why the clean technology industry is helping to reshape our cities.

Making Cities Smarter

Several leading companies will be showcasing technologies and the tools to allow cities to become more energy efficient and also “smarter” in providing all municipal services – water, waste disposal, health services, policing and traffic management.

They will be demonstrating Smart City technologies that provide the real time intelligence needed by city officials, service providers, and technology vendors to reduce energy costs, lower carbon emissions, and to create more liveable urban environments that foster economic development.

Smart Grid infrastructure is also enabling more effective means to distribute and manage energy from renewable sources such as wind, solar, and geo-thermal to power our increasingly energy intensive cities.
Energy management practices and smart grid technology championed by innovative companies are revolutionizing the way we amplify incremental energy savings into large-scale change.

Hitachi, a world leader in smart city development, is one of those champions. It will be among the exhibiting companies in the Japan Pavilion at GLOBE 2012.

GLOBE 2012 will take place in Vancouver March 14-16, 2012. Check below for more information on Building Better Cities.

http://www.globe-net.com/articles/2012/january/20/the-business-of-building-sustainable-cities/

“American communities and rural areas depend upon a safe and reliable water supply,” said Merrigan. “These research projects will help farmers, ranchers and community leaders enhance local economies and environments in agricultural and rural communities. At the same time, drought preparedness and the consideration of novel sources of water will help cities, communities and rural areas across the nation and around the globe adapt to the effects of changing climate on water quality and quantity and better understand water’s role in agro-ecosystems.”

In the first category, 17 grants totaling more than $9 million were awarded by NIFA through the National Integrated Water Quality Program (NIWQP), which aims to solve water resource problems by advancing scientific knowledge about water quality. Funded projects also use the new knowledge gained to develop and disseminate science-based decision making and management practices that improve the surface and groundwater quality in the nation’s watersheds.

Projects funded this year include:

• Cal Poly Corporation, San Luis Obispo, Calif., $234,865
• Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colo., $365,000
• Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colo., $149,000
• Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colo., $17,000
• University of Delaware, Newark, Del., $595,000
• University of Florida, Gainesville, Fla., $398,800
• University of Florida, Gainesville, Fla., $395,000
• University of Georgia, Athens, Ga., $567,000
• University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, Ill., $595,000
• Purdue University, West Lafayette, Ind., $395,000
• Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa, $595,000
• Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kan., $570,000
• Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, Miss., $445,000
• Montana State University, Bozeman, Mont., $598,500
• North Carolina State University, Raleigh, N.C., $595,000
• University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisc., $2,400,000
• University of Rhode Island, Kingstown, R.I., $495,000

Additionally, in Fiscal Year 2011, NIFA, in cooperation with USDA’s Farm Service Agency, solicited proposals for three interrelated projects that address nitrogen cycling in agricultural watersheds. All three projects funded through this special emphasis area are expected to work collaboratively in developing solutions for improving water quality in agricultural watersheds. These projects include the University of Illinois, Iowa State University and the University of Rhode Island.

In the second category, nine grants totaling $4.4 million were awarded by NIFA through the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI) Agricultural Water Sciences foundational program. This program supports research projects and programs that address critical water resource issues in agricultural, rural and urban ecosystems. These projects reflect the growing need to reduce the impacts of more frequent and intense droughts and provide alternative sources of water for irrigated agriculture and other agricultural uses under conditions of shrinking water availability. Projects were funded in California, Colorado, Florida, Hawaii, Michigan, Nebraska and Texas and include:

• University of California, Riverside, Calif., $500,000
• Colorado School of Mines, Golden, Colo., $499,815
• University of Florida, Gainesville, Fla., $486,451
• University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, Hawaii, $499,912
• Purdue University, West Lafayette, Ind., $492,797
• Michigan State University, East Lansing, Mich., $495,888,
• University of Nebraska, Lincoln, Neb., $500,000
• Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, $498,649,
• Texas A& M University, College Station, Texas, $496,335

AFRI is NIFA’s flagship competitive grant program and was established under the 2008 Farm Bill. AFRI supports work in six priority areas: plant health and production and plant products; animal health and production and animal products; food safety, nutrition and health; renewable energy, natural resources and environment; agriculture systems and technology; and agriculture economics and rural communities.

Through federal funding and leadership for research, education and extension programs, NIFA focuses on investing in science and solving critical issues impacting people’s daily lives and the nation’s future. More information is at www.nifa.usda.gov.

In the past three years, USDA has worked with state and local governments and private landowners to conserve and protect our nation’s natural resources–helping preserve our land and clean our air and water. In 2010, President Obama launched the America’s Great Outdoors initiative to foster a 21st century approach to conservation that is designed by and accomplished in partnership with the American people. During the past two years, USDA’s conservation agencies—NRCS, FSA and the U.S. Forest Service—have delivered technical assistance and implemented restoration practices on public and private lands. At the same time, USDA is working to better target conservation investments to embrace locally driven conservation and entering partnerships that focus on large, landscape-scale conservation. In 2011, USDA enrolled a record number of acres of private working lands in conservation programs, working with more than 500,000 farmers and ranchers to implement conservation practices that clean the air we breathe, filter the water we drink, and prevent soil erosion.

USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender. To file a complaint of discrimination, write: USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Ave., S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250-9410 or call (800) 795-3272(voice), or (202) 720-6382 (TDD).

“Our partnership with Sundance Institute provides a platform for filmmakers to tell stories that can catalyze change and elevate dialogue around critical global issues,” said Christopher Corpuel, vice president of sustainability, Hilton Worldwide. “The LightStay Sustainability Award recognizes these compelling documentary projects for their ability to highlight the complexities around the challenges of living in a resource-constrained world and create inspired solutions.”

The 2012 LightStay Sustainability Award winners were chosen out of 1,500 feature-length documentaries and more than 5,000 short film entries submitted to the Sundance Institute Documentary Film Program. The winning films showcase the connections between sustainability, economic growth and community development. The award winners are:

– The Island President (Feature): President Mohamed Nasheed of the Maldives is confronting a problem greater than any other world leader has ever faced — the literal survival of his country and everyone in it. As one of the most low-lying countries in the world, a rise of in sea level would submerge the 1200 islands enough to make them uninhabitable. A classic David and Goliath tale, The Island President captures Nasheed’s first year in office, culminating in his trip to the Copenhagen Climate Summit where the film provides an unprecedented glimpse of what takes place at such a top-level global assembly. A movie about one man’s mission to save his nation, The Island President, is a riveting, uplifting story that is impossible to ignore. Director: Jon Shenk

– Solar Mamas (In-Process Feature Film) — Three tenacious grandmothers leave their respective remote villages in Africa and the Middle East on a quest to India’s Barefoot College to learn more about solar engineering and acquire new skills that they can take back to their home lands in an effort to combat the energy crisis. Directors: Jehane Noujaim and Mona Eldaief

“Sustainability is a critical topic for many of our filmmakers. This year-round partnership and awards will help support important new voices addressing these issues through documentary,” said Cara Mertes, director of the Sundance Institute Documentary Film Program.

Last month, Hilton Worldwide announced its support of Sundance Institute, a global, nonprofit organization dedicated to the discovery and development of independent artists and audiences in film and theater, and launched the Hilton Worldwide LightStay Sustainability Award program. LightStay represents Hilton Worldwide’s overarching commitment to integrating sustainability into every guest experience, which is critical to the long-term success of its business. In partnership with the Sundance Institute, the partnership supports the Institute’s Documentary Film Program and awards grants to up to five documentary film projects focusing on sustainability issues. Hilton HHonors, the company’s loyalty program for its 10 global brands, and its luxury brand, Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts, a part of its luxury portfolio, will participate as the official hotel sponsors of the Sundance Film Festival through 2014.

For more information on Hilton Worldwide and its sustainability efforts, visit www.hiltonworldwide.com/sustainability . For more information on the Sundance Institute, visit www.sundance.org .

Sundance Institute Documentary Film Program

The Sundance Institute Documentary Film Program provides year-round support to nonfiction filmmakers worldwide. The program advances innovative nonfiction storytelling about a broad range of contemporary social issues, and promotes the exhibition of documentary films to audiences. Through the Sundance Documentary Fund, the Documentary Edit and Story Laboratory, Composers + Documentary Laboratory, Creative Producing Lab, as well as the Sundance Film Festival, the Sundance Creative Producing Summit and a variety of partnerships and international initiatives, the program provides a unique, global resource for contemporary independent documentary film. www.sundance.org/documentary

Sundance Institute

Sundance Institute is a global nonprofit organization founded by Robert Redford in 1981. Through its artistic development programs for directors, screenwriters, producers, composers and playwrights, the Institute seeks to discover and support independent film and theatre artists from the United States and around the world, and to introduce audiences to their new work. The Institute promotes independent storytelling to inform, inspire, and unite diverse populations around the globe. Internationally recognized for its annual Sundance Film Festival, Sundance Institute has nurtured such projects as Born into Brothels, Trouble the Water, Son of Babylon, Amreeka, An Inconvenient Truth, Spring Awakening, I Am My Own Wife, Light in the Piazza and Angels in America. Join Sundance Institute on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.

About Hilton Worldwide

Hilton Worldwide is the leading global hospitality company, spanning the lodging sector from luxurious full-service hotels and resorts to extended-stay suites and mid-priced hotels. For 93 years, Hilton Worldwide has offered business and leisure travelers the finest in accommodations, service, amenities and value. The company is dedicated to continuing its tradition of providing exceptional guest experiences across its global brands. Its brands are comprised of more than 3,800 hotels and timeshare properties, with 630,000 rooms in 88 countries and include Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts, Conrad Hotels & Resorts, Hilton Hotels & Resorts, DoubleTree by Hilton, Embassy Suites Hotels, Hilton Garden Inn, Hampton Hotels, Homewood Suites by Hilton, Home2 Suites by Hilton and Hilton Grand Vacations. The company also manages the world-class guest reward program Hilton HHonors(R). Visit www.hiltonworldwide.com for more information and connect with Hilton Worldwide at www.facebook.com/hiltonworldwide , www.twitter.com/hiltonworldwide , www.youtube.com/hiltonworldwide , www.flickr.com/hiltonworldwide and www.linkedin.com/company/hilton-worldwide .

Photos/Multimedia Gallery Available: http://www.businesswire.com/cgi-bin/mmg.cgi?eid=50140029&lang=en

SOURCE: Hilton Worldwide

Image via Pike Research

Today (January 18th) Pike Research announced the launch of its new Smart Cities Advisory Service, a subscription-based information tool that provides market intelligence and strategy insights for city officials, service providers, and vendors seeking to more effectively harness smart energy and information technology to reduce energy costs and carbon emissions, create more livable urban environments, and foster economic development.  Cities, which can have a lower environmental footprint per resident than rural areas, are becoming the focus for new approaches to energy efficiency, building design, transportation, waste management, and energy use.

“For the first time in human history, more people now live in cities than in rural areas,” says research director Eric Woods.  “The social, economic, environmental, and engineering challenges of this transformation will largely define the 21^st century.  What’s more, cities are responsible for between 60% and 80% of the world’s energy use and about the same percentage of greenhouse gas emissions.  Smart information and communication technologies that improve the efficiency and effectiveness of urban systems and services will not only help mitigate the environmental effects of mass urbanization, but also improve the lives of the people who inhabit the world’s burgeoning cities.”

As part of the Smart Cities service, Pike Research’s industry analysts offer timely and actionable market insights, covering specific technology and business sectors as well as overall market conditions and trends.  Research reports include an in-depth examination of business models, technology issues, policy and regulatory factors, the competitive landscape, and market sizing, segmentation and forecasting.

Pike Research’s key findings and forecasts about the emerging Smart Cities sector include the following:

• Investment in smart city technology infrastructure will total $108 billion during the years from 2010 to 2020.
• By the end of that period, the cleantech market intelligence firm anticipates that annual spending will reach nearly $16 billion.
• While no single technology defines the smart city, a number of iconic technologies can be highlighted as key components of the smart city vision.  Among them are ubiquitous broadband communications, smart meters for electricity and water use, intelligent transport systems, and extensively deployed monitoring and sensor technologies.
• The availability of charging facilities for electric vehicles is becoming a differentiator for cities wishing to attract an affluent and dynamic demographic as well as innovative companies.  Many cities in North America and Europe are promoting the use of PEVs and installing electric vehicle charging equipment as a means of reducing urban emissions.
• Clean public transit, including hybrid electric and natural gas (NG) transit buses, will be a significant growth sector over the next several years.  NG transit buses will growing at an 8.2% compound annual growth rate (CAGR) between 2010 and 2016, while hybrid transit buses will grow by 19.8% during that same period.  The number of alternative fuel bus deliveries worldwide is expected to reach 15,937 (NG) and 16,328 (hybrid electric) in 2016.
• Global investment in smart transportation systems will total $13.2 billion through 2017. The annual spending on key smart transportation components will increase from just under $770 million in 2011 to almost $3 billion in 2017.
• By the end of the current decade, many of the infrastructure technologies that go into developing a smart city, including smart meters, intelligent traffic systems, and building energy management systems, will be deployed across North America and Europe and increasingly in large parts of Asia.

Pike Research’s Smart Cities Advisory Service covers the utilization of information and communication technology, as well as clean energy technologies, for the more efficient management of municipal operations.  The service examines the various emerging models for smart cities around the world including overlays of existing infrastructure and systems as well as greenfield strategies for futuristic cities.  Analysis includes an assessment of technology issues, policy and regulatory factors, business models, and implementation strategies.  Key industry players are profiled in depth, and detailed forecasts are provided for each key market segment.  Executive Summaries and further information about the Advisory Service are available for free download on Pike Research’s website.

Contact: Richard Martin

+1 303 997 7609

press@pikeresearch.com

The company announced yesterday that it produced a thin-film solar panel that can convert 14.4 percent of sunlight it absorbs to electricity.

Built using commercial-scale manufacturing equipment at its Perrysburg, Ohio factory, it topped a previous record of 13.4 percent conversion efficiency achieved last year.

Both efficiency records were verified by the United States Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Lab.

The panel efficiency record comes just six months after First Solar set a world record for creating a solar cell with a conversion efficiency of 17.3 percent.

Cell conversion efficiency figures tend to be higher than panel efficiencies because assembling and linking individual cells to form solar panels leads to a small loss of efficiency. This is partly due to the solar panel’s protective glass surface that tends to reflect some sunlight.

Panels in commercial production also typically have lower conversion rates than those developed and confirmed in the lab.

Following the news, the Arizona-based company traded at $40 at the January 17 close on Nasdaq, 8 cents or 20 percent up from last Friday.

Efficiency race

Compared with silicon thin-film solar panels, cadmium telluride thin-film solar panels are less expensive to produce but are less effective at converting sunlight to electricity. On average, silicon-based solar panels have 20 percent conversion efficiency.

How quickly thin-film solar companies can ramp up their efficiency has become critical to their longevity in the wider solar market.

Many companies a few years ago thought they would command sizable market shares in the industry in the future because of their product’s cost advantage. However, this edge became less meaningful as silicon-based panel prices gradually retreated over the past three years – from more than $2 per watt in 2009 to about $1.50 in 2011, according to report from Ernst & Young last June.

Solar project developers prefer efficient solar panels because it allows them to use less space. Land use has been one of the main problems companies have encountered in gaining regulatory approval, not to mention the opposition it generates among environmentalists.

The average efficiency of First Solar’s mass-produced panels increased from 11.4 percent in 2010 to 11.7 percent in 2011. The company said the figure should go up to 12.7 percent by the end of this year.

First Solar believes that by the end of 2015, it should be able to ship cadmium telluride panels with 14.5 to 15 percent efficiency to its customers. Michael Ahearn, who stepped in as First Solar’s interim chief executive officer in October, said they can produce these panels for less than 70 cents a watt.

For more – please click HERE.

“We are preparing now for our next 40 years with a fleet modernization plan that includes the new interior, the Boeing 737-800 which is scheduled to come online beginning in March this year, and the 737 MAX, which is expected to join the Southwest fleet in 2017,” said Bob Jordan, Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer. “The evolutionary changes we’re making with the new interior uphold our low-cost roots and historic focus on Customer Service. The cabin upgrade also allows us to create significant revenue opportunities without adding unwanted fees.”

Beginning with a partnership between Southwest’s Maintenance and Engineering and Marketing Teams, Southwest set out to improve the inflight Customer Experience while increasing the durability of onboard materials, but without adding costs. In 2009, Southwest launched the “Green Plane” to test the market’s latest sustainable products onboard an aircraft in an effort to forge a new path in onboard eco-friendly products. Based on the inflight test results and feedback from Customers onboard the Green Plane, Southwest’s new Evolve interior features the E-Leather seat cover and many of the other products tested on the Green Plane including the carpet, life vest pouch, foam fill, and passenger seat rub strips. To view a time lapse video of a Boeing 737-700 transforming into the Evolve: The New Southwest Interior, click here. To read a blog post from Bob Jordan, visit our NUTS About Southwest blog. Check out photos of the new cabin interior and view the buck slip and seat diagram on swamedia.com.

Southwest will begin retrofitting its current fleet of 372 Boeing -700s with the Evolve interior in March 2012, anticipating completion in 2013, for a total estimated cost of approximately $60 million. As integration of AirTran Airways, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Southwest, moves forward, Southwest anticipates that AirTran’s Boeing -700s and 717s will also be retrofitted with the new cabin interior as those aircraft are converted into the Southwest brand over the next several years. Other Southwest fleet types are still being evaluated for a possible retrofit.

The Evolution of the New Cabin Interior Improves Customer Experience and Preserves Personal Space

With a continued focus on Customer comfort, Evolve: The New Southwest Interior retrofit enhances the Customer Experience:

Modern Cabin Design: The new design incorporates natural, earthy tones combined with Southwest’s iconic Canyon blue and clean, aluminum accents for a more modern, fresh appeal. The redesign is inspired by Southwest’s past with a nod to the future.

Lighter and More Comfortable Seat: The redesigned low-profile seat is more durable, made of eco-friendly products, is lighter, and more comfortable.

Increased Under-Seat Space: The new design allows for more under-seat room for carryon luggage and approved pet carriers.

Customer Living Space: Reducing the recline from three inches to two inches preserves onboard personal living space while still allowing for ample seat adjustment for Customer comfort.

Seatback pockets: The new netted seatback pockets are streamlined to provide more knee room.

Headrest: The fixed-wing headrest provides better neck and head alignment with side-to-side support for sleeping.

Improved Ergonomics: The combination of the low-profile cushion and fixed wing headrest improves ergonomics by positioning Customers “down and back” into the seat, allowing for better lumbar support, armrest alignment, and increased personal living space.

Southwest Introduces New Era of Cabin Sustainability

Over the decades, Southwest has been at the forefront of such efficiencies as paperless tickets, quick aircraft turnarounds, and the installation of winglets onboard its aircraft. For more than 40 years, Southwest has been a Maverick in the airline industry, and the refreshed design is charting a new course for sustainable cabin interiors. The new cabin interior features these sustainable products:

Seats: The new seats are constructed using eco-friendly products that offer more durability of the current seat, as well as a weight savings of nearly six pounds per seat. A lighter weight fill from Franklin Products in the back of the seat provides increased Customer comfort. The improved durability of the redesigned seat coupled with fuel savings from 635 pounds less weight per aircraft is expected to result in more than $10 million in ongoing annual cost savings.

Seat Cover: The new seats are made using E-Leather, an eco-friendly, lightweight, and scuff resistant alternative to traditional leather. E-Leather is made from natural leather fiber that is upgraded and combined with a high performance core utilizing eco-friendly technology. The seat cover is manufactured by Irvin Automotive of Pontiac, MI, and they produce high quality covers quickly and at a much lower cost than our current manufacturer.

Seat Frame: In our mission to improve the Customer Experience yet increase sustainability and contain costs, we will preserve the interior foundation as part of the redesign by using the existing B/E Aerospace Innovator II seat frame on 372 of our existing -700 fleet (excluding AirTran’s -700s). By using the existing seat frames, we avoid spending an additional $50 million to refresh the cabin.

Carpet: The new interior carpet is produced by InterfaceFLOR and will be applied in carpet squares, thus eliminating the need for total replacement of individual areas and reducing labor and material costs. The carpet is manufactured in a closed loop recycled process dedicated to being completely carbon neutral.

Life Vest Pouch: The new pouch containing the life vest is more environmentally friendly, offering a weight savings of one pound per seat. The smaller pouch also creates more room under the seat for carryon items.

Wind Screen: The new bulkhead product has a longer lifespan, thus reducing the labor costs and waste that result from more frequent replacements or repairs.

Durable Recyclable Aluminum: By switching from plastic to a recyclable aluminum, we are increasing durability and reducing waste on the rub strips, tray table latches, and seat arm trim pieces.

Evolve: The New Southwest Interior is a win for each aspect of the triple bottomline: Performance, for increased durability, improved fuel burn, and additional revenue opportunity; People, with a new interior that emphasizes comfort and personal space; and Planet, for featuring sustainable, recyclable materials.

Southwest Airlines continues to differentiate itself from other low-fare carriers–offering a reliable product with exemplary Customer Service. Southwest Airlines is the nation’s largest carrier in terms of originating domestic passengers boarded and has recently acquired AirTran Airways, now a wholly owned subsidiary of Southwest Airlines Co. Southwest serves 72 cities in 37 states and is one of the most honored airlines in the world known for its commitment to the triple bottom line of Performance, People, and Planet. To read more about how Southwest is doing its part to be a good citizen, visit southwest.com/citizenship to read the Southwest Airlines One Report(TM) . Based in Dallas, Southwest currently operates more than 3,300 flights a day and has more than 37,000 Employees systemwide.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains forward-looking statements regarding (i) Southwest’s fleet modernization plans, in particular Southwest’s introduction of a new cabin design to a portion of its fleet; and (ii) the expected benefits associated with such plans. These forward-looking statements are based on the Company’s current intent, expectations, and projections and are not guarantees of future performance. These statements involve risks, uncertainties, assumptions, and other factors that are difficult to predict and that could cause actual results to vary materially from those expressed in or indicated by them. Factors include, among others, (i) receipt of any applicable regulatory certifications; (ii) the impact of fuel prices, economic conditions, and actions of competitors on the Company’s business decisions, plans, and strategies; and (iii) the Company’s ability to timely and effectively prioritize its initiatives and its related ability to timely implement, transition, and maintain the necessary systems and infrastructure to support these initiatives.

SOURCE Southwest Airlines

Charter members of the council will include Boeing, CH2M HILL, The Coca-Cola Company, The Dow Chemical Company, F. Hoffmann-La Roche AG, General Motors, IBM, Johnson & Johnson Family of Consumer Companies, The Walt Disney Company and WEC.

The launch of this initiative demonstrates the ongoing commitment of global companies to sustainability and improved environmental performance. Council members are committed to incorporating sustainability more deeply into business strategy and corporate practice. The companies will be able to apply what is learned from this collaboration within their own organizations, not only to achieve greater efficiency and effectiveness through operations, but also to identify and develop related opportunities for innovation and growth.

The council was created by IBM and WEC, a global non-profit, non-advocacy organization that advances sustainable development through the business practices of global companies. The first meeting of the Council will be held February 7-8, 2012 in Orlando, Florida.

“As part of IBM’s broad based commitment to environmental leadership, we are always interested in how today’s best practices can transform sustainability in business,” said Wayne Balta, IBM’s Vice President of Corporate Environmental Affairs and Product Safety. “Innovation goes a long way to accelerate sustainability, and we look forward to collaborating with other like-minded companies.”

“The establishment of the Innovations for Environmental Sustainability Council represents another significant commitment by IBM and other sustainability leaders from the private sector to integrate their innovation and market leadership capabilities with the need to provide solutions to a growing number of challenges facing modern society,” stated Dr. Terry F. Yosie, WEC’s President and CEO. “The best practices and value achieved provide great opportunities for implementation on a global scale.”

About the World Environment Center: WEC is an independent, global non-profit, non-advocacy organization that advances sustainable development through the business practices and operations of its member companies and in partnership with governments, multi-lateral organizations, non-governmental organizations, universities and other stakeholders. WEC creates sustainable business solutions through individual projects in emerging markets; convenes leadership roundtables to shape strategic thinking across a range of sustainability topics; and honors industry excellence through its annual awarding of the Gold Medal for International Corporate Achievement in Sustainable Development. WEC is headquartered in Washington, D.C., with regional offices in China, El Salvador and Germany. For more information, visit www.wec.org .

For information about IBM’s Sustainability solutions, visit www.ibm.com/green .

Contacts:

Laurie Friedman, IBM914 499 4608Laurie1@us.ibm.com

Casey Troy, WEC202 312 1211ctroy@wec.org

SOURCE IBM

At the opening ceremony of the fifth annual World Future Energy Summit (WFES), today, His Highness stressed the importance of the open discussions taking place at the Summit – and their role in shaping the policies that foster cooperation in international communities in order to ensure energy security, sustainable development and to help mitigate climate change. His Highness emphasized that improving the quality of life is one of the topmost goals of the leadership of the United Arab Emirates.

His Highness said: “Energy is a vital vein that nurtures all aspects of modern day civilization. In addressing the several challenges facing the world today, it is our responsibility to guarantee energy security and to exert every effort in developing clean technologies. It is our responsibility to take advantage of the various renewable natural sources of energy to achieve sustainable development.”

His Highness added: “Over five years ago, we began our work in building capacity in the renewable energy sector. Today, we realize that this approach has gained increasing regional and global attention — We are continuously hearing of new solar or other renewable energy projects being launched — This is exactly what is required — a collaborative effort and the multiplying of efforts to achieve energy security. We are staying the course in our objective and we are working in parallel streams towards developing local and international projects — and as such transferring knowledge and building bridges with the international community.”

His Highness commended Masdar for hosting the World Future Energy Summit and for its role in enhancing the United Arab Emirates image in the international arena — specifically in the renewable energy and sustainable development sectors. His Highness explained that Masdar is a strategic, long term national investment with economic, political, scientific and social implications.

His Highness greeted the guests of the Summit which included Presidents, Ministers, dignitaries, academics and entrepreneurs, emphasizing that the UAE has and will always have faith in the power of collaborative efforts in facing global challenges and achieving collective goals.

The opening ceremony of the Summit received Wen Jiabao, Premier of People’s Republic of China, Kim Hwang-sik, the South Korean Prime Minister, His Excellency Ban Ki-Moon, Secretary General of the United National, and His Excellency Nassir Abdul Aziz Al-Nassir, President of the UN 66th General Assembly.

In his address, Chinese Premier HE Wen Jiabao congratulated and thanked His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan on the success of the Summit and commended the high-level participation that includes politicians and industry experts. The Premier stressed the importance of working to develop future energy and achieving sustainable development to push forward the economic momentum.

The Premier highlighted that he had heard a lot about Abu Dhabi and Masdar’s efforts in accelerating, developing and deploying renewable energy technologies and as such was looking forward to his first visit to the United Arab Emirates. He spoke of the evolution of the energy sector and its effects on the economy and how the human race has been through different phases starting from wood, to coal, hydrocarbons and nuclear to renewable energy. He emphasized that with each change of energy source, the world witnessed great development in its production capacity. He added that if the world committed to developing renewable energy it would be able to heed more opportunities for economic growth.

Furthermore, this year’s WFES opening ceremony served as a platform for the launch of the UN Secretary General’s Year of Sustainability for All.

In his keynote address, the Secretary General said: “I thank Masdar and the Government of Abu Dhabi for organizing this important summit and hosting the launch of the International Year of Sustainable Energy for All. Energy is central to everything we do — from powering our economies to achieving the Millennium Development Goals… from combating climate change to underpinning global security. It is the golden thread that connects economic growth, increased social equity and preserving the environment.”

Urging nations and individuals to actively participate in the Year he added: We need innovation that can spread throughout the developing world – where energy demand is growing fastest. We need partnerships with the private sector, which is the global engine of growth and the primary source of new investments. And we need visionary leadership from you — from governments, from the private sector, from investors and from civil society.”

In delivering his keynote speech, Dr. Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, CEO of Masdar said: “This esteemed audience of dignitaries reflects the success of the UAE’s vision under the wise leadership of His Highness Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE — God Protect him, and the unyielding support of His Highness General Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan. Through this collaborative effort, and mandated to build bridges of partnerships with countries to address the challenge of climate change – we have started reaping the results of the vision of our leadership.”

The day culminated with two consecutive Panels of Ministers’ from across the world, discussing a wide range of themes including energy policy, investment and funding, green buildings, clean transport, solar, wind and biofuels.

For more information please visit: www.masdar.ae

Company unveils the new eco-efficient Samsung Wi-Fi-enabled WF457 Front-Load Washer

LAS VEGAS, Jan 09, 2012 (BUSINESS WIRE) — Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd, a global leader in digital media and digital convergence technologies, announced today that it is highlighting its leadership in creating innovative eco-friendly technology through its Eco Zone Display at the 2012 International CES. The display is part of Samsung’s booth #12004 in the Central Hall of the Las Vegas Convention Center.

At the Eco Zone Display, Samsung demonstrates its wide variety of products that are not only beautiful and easy-to-use, but also eco-conscious. The new Samsung Wi-Fi-enabled WF457 Front-Load Washer, debuting at 2012 CES, is part of this display and has been recognized with a 2012 CES Eco-Design Award.

“The Samsung Eco Zone Display at CES exemplifies not only our continued commitment to the environment, but also how the long-term life expectancy and durability of our products makes our technology truly sustainable,” said David Steel, Executive Vice President of Strategy for Samsung Electronics North America. “We look forward to creating future technology that will provide consumers with the next generation of a ‘smart life,’ which includes more eco-friendly products.”

As part of Samsung’s PlanetFirst(TM) initiative, a commitment to become one of the world’s most environmentally friendly companies by 2013, Samsung has a dedicated goal to develop environmentally friendly products and build green manufacturing sites. As a result of these efforts, it has been recognized as a leader in sustainability by various third parties:

– Named the world’s most sustainable technology company by the 2011 Dow Jones Sustainability Index

– # 22 on Newsweek’s 2011 Greenest Companies list, having jumped 32 spots from 2010

– Named among the 100 most sustainable companies by the World Economic Forum.

In addition to the company’s commitment to energy-saving, eco-friendly and sustainable technology, Samsung understands the importance of recycling technology in a safe and convenient way. To help consumers responsibly recycle their old electronics, Samsung makes it easy as possible by offering collection sites in all 50 states. Through Samsung’s more than 900 recycling locations, the company collected more than 78 million pounds of e-waste in 2011 and more than 146 million pounds of e-waste since the program began in 2008.

Some of Samsung’s eco-friendly products featured in the Eco Zone Display at 2012 CES include:

– The Samsung UN46E7500 2012 Eco LED TV displays real-time energy saving with Eco light sensor

– The Samsung LTI460AP01 Transparent LCD Panel displays transparent LCD products. Winner of the 2012 CES Eco-Design award

– The Samsung WF457 Front-Loading Washer is Smart Grid-ready and is a winner of the 2012 CES Eco-Design award

– The Samsung RF4289HARS Refrigerator is energy efficient and Smart Grid-ready

– Samsung’s HEMS products — including the SmartTV, Galaxy S II LTE, Galaxy Tab 10.1 and the HEMS Gateway — have real-time energy management and are Smart Grid-ready

– The Samsung LPC250SM Solar Module is a mono-crystalline black module with high conversion efficiency

– The Samsung ESS: Energy Storage System stores and discharges energy and is Smart Grid-ready

– The Samsung EV Charging Stand charges EV in household and is Smart Grid-ready

The Samsung 2012 CES Eco-Design Award recipients include:

– The Samsung Wi-Fi-enabled WF457 Front-Load Washer was recognized by ENERGY STAR as a “Most Efficient 2011″ clothes washer. It uses just 96 kWh/year in electricity and up to 70 percent less water than top-load washing machines. In addition, the WF457 is the first Samsung washer to be Smart Grid-ready.

– The Samsung SMH2117S Over-the-Range Microwave is the first microwave to feature an LED light for the cooktop, located underneath the microwave. The LED lamp in Samsung’s SMH2117S uses less than a tenth of the power consumption (2.4W/1EA) of current conventional incandescent (40W/1EA) or halogen (20W/1EA) cook top lamps.

– The Samsung LTI460AP01 Transparent Liquid Crystal Display is a see-through panel at least 22″ diagonal, providing high-definition images with low power consumption and the ability to operate on solar-replenished battery power. These extremely thin LCD panels are expected to be used in a variety of applications such as for advertising on cooler or commercial freezer glass doors in supermarkets; on vending machines; for various touch-accessed retail window applications; and to create “smart” windows in homes or offices providing instant information such as weather, stocks and news flashes.

Samsung won 30 CES honors in November 2011 including four Eco-Design and two Best of Innovations Awards. Products entered in the CES Innovations program are judged by a preeminent panel of independent industrial designers, engineers and members of the media to honor outstanding design and engineering in cutting-edge consumer electronics products across 36 categories.

For more information about Samsung at CES, please visit http://www.samsung.com/us/ces/ .

About Samsung Electronics North America

Samsung Electronics North America (NAHQ), based in Ridgefield Park, NJ, is an arm of Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. The company markets a broad range of award-winning consumer electronics, information systems, and home appliance products, as well as oversees all of Samsung’s North American brand management including Samsung Electronics America, Inc., Samsung Telecommunications America, LP, Samsung Electronics Canada, Inc., and Samsung Electronics Mexico, Inc. As a result of its commitment to innovation and unique design, Samsung is one of the most decorated brands in the electronics industry. The company was ranked #17 in BusinessWeek/Interbrand “100 Best Global Brands,” and named as one of Fast Company’s “50 Most Innovative Companies of 2011.” For more information, please visit www.samsung.com . You can also Fan Samsung on www.facebook.com/SamsungUSA or follow Samsung via Twitter @SamsungTweets.

About CEA

The Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) unites 2,200 companies within the consumer technology industry. Members tap into valuable and innovative members-only resources: unparalleled market research, networking opportunities with business advocates and leaders, up-to-date educational programs and technical training, exposure in extensive promotional programs, and representation from the voice of the industry, CEA, promoting and advancing member needs and interests. Find CEA online at www.CE.org .

SOURCE: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd

Going forward, the cleantech market intelligence firm expects the market to experience a compound annual growth rate of 47.2% between 2011 and 2017, reaching 100,746 truck sales by the end of that period.

“The performance of specific economic sectors will play a big role in the growth of electric drivetrains for trucks,” says senior analyst Dave Hurst. “For example, as the retail industry rebounds, pick-up and delivery vehicle sales will rebound with it. This in turn will have a positive impact on the hybrid, plug-in, and battery electric truck markets, as well.”

Driving sales of these vehicles will be fleet owners’ desire to demonstrate that their vehicles are more environmentally friendly than competitors’ fleets and government emission regulations that have a bottom-line cost impact on fleet operators.  At the same time, the accelerating spread of alternative fuel vehicles will pose significant competition for growth in hybrid and electric trucks, especially given the latter’s relatively high upfront costs.  Natural gas, in particular, is growing in heavy applications (such as transit buses and Class 8 trucks), where the high cost of hybrid and plug-in vehicles remains a significant hurdle.  In 2012, this trend is likely to continue, particularly in European and developing Asian markets.

Pike Research’s report, “Hybrid Medium and Heavy Duty Trucks”, examines the opportunities and challenges in the market for hybrid electric, plug-in hybrid, and battery electric medium and heavy-duty trucks.  The report provides a comprehensive assessment of the different drivetrains, battery technologies, and key drivers of market growth.  The report explores global government regulations regarding diesel emissions and vehicle purchase incentives and includes detailed forecasts through 2017.  Key market players are also profiled.  An Executive Summary of the report is available for free download on the firm’swebsite.

“Sustainability feeds our bottom line and sustaining a profitable business is our ultimate responsibility,” said GM Chairman and CEO Dan Akerson. “Profits enable reinvestment – in R&D to reimagine a car’s DNA; in cleaner, more fuel-efficient technologies; in plants that better conserve resources; in improved vehicle safety; in job creation and stability; and in the communities in which we live and work.”

The report details sustainability progress in four sections:

• Design: Leading in the research and development of advanced technologies to help reduce petroleum dependency, improve fuel economy and reduce emissions.
• Build: Maximizing the benefits of operating our facilities in an environmentally and socially responsible manner.
• Sell: Offering sustainable vehicle choices for consumers around the world.
• Reinvest: Ensuring the company’s economic viability, being an employer of choice, and enhancing quality of life in its communities.

According to the report, what GM needs to grow its business is aligned with the needs of society – namely energy alternatives and advanced technologies that help reduce dependence on petroleum, improve fuel efficiency and reduce emissions, and bold thinking about personal mobility in the 21st century.

“GM’s success depends in part on offering vehicles and services to solve these challenges while meeting customer needs,” said Akerson. “The Chevrolet Volt is a great example. During a time when we were fighting for our life as a company and managing through a global economic downturn, we still managed to launch one of the most environmentally sound and transformational vehicles in history.”

The report reinforces GM’s commitment to an open and collaborative culture. It is committed to working with all stakeholders, from policymakers, like those in the United States with whom it achieved new fuel economy standards, to business partners, such as LG in South Korea, with whom it is pushing the envelope in electric vehicle development.

Sustainability highlights from around the world in 2010 and 2011 include:

• Products recognized for advanced technology, fuel efficiency and overall sustainability-related aspects.
• Surpassing its goal for half its global manufacturing operations to be landfill-free by the end of 2010 by recycling, reusing or converting to energy all wastes from daily operations. To date, 81 manufacturing facilities have earned the designation.
• Recycling 92 percent of the waste generated by all of its worldwide facilities combined.
• Repurposing oil-soaked booms used in the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill into air deflectors for the Chevrolet Volt.
• Mentoring 8.700 students in the United States on water quality and how everyday actions impact local watersheds.
• Earning the title of 2010 clean-tech patent leader by the Clean Energy Patent Growth Index for fuel cells, hybrid electric vehicles, solar energy and advanced technology improvements.
• Expanding its Greening Supply Chain Initiative to additional suppliers and joint ventures in China.
• Progressing in water conservation, renewable energy use and wildlife habitat preservation around the globe.

“This company has come a long way in a short time, but we know it’s just the beginning,” said Akerson. “We need to, and will, do even better. This is the crux of the new GM: generating profitable growth that will allow us to improve what we make, how we make it and the communities where we make it.”

In the report, GM also announces its commitment to the following new set of environmental stewardship goals during the next decade:

• Reduce energy intensity from facilities by 20 percent.
• Promote use of 125MW of renewable energy by 2020.
• Reduce carbon intensity from facilities by 20 percent.
• Reduce volatile organic compound emissions from assembly painting operations by 10 percent.
• Protect water quality and reduce water intensity by 15 percent.
• Reduce total waste from facilities by 10 percent.
• Promote existing landfill-free facilities while working to achieve 100 landfill-free manufacturing sites and 25 non-manufacturing sites.
• Promote and engage in community outreach on environmental and energy issues by completing one outreach activity per plant on an annual basis.
• Secure Wildlife Habitat Certification (or equivalent) at each GM manufacturing site where feasible by 2020.

The report also includes a conversation with GM Vice President of Sustainability and Global Regulatory Affairs Mike Robinson on automotive industry challenges, climate change, affordability of advanced technologies and the regulatory environment.

For more information on GM’s environmental commitment, visit www.gm.com/environment and its environmental blog.

General Motors Co. GM -1.34% and its partners produce vehicles in 30 countries, and the company has leadership positions in the world’s largest and fastest-growing automotive markets. GM’s brands include Chevrolet and Cadillac, as well as Baojun, Buick, GMC, Holden, Isuzu, Jiefang, Opel, Vauxhall and Wuling. More information on the company and its subsidiaries, including OnStar, a global leader in vehicle safety, security and information services, can be found at http://www.gm.com .

SOURCE General Motors