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by Victoria Kenrick, Specialist, Allen & York

Sustainability has become a mantra for the 21st century. It embodies the promise of societal and business evolution towards a more equitable and wealthy world in which the natural environment and our cultural and corporate achievements are aligned. Within a business context, sustainability can accordingly be defined as meeting the needs of a firm’s direct and indirect stakeholders, without compromising its ability to meet the needs of future stakeholders as well. Putting sustainability at the forefront of business has for many companies (The John Lewis Group, The Cooperative, Marks & Spencer) created a positive brand association and increased consumer interest, equating to financial buoyancy. Put simply, sustainability is good for business.

It’s also good for the planet. Global issues surrounding energy security, unstable fuel prices and greenhouse gas emissions, as well as sustainable procurement, the purchase of raw materials from sustainable sources, ethical trade and corporate social responsibility (CSR), has led to organizations increasingly making the commitment to move towards a more sustainable, low carbon, energy efficient model.

If energy and sustainability are managed in a strategic manner by one individual who delegates out responsibilities, then an organization is more easily able to present a clear and transparent sustainable strategy for the company as a whole.

Here are some questions any company looking to manage their energy and sustainability needs to answer:

• How much energy does the business currently use?
• How can you improve your energy efficiency?
• What impact would saving energy have on your business from a financial perspective?
• How do you source your materials?
• Are you using sustainable products and processes?
• What is your impact on the local and global community?

Read the complete article at Environmental Leader

2011 Energy Star Award winners announced

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is honoring 111 Energy Star partners  who have demonstrated leadership and commitment in protecting American’s health and the environment through energy efficiency achievements. 2011 Energy Star award winners include manufacturers, retailers, public schools, hospitals, real estate companies and home builders. Organizations are recognized in one of three award categories: Sustained Excellence, Partner of the Year, and Excellence.

“Year after year, Energy Star award winners reflect American ingenuity at its highest level,” said EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson. “The innovations at work in the Energy Star program are cost-effective ways to reduce pollution, improve our health and grow our economy all at the same time. Those who have invested in these energy saving technologies display economically-sensible solutions that are good for our communities and our future.”

The forty-six Sustained Excellence winners have continued to exhibit leadership year after year in the Energy Star program while remaining dedicated to environmental protection through energy efficiency.  2011 Sustained Excellence award winners include 3M, Bosch Home Appliances, Ford, GE, J.C. Penney, KB Home, Lowe’s, and PepsiCo.

Forty-four organizations have received Partner of the Year for strategically and comprehensively managing their energy use.  These organizations promote Energy Star products and practices in their own operations, and provide efficient products and services to consumers within their community.  2011 Partner of the Year award winners include Boeing, Cleveland Clinic, Colgate-Palmolive, Hanesbrands, HEI Hotels & Resorts, Kohl’s, Panasonic, Sears, and Staples.

Twenty-one organizations are recognized with an Excellence award for a specific activity for promoting energy-efficient products, homes, or buildings, helping to expand the reach of the Energy Star program. 2011 Excellence award winners include Canon, DirectTV, Lennox, Menards, and Sharp Electronics.

Last year alone, Americans, with the help of the Energy Star program and its 20,000 partners, saved approximately $18 billion on their energy bills while preventing greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to the annual emissions of 33 million vehicles.  To date, nearly 1.2 million new homes and more than 12,600 office buildings, schools, hospitals and public buildings have earned the Energy Star. Since 2000, approximately 3.5 billion Energy Star qualified products have been sold.

More information and a full list of 2011 award winners: http://www.energystar.gov/awards

March 31, 2011

Nevada officials on March 18, 2011 dedicated Sempra Generation’s Copper Mountain Solar, the largest photovoltaic solar plant in the United States. The 48-megawatt (MW) project is adjacent to Sempra Generation’s 10-MW El Dorado Solar installation in Boulder City, Nevada, about 40 miles southeast of Las Vegas. Construction on Copper Mountain Solar began in January 2010 at the 380-acre desert site. Nearly 775,000 thin-film photovoltaic solar panels, which convert sunlight directly into electricity, were installed.

The facility is now generating enough electricity to power about 14,000 average homes. The power from Copper Mountain Solar and El Dorado Solar has been sold to Pacific Gas & Electric under separate 20-year contracts. See the Sempra press release.

 

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is announcing updated standards for light fixtures to qualify for the Energy Star label – an efficiency program that has saved consumers money on their energy bills while contributing to cleaner air and protecting people’s health since 1992. Effective October 1, 2011, to qualify for the Energy Star label light fixtures will need to increase efficiency 30 percent above currently qualified fluorescent-based fixtures.  In 2013, performance requirements will increase further, providing 40 percent higher efficiency compared to currently qualified models.

Light fixtures that earn the Energy Star save consumers money on their energy bills and reduce the costs and hassle associated with bulb replacement. The bulbs in Energy Star qualified fixtures last at least 10 times longer than standard light bulbs. The fixtures will continue to meet other strict performance requirements that ensure quick start-up and high quality light output, as well as reduced toxics in the fixture materials. Additionally, the fixtures will come with a 3-year warranty, which is above the industry practice.

Consumers can expect to see a range of technology options qualifying under the new Energy Star requirements — including fluorescent and LED lighting — each held to the same high standard. In order to earn the Energy Star label under the new requirements, product performance must be certified by an EPA-recognized third-party, based on testing in an EPA-recognized laboratory.  In addition, manufacturers of the products must participate in verification testing programs run by recognized certification bodies.

Energy Star was started by EPA in 1992 as a market-based partnership to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through energy efficiency. Today, the Energy Star label can be found on more than 60 different kinds of products as well as new homes and commercial and industrial buildings that meet strict energy-efficiency specifications set by EPA. Last year alone, Americans, with the help of Energy Star, saved $18 billion on their energy bills while reducing greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to 33 million vehicles.

More information on light fixtures: http://www.energystar.gov/luminaires

More information about the Energy Star program: http://www.energystar.gov

380,000,000,000 plastic bags are consumed each year in America, 1% of them get recycled. Princeton SECN students explores the world of plastic, and non-plastic bags. Learn how bringing your own bag, can help the environment.

Watch the story on You Tube

The manufacture of common polystyrene cups, plates and sandwich containers uses significantly less energy and water than comparable paper-based or corn-based alternatives, according to a new study.

The study (pdf) for the Plastic Foodservice Packaging Group, by Franklin Associates, compares average-weight polystyrene foam, paperboard and corn-based (also known as polylactic) cups used in 16-ounce hot and 32-ounce cold drink receptacles, 9-inch dinner plates and “clamshell” sandwich containers.

Researchers modeled energy consumption, water use, solid waste (by weight and volume) and greenhouse gas emissions for each product resulting from production, transportation and disposal.

The study found that the manufacture of polystyrene foam products consumes significantly less energy than the alternatives – half as much as wax-coated paperboard cups and one-third as much as polylactic clamshells.

Polystyrene foam products use significantly less water than the alternatives – up to four times less than polylactic clamshells, according to the study.

Read the complete story at Environmental Leader:

EPA has updated its guidance on how to properly clean up a broken compact fluorescent lamp (CFL) and also developed a new consumer brochure with CFL recycling and cleanup tips.  CFLs contain a small amount of mercury sealed within the glass tubing.  When a CFL breaks, some of the mercury is released as vapor and may pose potential health risks.  The guidance and brochure provide simple, user-friendly directions to help prevent and reduce exposure to mercury pollution.

See http://www.epa.gov/cflcleanup.

Find more information on CFLs at http://www.epa.gov/cfl.  Note that regulated entities are required to manage spent florescent lamps as universal or hazardous waste.

EPA Region 2 has developed a guide on managing spent florescent lamps.

See http://www.epa.gov/region02/waste/spent-lamp.pdf.

EPA guidance recommends that schools take steps to reduce potential exposures to PCBs from older fluorescent lighting fixtures.  Pre-1979 ballasts contain PCBs that can leak when the ballasts fail.  Schools with older ballasts should examine them to see if they have failed or have PCB leaks.  If a light ballast is leaking PCBs, federal law requires immediate removal and disposal of the ballast and disposal of any PCB-contaminated materials at an EPA-approved facility.  To prevent exposure, school personnel should wear protective clothing, including chemically resistant gloves, boots, and disposable overalls while surveying the ballasts.  Replacement should be performed in a well-ventilated area, or with supplemental ventilation or respiratory protection.  EPA has also developed information on how to properly handle and dispose of PCB-containing fluorescent light ballasts and properly retrofit lighting fixtures to remove potential PCB hazards.

See the guidance document at

http://www.epa.gov/epawaste/hazard/tsd/pcbs/pubs/ballasts.htm.

Learn how to handle and dispose of PCB-containing ballasts at http://www.epa.gov/epawaste/hazard/tsd/pcbs/pubs/waste.htm

More information on PCBs is at http://www.epa.gov/pcb.