Category: News

EPA Releases Final Risk Assessment on Trichloroethylene (TCE)

Posted: June 25, 2014
Source: EPA Headquarters

Agency begins process to address potential human health risks

WASHINGTON – Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released a final risk assessment for trichloroethylene (TCE). The assessment identified health risks from TCE exposures to consumers using spray aerosol degreasers and spray fixatives.  It also identifies health risks to workers when TCE is used as a degreaser in small commercial shops and as a stain removing agent in dry cleaning.

“EPA calls on Congress to enact legislation that strengthens our current federal toxics law,” said Jim Jones, assistant administrator for chemical safety and pollution prevention. “Until that time, we are using the best available science to assess and address chemical risks of TCE that now show that it may harm human health and the environment.”
Continue reading EPA Releases Final Risk Assessment on Trichloroethylene (TCE)

Vampires at home? Household items draining energy

Posted: June 20, 2014
Source: Fuel Fix.com by: R.A. Dyer
Experts at the Lawrence Berkley National Laboratory have analyzed the consumption of "standby" power by many common household items.

Not using that coffee maker? Turn it off and unplug it. The same goes for your computer and your fax machine.

Like vampires, household appliances quietly suck up electricity while you sleep and while you’re away at work. This is true even if you’ve completely shut down the item, but still have it plugged into a wall outlet. The Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory in California tells us that between 5 and 10 percent of all the electricity consumed by residential users comes from devices not in use.

The Texas Coalition for Affordable Power has analyzed data provided by the Berkeley Lab to get a sense as to how much these vampire devices are costing you. We’ve found that idled laser printers and similar multi-use devices may put you out $50 to $130 a year. Digital cable boxes also are big energy hogs.
Continue reading Vampires at home? Household items draining energy

Trim Your Compressed Air “Waste” line, One Pound at a Time

Posted: June 12, 2014
Source: Body Shop Business.com

Kaeser Compressors Inc. has published a new blog entry to company blog Kaeser Talks Shop: www.kaesertalksshop.com.

Authored by System Design and Engineering Manager Neil Mehltretter, the blog entry explains what artificial demand in compressed air systems is and gives a quick, easy and free way to help reduce it.

“While plants may take a look at the leaks in their compressed air system, they usually ignore artificial demand,” says Mehltretter. “Since artificial demand can account for 10 to 15 percent of the air in your system, this is an overlooked area of savings potential.”

For more technical resources for the compressed air industry, Kaeser’s blog features articles such as:

  • Consider All the Costs of Compressed Air
  • Receiver Tanks for Small Compressed Air Systems
  • Piston Versus Rotary Screw Compressors
  • CAGI Data Sheets: An Apples to Apples Comparison

More information:

Kaeser Compressors

Energy Department Announces New Energy Efficiency Financing Publication Available through SEE Action Network

Posted: June 9, 2014
Source: Dept. of Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy

The State and Local Energy Efficiency Action Network (SEE Action), a state- and local-led effort facilitated by the U.S. Department of Energy and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to achieve all cost effective energy efficiency, recently published a new report that provides an overview of the current state of on-bill lending programs with actionable insights for consideration by state policymakers, utility regulators and program administrators. States and utilities are increasingly turning to on-bill financing to stretch their limited efficiency program dollars and encourage the uptake of energy improvements in residential and non-residential properties.

Entitled “Financing Energy Improvements on Utility Bills: Market Updates and Key Program Design Considerations for Policymakers and Administrators” and authored by Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, the report describes the historical evolution of on-bill programs and draws on data collected from 30 on-bill programs (13 in-depth case studies) to review and analyze key trends, including their geographic reach, loan volumes and loan performance.
Continue reading Energy Department Announces New Energy Efficiency Financing Publication Available through SEE Action Network

P3: People, Prosperity and the Planet Student Design Competition for Sustainability

Posted: June 6, 2014
Source: EPAhttp://epa.gov/ncer/p3/project_websites/2014/su835533.html

Test Protocol for Evaluating Smog Reducing Roofing Tiles

University of California Riverside’s Clean Air team wants to know if so called “smog eating roof tiles” really work. Technology recently launched in the U.S. uses ceramic roof titles coated with titanium dioxide to convert the air pollutant NOx found in smog into nitrogen. While claims are impressive there is no peer reviewed data to support them. The team is testing the tiles in the UC Riverside Atmospheric Processes laboratory. Visit their exhibit to find out if these tiles are the green roofs of tomorrow.

Challenge Area(s): Built Environment

Project Abstract

MGM Resorts International Joins U.S. Energy Department’s Better Buildings Challenge

Posted: May 29, 2014
Source: Corporate Social Responsibility Newswire (CSRWire.com)

Company cited as the first corporation in the entertainment, gaming and hospitality industry to join

MGM Resorts International (NYSE: MGM) has announced that it is joining the U.S. Energy Department’s Better Buildings Challenge, a national pledge calling for organizations to voluntarily reduce their building portfolio energy use by 20 percent in ten years.

“Innovating our resorts to operate more efficiently while also offering a remarkable guest experience, is a top priority for our company,” said Cindy Ortega, Chief Sustainability Officer of MGM Resorts International. “Joining the Better Buildings Challenge is another step in our promise to guests, employees and our surrounding communities to employ sustainable best practices at all of our resort destinations.”

Launched in 2011 by President Obama, the Better Buildings Challenge supports the President’s broader goal of doubling American energy productivity by 2030 while motivating corporate and public sector partners across the country to save energy through commitments and investments. In the past year, the initiative has recorded more than 190 participating organizations, including: local governments, school districts, universities, and commercial real estate, healthcare and manufacturing companies.

MGM Resort is the first company in the entertainment, gaming and hospitality industry to join the Better Buildings Challenge. Continue reading MGM Resorts International Joins U.S. Energy Department’s Better Buildings Challenge

EPA Adds Clothes Dryers to Energy Star Program, Increasing Energy Efficiency of New Appliances

WASHINGTON –The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced today the first-ever Energy Star label for clothes dryers. If all residential clothes dryers sold in the U.S. meet these new requirements, the utility cost savings will grow to more than $1.5 billion each year and more than 22 billion pounds of annual greenhouse gas emissions would be prevented. Informed by extensive input from manufacturers, retailers, the U.S. Department of Energy and environmental groups, the new specifications will recognize a selection of highly efficient electric, gas, and compact dryers that will use approximately 20% less energy than what is required by the minimum efficiency standards effective in 2015. In 2013 alone, Americans, with the help of Energy Star, saved $30 billion on their utility bills and prevented greenhouse gas emissions equal to those of 38 million homes.

“The addition of clothes dryers expands the range of Energy Star products to include one of the most energy-intensive home appliance not yet covered by the program,” said U.S. EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy. “Working with industry on innovative approaches to address our changing climate, we are helping consumers select more energy efficient appliances, save money and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.“
Continue reading EPA Adds Clothes Dryers to Energy Star Program, Increasing Energy Efficiency of New Appliances

Definition of waters protected under the Clean Water Act (CWA)

Posted: April 24, 2014

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) have proposed a rule defining the scope of waters protected under the Clean Water Act (CWA).  This proposal would set forth several categories of waters to be included in the definition as well as establish waters that are subject to the act.  The comment period closes July 21, 2014.