Category: News

Light ’em up

Posted on December 19, 2013
Source: Reno News & Review Green Guide
By:

Peppermill saves electricity by changing to LED lights

With its own geothermal power plant on site powering all heat and space, the Peppermill Resort had already cut its energy bills down quite a bit—about $1.8 million a year. But they’re always looking for more ways to save, and they recently cut down their electricity bill by an estimated $130, 539 a year by switching their parking lot lights from 1,000-watt metal-halides to 188-watt LEDs.

These savings come from switching both of the Peppermill properties—the Reno Peppermill Resort and the Western Village in Sparks—to LED-lighted parking lots.

“In August of this year, we put in these new units. We’re already seeing about a 90 percent energy reduction at Western Village because they have meters that are dedicated to the lights,” said executive director of facilities at the Peppermill, Dean Parker.
Continue reading Light ’em up

Shining a light on energy-efficient light bulbs [Infographic]

This infographic provided courtesy of Batteries + Bulbs and Mother Nature News.com
Posted: December 17, 2013.
The phasing out of popular incandescent bulbs in favor of more energy-efficient bulbs needn’t be a confusing upgrade for you.
LightBulbInfographic01

Sustainability Trends Impacting Retailers in 2014

Posted: December 10, 2013
Source: Environmental Leader.com

Retail hazardous waste management is an incredibly complex industry from both a logistics and regulatory standpoint. There’s only one constant—it is always changing.

Definitions of which materials are considered hazardous vary at the federal, state and county levels, and are constantly evolving with political, environmental and economic pressures.

In addition to these challenges, a number of trends are emerging to further complicate the industry and force major retailers to evaluate their environmental compliance programs. In 2014, digitalization, geographic shifts and a need for inventory optimization are developments that retailers will need to consider as they evaluate their approach to hazardous waste management.
Continue reading Sustainability Trends Impacting Retailers in 2014

The Heat Is On…or Off: Having the Sense to Cut Office Energy Bills

Posted: December 9, 2013
Source: Science Daily.com

Office buildings have an enormous carbon footprint, but often energy is being wasted maintaining empty rooms and spaces at a comfortable temperature. Research to be published in the International Journal of Communication Networks and Distributed Systems shows how the ubiquity of smart phones connected to the office network could be used to monitor occupancy and reduce heating or air conditioning for unused spaces.
Continue reading The Heat Is On…or Off: Having the Sense to Cut Office Energy Bills

Clean Diesel Rebates Available from EPA for Public and Private Construction Equipment

Posted: December 4, 2013
Source: EPA National Clean Diesel Campaign (NCDC)

EPA’s National Clean Diesel Campaign opened a new rebate program on November 20, 2013. This round of rebates focuses on the retrofit and replacement of nonroad construction equipment engines in both public and private fleets. The total funding for this opportunity is approximately $2 million. To learn more about the rebate program, applicant and location eligibility, technology options, and selection process, please visit EPA’s Diesel Emission Reduction Program Construction Rebates website.

EPA will collect rebate applications from November 20, 2013, to January 15, 2014. Applicants may submit only one application for up to five pieces of equipment and up to $120,000 in rebate funds. Applications may be downloaded from the website. Completed applications and required documentation should be sent by email with the subject line “DERA Construction Equipment Rebate Application.”

EPA will offer a webinar to interested applicants on December 9, 2013, at 1pm EST. Webinar registration.

OSHA’s Global Harmonized System (GHS) deadline

The standard that gave workers the right to know, now gives them the right to understand.

“Exposure to hazardous chemicals is one of the most serious threats facing American workers today,” said U.S. Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis. “Revising OSHA’s Hazard Communication standard will improve the quality and consistency of hazard information, making it safer for workers to do their jobs and easier for employers to stay competitive.”

The Hazard Communication Standard (HCS) is now aligned with the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals (GHS). This update to the Hazard Communication Standard (HCS) will provide a common and coherent approach to classifying chemicals and communicating hazard information on labels and safety data sheets. Once implemented, the revised standard will improve the quality and consistency of hazard information in the workplace, making it safer for workers by providing easily understandable information on appropriate handling and safe use of hazardous chemicals. This update will also help reduce trade barriers and result in productivity improvements for American businesses that regularly handle, store, and use hazardous chemicals while providing cost savings for American businesses that periodically update safety data sheets and labels for chemicals covered under the hazard communication standard.

What GHS Means to You Continue reading OSHA’s Global Harmonized System (GHS) deadline

Last Vegas Strip Cleans Up Waste Management Act

Posted: November 25, 2013
Source: Environmental Leader.com

MGM Resorts International, Caesars Entertainment and Las Vegas Sands Corp. are among the Las Vegas resort operators working to cut waste and boost recycling, the Las Vegas Review-Journal reports.

Waste management efforts include composing thousands of tons of leftover food, sending used shampoo bottles and bars of soap to poor countries, recycling plastic room keys and loyalty club cards and turning them into are picture frames or siding, transforming wine corks into sandals, and reconstituting crushed empty beer and liquor bottles as decorative blocks.
Continue reading Last Vegas Strip Cleans Up Waste Management Act

EPA Releases Draft Procurement Guidelines for Product Environmental Performance

Posted: November 25, 2013
Source: Environmental Protection Online

They are criteria for assessing private-sector standards and ecolabels, considering factors such as how standards are developed and managed, as well as their environmental effectiveness.

EPA has released draft guidelines to assist in the federal government’s procurement process and help agencies identify and purchase greener products, according to a blog post from the agency. It says current mandates include a 95 percent goal for sustainable purchasing, which caused the guidelines to be developed. They’re now out for public comments.

Design for the Environment labels, which identify products meeting strict federal standards. Federal buyers have to sort through hundreds of other products with non-governmental or private labels that claim to be safe or environmentally friendly, so the agency sought to simplify the procurement process.

EPA seeks comments about how standards and ecolabels should be assessed and what role private entities could have in that process.

Visit the EPA Draft Guidelines for Product Environmental Performance Standards and Ecolabels for Voluntary Use in Federal Procurement website for additional information

View the Draft Guidelines HERE