185 Search Results for "2009"

• Delaware City Refinery to Clos

  • From: GreenDelaware
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    DOVER - At the direction of Delaware Governor Jack Markell, Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control Secretary Collin P. O’Mara has assembled a team of environmental scientists and engineers to oversee the safe and orderly shutdown and stabilization of the Delaware City Refinery in response to an announcement this morning that owner Valero Energy Corporation is permanently shutting down the facility.
    
    “We have mobilized a team of experts in our air, waste and water programs and are also coordinating with environmental health staff with the Department of Health and Social Services and our counterparts at the Environmental Protection Agency to assure that public health and the environment are protected during this transitional period,” said Secretary O’Mara. “We have been working with the refinery on issues associated with a planned maintenance shutdown of the entire refinery for weeks and are prepared for it. The orderly shutdown of the equipment has already begun with the shutdown in October of one of the refinery’s major processing units.  The remaining units have been operating at reduced rates and will be taken offline in a manner protective of health, safety and the environment.  DNREC staff has been in constant contact with the refinery personnel and have been monitoring the shutdown activities and will continue to do so throughout the remainder of this period.”
    
    “The near complete shutdown of the refinery earlier this year was accomplished without incident. The decision not to restart the equipment presents us with a list of questions and environmental concerns in the long term.  We plan to assess the impacts thoroughly and coordinate with refinery personnel.  Our goal is to ensure that all short and long term risks to our air, water and land are considered and addressed appropriately,” said O’Mara. “Beyond our environmental concerns our thoughts are with the employees and their families as they face this challenging time.”
    
    In addition to closely coordinating with refinery personnel during the shutdown period, DNREC and Department of Health and Social Services staff will be on standby with monitoring and response equipment should any environmental incidents occur.  Longer-term issues associated with permitting, on-going cleanup, removing petroleum products and operational status of the equipment will, in part, depend on the future use of the facility which is obviously unknown at this time. The DNREC team will be assessing these issues in a coordinated, comprehensive fashion.
    
    --source: NEWS FROM THE DELAWARE DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL,  Nov. 20, 2009, Vol. 32, No. 455, For more information contact Melinda Carl or Michael Globetti, Public Affairs, 302-739-9902

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• Geothermal Savings Negate Upfr

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    Geothermal Savings Negate Upfront Costs
    Posted By: Jamie  on 11/16/2009
    

    It's too soon to know how much he'll save on his monthly energy bills, but Dave Maas has been pleased so far with his home's new geothermal heating and cooling system.

    "It seems to have heated the house on cold days and seems be cooling our house much better than our old system on warm days," said Maas, New Palestine.
    
    November 14, 2009, by Angie Hicks
    Published by Indianapolis Star 
    Photo: Dave Maas says the only drawback to installing a geothermal system was having his backyard torn up. Credit: Indianapolis Star
    
    Geothermal units tap into energy that comes from heat sources deep in the earth, eliminating the need for fuel to heat or cool a home. The units use a loop system in which piping is buried underground and brings heat from the earth into the home during the winter. In the summer, it does the reverse and draws heat from the home back into the earth.
    
    

    "The only downside I've experienced with the system had to do with the fact they had to tear up my backyard in order to put the loop in," Maas said.

    Geothermal units actually produce more energy than it takes to operate them. It's clean energy with few carbon emissions, and delivers up to $5 of energy for every $1 used. That translates into an efficiency rating of 500 percent. By comparison, the best gas furnaces are about 95 percent efficient.

    Maas began researching heating, ventilation and air-conditioning systems after deciding it was time to replace his 23-year-old furnace and air conditioner.

    Geothermal systems cost more than traditional systems -- Maas estimates he spent about $15,000 for his. But homeowners can recoup 30 percent of a unit's cost through an energy federal tax credit. Lower energy bills also mean year-round savings.

    "It made the number come out a lot closer between a traditional heat pump furnace system and a geothermal system," Maas said of the savings. "I thought for the long run, the geothermal made more sense for me, so I went ahead and paid the higher price -- with the understanding that next year I'll get the tax credit applied to my tax return."

    The U.S. Department of Energy says 43 percent of the typical homeowner's energy bill goes toward heating and cooling. Geothermal heat pumps are highly efficient and cost little to operate.

    The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency estimates homeowners with geothermal systems can save 30 percent to 70 percent on heating and 20 percent to 50 percent on cooling costs over conventional systems.

    Not every heating and cooling company installs geothermal units, so it's important for homeowners to do their research before making a purchase. Loop installers are certified by the International Ground Source Heat Pump Association.

    Industry experts estimate that geothermal units, which also heat water in homes, will average twice the lifespan of traditional heating and cooling units.

    The units are self-contained, so there is no separate air-conditioner, and they operate more quietly than conventional units.

    "It's considered green technology," said Rusty Burch, owner of Plainfield-based Total Comfort Solutions. "It's really a super quiet operation. You can hardly hear it running."
    
    Source: IndyStar

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• U.S.-China Clean Energy Announ

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    Beijing, China - Today, President Barack Obama and President Hu Jintao announced a far-reaching package of measures to strengthen cooperation between the United States and China on clean energy.   Please see the attached fact sheets for additional details on each of the U.S-China clean energy announcements.
    
    1.  U.S.-China Clean Energy Research Center.  The two Presidents announced the establishment of the U.S.-China Clean Energy Research Center.   The Center will facilitate joint research and development of clean energy technologies by teams of scientists and engineers from the United States and China, as well as serve as a clearinghouse to help researchers in each country.  The Center will be supported by public and private funding of at least $150 million over five years, split evenly between the two countries.  Initial research priorities will be building energy efficiency, clean coal including carbon capture and storage, and clean vehicles.  The Protocol formally establishing the Center was signed in Beijing by U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu, Chinese Minister of Science and Technology Wan Gang, and Chinese National Energy Agency Acting Administrator Zhang Guobao. U.S.-China Fact Sheet on Clean Energy Research Center
    

    2.  U.S.-China Electric Vehicles Initiative.  The two Presidents announced the launch of the U.S.-China Electric Vehicles Initiative.  Building on the first-ever US-China Electric Vehicle Forum in September 2009, the initiative will include joint standards development, demonstration projects in more than a dozen cities, technical roadmapping and public education projects.  The two leaders emphasized their countries’ strong shared interest in accelerating the deployment of electric vehicles in order to reduce oil dependence, cut greenhouse gas emissions and promote economic growth. U.S.-China Fact Sheet on Electric Vehicles Initiative
    
    3.  U.S.-China Energy Efficiency Action Plan.  The two Presidents announced the launch of a new U.S.-China Energy Efficiency Action Plan.  Under the new plan, the two countries will work together to improve the energy efficiency of buildings, industrial facilities, and consumer appliances.  U.S. and Chinese officials will work together and with the private sector to develop energy efficient building codes and rating systems, benchmark industrial energy efficiency, train building inspectors and energy efficiency auditors for industrial facilities, harmonize test procedures and performance metrics for energy efficient consumer products, exchange best practices in energy efficient labeling systems, and convene  a new U.S.-China Energy Efficiency Forum to be held annually, rotating between the two countries. U.S.-China Fact Sheet on Energy Efficiency Action Plan
    
    4.  U.S.-China Renewable Energy Partnership.   The two Presidents announced the launch of a new U.S.-China Renewable Energy Partnership.  Under the Partnership, the two countries will develop roadmaps for wide-spread renewable energy deployment in both countries.  The Partnership will also provide technical and analytical resources to states and regions in both countries to support renewable energy deployment and will facilitate state-to-state and region-to-region partnerships to share experience and best practices.  A new Advanced Grid Working Group will bring together U.S. and Chinese policymakers, regulators, industry leaders, and civil society to develop strategies for grid modernization in both countries.  A new U.S.-China Renewable Energy Forum will be held annually, rotating between the two countries. U.S.-China Fact Sheet on Renewable Energy Partnership
    
    5.  21st Century Coal.  The two Presidents pledged to promote cooperation on cleaner uses of coal, including large-scale carbon capture and storage (CCS) demonstration projects.  Through the new U.S.-China Clean Energy Research Center, the two countries are launching a program of technical cooperation to bring teams of U.S. and Chinese scientists and engineers together in developing clean coal and CCS technologies.  The two governments are also actively engaging industry, academia, and civil society in advancing clean coal and CCS solutions.  The Presidents welcomed: (i) a grant from the U.S. Trade and Development Agency to the China Power Engineering and Consulting Group Corporation to support a feasibility study for an integrated gasification combined cycle (IGCC) power plant in China using American technology, (ii) an agreement by Missouri-based Peabody Energy to participate in GreenGen, a project of several major Chinese energy companies to develop a near-zero emissions coal-fired power plant, (iii) an agreement between GE and Shenhua Corporation to collaborate on the development and deployment of IGCC and other clean coal technologies; and (iv) an agreement between AES and Songzao Coal and Electric Company to use methane captured from a coal mine in Chongqing, China, to generate electricity and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. U.S.-China Fact Sheet on 21st Century Coal
    
    6.  Shale Gas Initiative.  The two Presidents announced the launch of a new U.S.-China Shale Gas Resource Initiative.  Under the Initiative, the U.S. and China will use experience gained in the United States to assess China’s shale gas potential, promote environmentally-sustainable development of shale gas resources, conduct joint technical studies to accelerate development of shale gas resources in China, and promote shale gas investment in China through the U.S.-China Oil and Gas Industry Forum, study tours, and workshops. U.S.-China Fact Sheet on Shale Gas Initiative
    
    7.  U.S.-China Energy Cooperation Program.  The two Presidents announced the establishment of the U.S.-China Energy Cooperation Program.  The program will leverage private sector resources for project development work in China across a broad array of clean energy projects, to the benefit of both nations.  More than 22 companies are founding members of the program.  The ECP will include collaborative projects on renewable energy, smart grid, clean transportation, green building, clean coal, combined heat and power, and energy efficiency.
    
    --November 17, 2009 - source:Energy.gov

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• Home Energy Tax Credits to Sav

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    Home energy tax credits are available for solar energy, energy efficiency, biodiesel and hybrid cars, home solar panels and more. See which federal home energy tax credits you can claim in 2009.

    When Congress passed the financial bailout bill late last year, it included a range of federal tax credits and cash gifts for businesses -- but also a suite of new and renewed tax credits for individuals who want to make energy efficiency and renewable energy improvements to their home or cars. When President Obama signed the economic stimulus bill in February, the federal government expanded and extended some of those credits.

    So what's in it for homeowners and other regular taxpayers? There are several important provisions anyone can take advantage of (changes made by the economic stimulus bill are in bold). This list includes:

    $1,500 Home Tax Credits for Energy Efficiency

    You can claim a home tax credit for energy efficiency improvements made in 2009 (but not for improvements made in 2008) if you installed new insulation, energy-efficient windows or an energy-efficient furnace, boiler or air conditioner.

    A tax credit of up to $500 that expired in 2007 has been renewed for 2009 by the bailout bill, and expanded to $1,500 by the economic stimulus bill. It covers up to 30% (expanded from 10% by the economic stimulus bill) of the cost of a range of projects that meet certain specifications. Do $5,000 worth of qualifying work, and you not only get a $1,500 rebate, but also savings on energy bills for years to come.

    The economic stimulus bill also stripped out most caps on individual home improvements, which had applied to windows, heating equipment and other energy efficiency improvements.

    Note that the tax credit applies only to equipment, not labor.

    Find more information about these home energy efficiency tax credits at the Alliance to Save Energy or Energy Star or Department of Energy Websites. Note that much of this information reflects the tax incentives in place in 2006 and 2007; for the most part, the 2009 tax credits are identical, but check updated criteria for which products qualify, for instance.

    30% On Home Energy Tax Credits for Geothermal, Solar, Wind Turbines or Fuel Cells

    The economic stimulus bill removed the $2,000 cap that had applied to geothermal heat pumps, solar panels and other home renewable energy technology. The 30% tax rebate on qualified solar energy systems remains in place on geothermal heat pumps, small wind turbines, and fuel cell systems.

    Ground-source heat pumps are installed underground and use the constant 50-degree subsurface temperature to cool air or water in the summer, and heat it in the winter — both of which reduce the cost of heating or cooling year round.

    In addition, the solar energy tax credit, which had been set to expire, is now good through 2016. $500 Home Energy Tax Credits for Fuel Cells or Microturbines

    The tax incentive that had covered 30% of the cost of fuel cell or microturbine systems in homes, which lapsed in 2008, has been restored for 2009 and through 2016. It covers up to $500 per 0.5 kw of capacity.

    $7,500 Energy Tax Credits for Plug-in Hybrid Cars

    The first 200,000 buyers of plug-in hybrid vehicles from each manufacturer now qualify for a $7,500 tax rebate.

    A similar tax credit for hybrid vehicles had been capped at $3,500 before the bailout bill.

    $2,500 for Plug-in Electric Motorcycles or Low-Speed or Three-Wheeled Vehicles

    The economic stimulus bill established a 10% tax credit through 2011 with a cap of $2,500 for new electric plug-in motorcycles, low-speed and three-wheeled vehicles. There's also a 10% tax rebate and a $4,000 cap for converting an existing vehicle to a plug-in.

    $50,000 for Installing a Clean Fuel Refueling System

    While few homeowners may be ready to take advantage, those who want to install a clean fuel refueling system, like a natural gas refueler or a recharging system for a plug-in electric vehicle, can now qualify for up to $50,000 -- up from $30,000 -- if the system is installed in 2009 or 2010, thanks to the stimulus bill. Go with hydrogen and the credit increases to $200,000, and you have until 2014 to take advantage of it.

    Wildcard: State Energy Tax Credits

    Keep your eyes out for new incentives from your state, since the bill also authorizes an $800 million government bond program that encourages states to create incentives for new and existing energy conservation and related programs. Some of that money is likely to be used toward state tax breaks and other incentives that will vary by location. Among the incentives to watch for is up to $6,500 per qualifying home in the Weatherization Assistance Program. The Department of Energy's Office of Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency, which provides grants to states and local governments that trickle down to individuals, had its budget increased nearly 10-fold. Check out the Database of State Incentives for Renewable Energy & Efficiency for more federal, state and local grants, rebates and incentives.

     

    --source --TheDailyGreen.com

    
    
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• 15 Toxic Ingredients in Person

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    By now we’ve all heard that everything from hair serum to sunscreen can be teeming with troublesome toxins and crazy chemicals, and many concerned consumers already steer clear of products made with parabens, phthalates, and synthetic scents and colors. But there are hundreds of lesser-known ingredients hidden in many favorite products–some with the potential to wreak havoc on the environment and others that have been linked to breast cancer. Without a universal and enforceable natural or organic standard to regulate the beauty industry, even companies claiming to be natural often produce products laced with not-so-clean stuff.
    
    For their 2nd Annual Beauty with a Conscience Awards, Natural Solutions magazine put its stamp of approval on 101 of the purest and best personal care products using guidelines developed in collaboration with Whole Foods Market, here is their list of the toxic ingredients that you don’t want in your products.
    
    1. Synthetic fragrances often contain phthalates (pronounced THAY-lates), synthetic chemicals commonly used to stabilize fragrances and make plastic more pliable. These endocrine disrupters mimic hormones and may alter genital development. Avoid products that list fragrance as an ingredient unless the label states that it’s derived from essentials oils,
    or look for a phthalate-free label on the packaging.
    
    2. Parabens, ubiquitous in skincare, preserve other ingredients and extend a product’s shelf life–but these antimicrobial chemicals also have hormone-disrupting effects.
    
    3. Ureas, formally known as diazolidinyl urea, imidazolidinyl urea, or DMDM hydantoin and sodium hydroxymethyl-glycinate, are preservatives that have the potential to release formaldehyde in very small amounts and are a primary cause of contact dermatitis.
    
    4. 1,4-dioxane, a chemical carcinogen, is created when ingredients are processed with petroleum-derived ethylene oxide. Common ethoxylated compounds include sodium laureth sulfate and polyethylene glycol (often listed as PEG). To avoid it, skip any product with the following ingredients: myreth, oleth, laureth, ceteareth (or any other -eth), PEG, polyethylene, polyethylene glycol, polyoxyethylene, or oxynol.
    
    5. Petrochemicals are derived from crude oil. Petroleum-based ingredients such as petrolatum, mineral oil, and paraffin (derived from nonrenewable sources) form a barrier when applied to the skin that does not allow it to breathe and can clog pores.
    
    6. MEA/DEA/TEA are “amines” (ammonia compounds) and can form harmful nitrosamines when they come in contact with nitrates. Used as foaming agents, synthetic stabilizers, and to adjust the pH of cosmetics, they can cause allergic reactions, eye irritation, and dryness of the hair and skin.
    
    7. Sulfates, such as sodium lauryl and sodium laureth, are harsh detergents that give cleansers, soaps, and shampoos their latherability. Often derived from petroleum, sulfates can also come from coconut and other vegetable oils that can be contaminated with pesticides. Sulfates can cause eye irritation and skin rashes.
    
    8. Chemical sunscreens, such as oxybenzone and octyl methoxycinnamate, have been shown to disrupt endocrine activity. Titanium dioxide and zinc oxide are safer alternatives.
    
    9. Quats, such as benzalkonium chloride, steardimonium chloride, cetrimonium bromide, and cetrimonium chloride, give a positive charge to conditioners in order to prevent static. They are necessary for conditioners, but we have allowed only the mildest quats in our Beauty With a Conscience standard: guar hydroxypropyltrimonium chloride, hydroxypropyltrimonium oligosaccharide, and SugaQuats.
    
    10. Antibacterial compounds, such as triclosan and chlorphenesin, do not break down in the environment and may contribute to bacterial resistance.
    
    11. Synthetic polymers, such as sodium polyacrylate and carbomer, come from petroleum and give viscosity to skincare products. They are highly processed and their manufacture
    creates toxic by-products.
    
    12. Synthetic colors are made from coal tar. They contain heavy metal salts that may deposit toxins onto the skin, causing skin sensitivity and irritation. Animal studies have shown almost all of them to be carcinogenic. They will be labeled as FD&C or D&C, followed by a color and a number.
    
    13. Chelators, such as disodium EDTA and tetrasodium EDTA, are used in personal care products to remove impurities from low-quality raw materials. They do not readily biode-
    grade in the environment.
    
    14. Nanos are a new technology with inconclusive but potentially hazardous study results. Research suggests that when tiny nano particles penetrate the skin, they may cause
    cell damage.
    
    15. Animal testing: A grim history of cruelty to animals lies behind many cosmetic ingredients. But scientists are developing new technologies to test cosmetics before a European Union ban on animal testing begins in March 2009.
    
    posted by Mel, selected from Natural Solutions magazine Nov 9, 2009 source: Natural Solutions: Vibrant Health, Balanced Living offers its readers the latest news on health conditions, herbs and supplements, natural beauty products, healing foods and conscious living. Click here for a free sample issue. 

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• Recycling Event Nets 8.5 Tons

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    Nov. 7 recycling event in Wilmington nets 8.5 tons of scrap tires; State’s third event brings total to nearly 5,000 tires recycled

    

    WILMINGTON, Del. - Saturday’s Scrap Tire Drop-off event at Frawley Stadium netted 8.5 tons of scrap tires – more than 650 old passenger vehicle tires that could have ended up in an unsightly, scrap tire pile or left to decompose in a Delaware landfill. The event, the third held in the past year, provided Delaware residents with the opportunity to recycle scrap tires free of charge and help reduce the environmental and health hazards of scrap tires in our communities.
     
    “Our three drop-off events have collected nearly 60 tons or 4,800 scrap tires,” said administrative manager Laurene Eheman of DNREC’s Solid and Hazardous Waste Management Branch. “Delaware residents from each county have responded to our recycling program. With the tremendous response we’ve had over the past year, a fourth Scrap Tire Drop-off is planned for next spring in the Seaford-Georgetown area.”
     
    The first Scrap Tire Drop-off day was held Oct. 2008 near Harbeson in Sussex County and netted more than 30 tons of discarded tires. At last April’s event, almost 20 tons of tires were collected at the Delaware State fairgrounds in Harrington.
     
    Delaware’s Scrap Tire Cleanup and Control Program was created to eliminate large, unsightly scrap tire piles that can spawn dangerous fires that produce toxic smoke and oily liquid runoff from melted tires that can pollute groundwater. In addition, tire piles provide ideal breeding grounds for mosquitoes, which can carry the West Nile virus.
     
    The Wilmington Scrap Tire Drop-Off Day was held in conjunction with the Delaware Solid Waste Authority’s Household Hazardous Waste and Electronic Goods Collection Day and the Clean Wilmington Committee’s Shredding Event.
     
    The Delaware Scrap Tire Cleanup and Control Program is funded by a state fee of $2 per tire on the sale of new tires. Enacted Jan. 1, 2007, the fee is diverted to the Scrap Tire Management Fund, a matching fund and program created to clean up existing scrap tire piles statewide.
     
    For more information on the program and future scrap tire drop-off events, visit DNREC’s website, www.awm.delaware.gov/Info/Pages/ScrapTire.aspx, or contact the Scrap Tire Control and Cleanup Program at 302-739-9403.
    
    source: News from the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control, Nov. 10, 2009, Vol. 39, No. 441
     
    Media contact: Laurene Eheman, Solid and Hazardous Waste Section, Division of Air and Waste Management, 302-739-9403; or Melanie Rapp, Public Affairs, 302-739-9902. PHOTOS available by contacting Public Affairs.
    

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• Eat Local (and sustainable!)

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    One of the most popular food trends in the past year or two has been local food. So why is eating local all the rage, and what can you do to be part of this growing movement?

    What is local?

    We need to start by defining the word local. It has different meanings to different people, but I define local as being as close to home as possible. With food, that would mean buying food raised or produced as close to your home as possible.

    To purists, or locavores, local means buying food within a set radius, such as 50 or 100 miles. To others, local means as far as a day’s drive from where you live. Because geography and growing is different around the country (and world), I opt for a more flexible definition.

    Technically, this means that any food you buy close to your home is local, even conventional or industrially produced food. So inherent within the local label is the concept of sustainable. Try to avoid food from a large industrial operation, no matter how close to your home it is. The best way to tell if a farm is industrial is to find out how big it is and how diverse its products are. A very large farm producing only one crop is most likely industrial – when you plant the same crop on many acres, you attract pests, which means you have to use pesticides. So focus on smaller farms, ones that have different types of crops, and find out what their growing practices are.

    When you’re shopping for local food, look for local sustainable food from a small independent family farm. That means minimal chemical pesticides and fertilizers were used, the land and everything on it was treated with respect, and every effort was made to provide you with the most wholesome, nutritious food. In general, smaller farms are more sustainable because they tend to grow a variety of crops and undertake conservation practices such as crop rotation, so they usually have less problems with pests. But it’s always wise to find out exactly how your food was produced before you make the decision to buy and eat it.

    Why buy local?

    There are many reasons to buy local, including –

    - Taste. Local sustainable food is most often picked when ripe because transport time to market is so small. It is also usually grown with minimal inputs such as chemical fertilizers and pesticides. This provides you with better tasting food.

    - Better for you. Food raised close to home will not be shipped long distances so will be harvested when ripe, giving you optimal nutrition. Industrial food shipped long distances is harvested before ripe, shipped, and sometimes sprayed with chemicals to preserve or forcibly ripen it.

     

    - Helps the environment. By not shipping food such long distances, less pollution is emitted and less waste is created. There is a debate over whether individual farms driving to markets pollutes more than shipping food in large containers on trains or ships. The key problem with long distance shipping is the processing and packaging necessary to transport the food such long distances – processing uses more energy than the shipping – so you’re still better off buying local.

    - Supports family farms. 80 to 90 percent of the money you spend at a local farmers market goes to the farmer, thus helping to provide a fair wage. Most farmers now hold off-the-farm jobs in order to pay the bills – by supporting the farmer directly, you are helping to support one of our oldest American traditions.

    - Helps local communities. Small family farms are much more likely to spend their money locally, both on feed and farming inputs, and also on regular services like restaurants and stores. Studies have shown that local farms help boost local communities. Industrial farms tend to get their farm inputs from outside the community with the owners often living off the property.

    Be local

    Below are ideas on what you can do to join the local revolution.

    - Farmers markets. Farmers markets have sprung up all around the country. According to the USDA, farmers markets in the U.S. increased from 1,755 in 1994 to 5,274 in 2009. Between 2008 and 2009 alone, the number of farmers markets increased 13 percent. Check out the USDA’s site to find a farmers market near you.

    - CSA’s. CSA stands for community supported agriculture. You purchase a share in a farmer’s crop before the season starts. This helps the farmer buy seeds and necessary supplies. You then reap a portion of the season’s bounty. Visit the Eat Well Guide to find a CSA near you.

    - Buying Clubs. Less well known but increasing in popularity are buying clubs. These are simply a group of people – from a little as a few families to 100 people – who purchase food together in order to buy in bulk at wholesale prices. You can go through a distributor or with a little extra effort, work with local farmers to set up your own distribution network. Buying club members work together to purchase, pick up and distribute the food. How to Create a Neighborhood Food-Buying Club can give you some information on how to start one up. You can also ask at your nearest health food store to see if they are involved with or know of any local buying clubs in your area. It’s usually best to join an already existing club rather than start up your own because they can take some work.

    - Farm stands. Farm stands range from a bench with tomatoes alongside the road to an enclosed structure that sells many types of produce, meats and even baked and processed foods. During the height of the summer when vegetables are abundant, you can still find small stands at the side of the road with vegetables and a cash jar, so customers can pay what they want. Some even leave signs encouraging people to take the food. Large farm stands can resemble stores and do not always sell local goods — check the labels or ask if you aren’t sure.

    - “Pick your own” farms. Some farmers, especially berry and orchard growers, allow consumers to pick their own produce. Usually for a set price by the bushel or pint, families can go into the farmer’s fields and pick their own crops. This is good for individuals interested in freezing or canning. Some farms also allow consumers to come to the farm and choose which animal they would like, before slaughter.

    - Grow your own. Probably the biggest trend today is growing your own food. From planters on window ledges to taking over a front lawn, gardens are springing up everywhere. I’ll be focusing on this in more detail in a future post, so stay tuned!

    If you can’t buy local

    If, for whatever reason, you can’t buy local, buy as close to your home as possible. If you live in Virginia and want to buy an orange, buy one from Florida, not California, or from anywhere in the US as opposed to overseas. Why would we buy an apple from New Zealand when most states can grow them also? Don’t feel pressured into labels and definitions – however you define local is fine. The point is not to deprive yourself – the point is to enjoy the freshest, best-tasting food possible, and eating local is the best way to do it.

    If you’d like to learn more about the local movement, check out Sustainable Table’s Eat Local, Buy Local, Be Local section.

    (Diane Hatz is the Founder of Sustainable Table, Executive Producer of The Meatrix movies and co-Founder of the Eat Well Guide. This is the 22nd installment in her series, Sustainable Table’s Guide to Good Food.)

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• Green Window Treatments

  • From: GreenDelaware
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    Stay Warm, Sleep In: Green Window Treatments

    Living deep in the woods, my family has enjoyed the luxury of not needing window treatments.  The only potential Peeking Toms we’re vulnerable to are curious squirrels, woodpeckers or atypically brazen deer.  We’ve decided to look into window treatment options, however, for three reasons: 1) To create a more “finished” look in certain rooms, 2) To lengthen the time our children sleep.  When the sun rises, they do too, even on weekends; and 3) To increase energy efficiency in our home.

    So, where do eco-friendliness, functionality and aesthetics meet?  The main thing to look for is 100 percent natural fabrics and materials.  Many window treatments are made with some form of plastic, be it polyester or vinyl, which release toxic gasses when warmed by the sun.  Instead check out these resources for green window treatments:

    1.    Naturally dyed curtains or drapes made of fabrics such as cotton, linen or hemp are a great choice. Anna Sova’s  line of organic drapery includes 100 percent natural silk drapes, made with no toxic bleaches, heavy metal dyes, formaldehyde or silicon finishing.
    2.    Shutters provide insulation in both cold and hot weather.  Look for shutters made of bamboo or sustainably harvested Basswood.  Basswood shutters are widely available.
    Just make sure that if the shutters have a coating on them, it is water-based.
    3.    Shades – Earthshade’s shades are made of high quality reed, bamboo, hemp and “rapidly-renewable” grasses.  No chemical coating is used, and all shades promise a high degree of insulation.

    Before making a purchase, be sure to ask your retailer or manufacturer about the R-value of your preferred treatment so that you’ll know how much insulation it will provide.  The higher the value, the more energy-efficient the product is.  Shoot for an R-value around 3.

     

    --by Terri Hall-Jackson Nov 5, 2009 11:07 am - source: Care2.com
    

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• Revitalizing Yorklyn - Brownfi

  • From: GreenDelaware
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    Key land agreements expected to lay groundwork for economic development, ecological restoration and additional state parkland at Auburn Heights Preserve
    
    A series of agreements to preserve and redevelop 99 acres of land near the Auburn Heights Preserve in northern Delaware is expected to boost economic development and ecological restoration in the scenic area, and add to state parkland at the preserve located in the Red Clay Valley near the Pennsylvania state line.
    
    Five separate land parcels surrounding Auburn Heights, a 315-acre preserve owned by DNREC’s Division of Parks and Recreation near the old mill town of Yorklyn, will be protected through a series of fee simple acquisitions, conservation easements and adaptive reuse of historic properties.
    
    “This is a ‘win, win, win’ for Delaware,” said Governor Jack Markell. “By making this brownfields site more attractive to new business ventures, it means revitalization for Yorklyn. This cooperation between government and the private sector is a model that serves Delaware well through innovative partnerships that create economic opportunities concurrent with enhanced recreational and cultural amenities.”
    
    CCS Investors Inc. was the successful bidder, through the NVF bankruptcy proceeding, in contracting for 99 acres owned by NVF. Agreements between CCS and DNREC will convey approximately 87 acres in fee simple ownership and conservation easements to the state for $2.6 million. The remaining 12 acres will be redeveloped by CCS and historic structures restored to create mixed use opportunities that will include commercial, residential and park development. Possibilities for development may include commercial office space, museum space, retail shops, art studios and restaurants.
    
    DNREC is working with the Federal Emergency Management Agency to secure a Flood Mitigation Assistance Grant to pay about 75 percent of the total $2.6 million cost of the project. The grant application was submitted to FEMA last week and an award is expected to be announced next year. The remaining funding is expected to come from the Delaware Open Space Program, private foundations and conservation organizations. The area has been subject to severe flooding in recent years, resulting in significant economic impact.
    
    The agreements were initiated by DNREC’s Division of Parks and Recreation and made possible through an unprecedented partnership among Parks, the Division of Air and Waste Management’s Site Investigation and Restoration Branch (SIRB), and the Divisions of Water Resources and Soil and Water Conservation. Partners outside DNREC include the Delaware Economic Development Office, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the court-appointed trustee for NVF, The Conservation Fund and CCS Investors Inc. The project was further bolstered by strong support from neighboring property owners, as well as conservation and recreational organizations in the Yorklyn area.
    
    The NVF Company produced vulcanized fiber and related products in Yorklyn until declaring bankruptcy in April 2009. DNREC’s cleanup of zinc contamination at the site and stream restoration work in the surrounding community is ongoing. While zinc does not present a human health hazard, it is harmful to the aquatic life in Red Clay Creek.
    
    The project will eventually include additional conservation easements and private contributions currently under negotiation with neighboring property owners. “DNREC is actively working to recreate wetlands and restore the area’s natural floodplain through flood mitigation and ecological restoration,” said DNREC Secretary Collin O’Mara. “This will ultimately reduce the area’s historic flooding problems while continuing to improve the quality of the area’s soil and water.”
    
    State officials also plan changes designed to make the area more attractive to tourism. Plans are to create a network of public trails for hikers, bicyclists, equestrians and steam car enthusiasts, by connecting the existing Auburn Heights Preserve to the nearby Oversee Farm, also owned by the state.
    
    The Auburn Heights Preserve, part of the Delaware State Parks system, is home to the historic Marshall estate, which is managed through a partnership between Delaware State Parks and the Friends of Auburn Heights Preserve. The Friends group owns a world-class collection of operating vintage steam cars, including 14 Stanley Steamers and the miniature Auburn Valley Railroad.
    
    
    -- source -News from the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control, Nov. 4, 2009, Vol. 39, No. 437, For more information contact Matt Chesser, Delaware State Parks, 302-739-9235; or Beth Shockley, Public Affairs, 302-739-9902.
    

     

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• Clean Energy and Climate Polic

  • From: GreenDelaware
  • Description:

    New analysis shows state-by-state economic effects of clean energy and climate legislation
    
    Washington – Comprehensive clean energy legislation would create up to 1.9 million new jobs, increase yearly household income by up to $1,175 and boost annual GDP by up to $111 billion by 2020, according to new research by the University of Illinois, Yale University and the University of California. Using new modeling and the latest economic data, these findings also show that clean energy legislation would limit pollution and create incentives to drive large-scale investments in clean energy and energy efficiency.
    
    “This analysis confirms that clean energy and climate legislation can strengthen our economy and create jobs,” said Diane Doucette, climate campaign director for Environmental Entrepreneurs. “America needs to move forward with this legislation to drive investment in clean energy technology, cut carbon pollution and make America a leader for the 21st century.”
    
    With a new state-of-the-art forecasting model, called EAGLE, the study provides detailed estimates of the economic implications in each state of climate and energy policies currently under consideration in Congress. The study models a declining cap on carbon emissions, coupled with standards and investments in renewable energy, and both moderate and aggressive implementation of energy efficiency.
    These results are consistent with studies done by U.S. government agencies – such as the Environmental Protection Agency, Congressional Budget Office, and the Department of Energy – that show strong economic growth with comprehensive energy and climate legislation, especially when combined with strong energy efficiency policies.
    
    To see state-by-state fact sheets and a link to the full report, go to: www.E2.org/jobs
    
    About the study:
    The Environmental Assessment in General Equilibrium (EAGLE) model was developed at the University of California in collaboration with the University of Illinois and Yale University. It details patterns of supply, demand, employment, incomes, resource allocation, energy use, and emissions across the nation and within each of the 50 United States. Using a general equilibrium framework, the model captures both direct impacts and the extensive economy-wide indirect effects of climate and energy policies. The EAGLE model has been peer reviewed and technical documentation is available on request.
    
    About E2:
    Environmental Entrepreneurs (E2) is the independent business voice for the environment. E2 is a national community of individual business leaders who advocate for good environmental policy while building economic prosperity. Learn more at: www.E2.org
    
    --October 26, 2009 -- E2.org

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• Industrial Energy Efficiency P

  • From: GreenDelaware
  • Description:

    Industrial Energy Efficiency Projects
    
    WASHINGTON, DC— Energy Secretary Steven Chu announced today that the Department of Energy is awarding more than $155 million in funding under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act for 41 industrial energy efficiency projects across the country.  These awards include funding for industrial combined heat and power systems, district energy systems for industrial facilities, and grants to support technical and financial assistance to local industry.  The industrial sector uses more than 30 percent of U.S. energy and is responsible for nearly 30 percent of U.S. carbon emissions.
    
    “To remain globally competitive, American industry needs to be energy efficient. The funding for industrial energy efficiency technologies announced today will support a robust American industrial sector and help to usher in a clean energy economy,” said Secretary Chu.  “Many companies already realize that improving efficiency saves money while helping the environment.  These projects will make energy efficiency technologies more widely available, cutting energy use and reducing carbon pollution across the country.”
    
    Nine projects announced today will promote the use of combined heat and power, district energy systems, waste energy recovery systems, and energy efficiency initiatives in hospitals, utilities, and industrial sites.  Combined Heat and Power and District Energy Systems generate both the heat and power needed for industrial processes on-site, instead of using electricity from the grid, and can be nearly twice as efficient as conventional heat and power production. These 9 awards – totaling approximately $150 million – will be leveraged with $634 million in private industry cost share for a total project value of up to $785 million.  These industrial efficiency projects will result in almost 14 trillion Btu in estimated energy savings, which is equivalent to over 112 million gallons of gasoline per year.
     
    The remaining 32 awards will provide local technical support for the industrial sector through university-based Industrial Assessment Centers, state agencies, regional partnerships, and a national technical assistance provider.  This funding will enable DOE’s Industrial Technologies Program to provide technical and financial support for local businesses and manufacturing facilities to save energy and reduce their energy costs, obtain financing to realize significant gains in efficiency and productivity, and save and create manufacturing and industrial sector jobs across the country.
     
    These 32 projects are an extension of DOE’s successful Save Energy Now initiative, which provides plant energy assessments and technical assistance to energy intensive industrial facilities.  Since the program’s inception in 2006, more than 2,300 assessments have been completed.  Over 1,500 industrial facilities implemented the identified energy measures, which have saved $218 million, 35 trillion Btu and 2.3 million metric tons of carbon dioxide each year.
    
    The projects announced today are selections for financial award. The final details for each project award are subject to final contract negotiations between DOE and the grantee.
    
    Today’s awards include:
    
    Industrial Technologies ($149.3 million total)
    
        * Texas Medical Center Central Heating and Cooling Services Company
        * Seattle Steam Company
        * Rhode Island LFG Genco, LLC
        * Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.
        * Ridgewood Renewable Power, LLC
        * ArcelorMittal USA
        * Verso Paper Corporation
        * The Dow Chemical Company
        * Clean Tech Partners
    
    Industrial Assessment Centers ($1.87 million total)
    
        * Bradley University
        * Georgia Institute of Technology
        * Lehigh University
        * Mississippi State University
        * North Carolina State University
        * Oklahoma State University
        * San Diego State
        * Tennessee Technological University
        * Texas A&M University
        * University of Alabama
        * University of Dayton
        * University of Delaware
        * University of Louisiana at Lafayette
        * University of Michigan
        * West Virginia University
    
    State Agencies ($3.84 million total, approximately $350,000 awarded to each state)
    
        * Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs
        * Idaho Office of Energy Resources
        * Kentucky Department for Energy Development and Independence
        * Louisiana State Energy
        * Maryland Energy Administration
        * Minnesota Department of Commerce
        * Mississippi Development Authority-Energy Division
        * New Jersey Industrial Energy Program
        * Ohio Energy Office, Ohio Department of Development
        * Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection
        * Wisconsin’s Office of Energy Independence
    
    Regional Partnerships ($2.5 million total, $500,000 awarded per region)
    
        * Energy Resources Division of the Georgia Environmental Facilities Authority along with Georgia, Tennessee, and North Carolina
        * Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources and the Center for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy at the University of Massachusetts (CEERE)
        * Illinois State Energy Office
        * Washington Department of Community Trade and Economic Development
        * West Virginia Department of Energy
    
    National Technical Assistance Provider ($1.4 million)
    
        * Oak Ridge Partnership for Industrial Energy Efficiency
    
    Read more information about the grant selections. 
    
    To learn more about industrial energy efficiency efforts at the DOE, visit the Industrial Technologies Program Web site.

     

    ---Nov. 3, 2009 -- source DOE website

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• Commercial Property Marketing

  • From: GreenDelaware
  • Description:

    Green Paradigm Institute – Commercial Property Marketing Exchange

    
    

    Participate in a 90-minute coordinated marketing exchange on Wednesday, 4 Nov 2009, for REALTORS®
    
    Hosted by Joseph Scarpa, LEED AP, Green, EcoBroker, e-PRO, Broker of Record for Green Paradigm Realty LLC
    
    $10 at the door - Register now at www.GreenParadigmInstitute.com
    
    Wednesday, November 4, 2009       8:30 am –  10:30 am   
    
    Light Breakfast provided by Green Grille       (Program starts promptly at 9:00 am)
    
    Why:  Expose your client’s commercial property to other Commercial REALTORS®.  Find commercial properties for your client.  Open discussion on marketing of green properties.
    
    Where: Energy Freedom Pioneers Eco-Industrial Park (Bldg 322)
    300 Route 130, Pedricktown NJ 08067-0420
    Salem County - six miles south of Commodore Barry Bridge | six miles north of Delaware Memorial Bridge
    
    How:  Bring 20 copies one-page sheet to share with all attendees.  Bring several full marketing packages to share with those specifically interested.
    
    Must be a REALTOR® to attend!
    
    RSVP:   RSVP@GreenParadigmInstitute.com  or  www.GreenParadigmInstitute.com
    
    Promotional Flyer and Agenda for above event available at http://www.GreenParadigmInstitute.com/archives/
    
    Joseph Scarpa, LEED AP, GREEN, EcoBroker, e-PRO
    Green Paradigm Institute – Tomorrow’s Real Estate Education SM
    Green Paradigm Realty LLC – Tomorrow’s Real Estate Experience SM
    Energy Freedom Pioneers Eco-Industrial Park – Bldg 322
    322 Artillery Ave (Use “300 Route 130” for GPS)
    PO Box 420
    Pedricktown NJ 08067-0420
    856 981 2973
    856 385-7061 (green fax)
    JScarpa@GreenParadigmRealty.com
    
    
    Green Paradigm Realty LLC is a real estate brokerage and advisory firm specializing in green building, renewable energies, and sustainable development.
    
    Visit www.GreenParadigmInstitute.com on first Wednesday’s of the month (check web site often for course topics, directions, and times).

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• First Federal Offshore Renewab

  • From: GreenDelaware
  • Description:

    Delaware Hosts First Federal Offshore Renewable Energy Task Force Meeting
    
    LEWES, Del., Oct. 29 – Today, the State of Delaware became the first state in the nation to host a U.S. Department of the Interior Minerals Management Service offshore renewable energy Task Force meeting. The Task Force will facilitate the coordination of commercial leases for offshore renewable energy on the Outer Continental Shelf. Representatives from federal, state, local and tribal governments met to review goals and objectives and develop a Charter for the Task Force’s purpose and implementation.
    
    Governor Jack Markell appointed Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control Secretary Collin O’Mara to lead the state’s delegation to the Task Force after receiving a request from the Minerals Management Service.
    
    “Delaware is positioned to lead the nation in deploying the substantial offshore wind resource and moving towards a clean energy future,” said Governor Markell.  “We must work closely with our federal partners to ensure that bureaucratic delays do not slow the development of this critical resource in our efforts to maximize the economic, public health and environmental benefits for all Delawareans.”
    
    "Delaware stands ready to chart a new course for the country in the effort to transition to clean, renewable energy which will strengthen our economy, enhance our national security, and confront the growing challenges from climate change,” said Secretary O’Mara.  “Working closely with the federal Minerals Management Service, through the first such task force in the country, is a critical step to ensuring an extremely efficient process to develop Delaware's unique offshore renewable energy resource is used in the near future."
    
    Delaware is a national leader among all states in its consideration of adding offshore renewable energy to its portfolio of power generation resources. Since the Delaware General Assembly passed House Bill 6 in April 2006 directing Delmarva Power to contract with new power resources to guarantee a stable process for electricity, Delaware has achieved several milestones, including: the General Assembly’s amendment in July 2007 to the renewable Portfolio Standard  requiring that 20 percent of the state’s electricity come from renewable sources by the year 2019; the selection of Bluewater Wind LLC’s proposal to construct an offshore wind facility in response to Delmarva Power’s November 2006 Request for Proposals for new electricity generation capacity; and the execution of a 25-year Power Purchase Agreement in July 2008 between Delmarva Power and Bluewater Wind LLC for 200 megawatts of power from an offshore wind facility proposed on the Outer Continental Shelf offshore of Rehoboth Beach. As a result of this progress,
    Delaware is widely recognized as the likely home of the first offshore wind development in North America.
    
    On April 22, 2009, President Barack Obama announced that the Minerals Management Service (MMS) finalized the framework for renewable energy generation on the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS).  The framework establishes a MMS program to issue leases, easements, and rights-of-way for orderly, safe, and environmentally responsible renewable energy development activities, such as the siting and construction of offshore wind facilities on the OCS.  The MMS is planning to consider a commercial leasing process offshore of Delaware and anticipates initiating this process in the coming months. MMS leased offshore lands to Bluewater Wind to install a meteorological and environmental monitoring tower this past spring.
    
    Delaware’s Task Force is comprised of federal representatives from: MMS; the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration; the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency; the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; the Army Corps of Engineers; and the U.S. Coast Guard and state representatives from: the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control; the Department of State; the Governor’s Office; the Public Service Commission; the Comptroller Generals’ Office;  the Office of Management and Budget; the University of Delaware; local governmental representatives from Rehoboth and Dewey Beaches; the Lenape Indian Tribe of Delaware; and the Nanticoke Indian Tribe.
    
    -- Oct. 29, 2009, Vol. 39, No. 433 - News from the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control.
    
    For more information contact Sarah Cooksey, Delaware Coastal Program Administrator, 302-739-9823; or Melanie Rapp, Public Affairs, 302-739-9902.

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• DE Striving to make TOP 10

  • From: GreenDelaware
  • Description:

    DELAWARE ANSWERS CHALLENGE TO MAKE ENERGY EFFICIENCY ‘TOP 10’
    
    New Report shows state energy efficiency ranking improves; SEU spotlights connection to new jobs, and improvements in the economy and environment
    
    Delaware was designated one of the “most improved” states in an energy efficiency scorecard released by the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE).  While good news, Sen. Harris McDowell, co-chair of the Sustainable Energy Utility’s (SEU) Energize Delaware said the state must and can do much better.
    
    “Energy efficiency and renewable energy sources are the gateway to creating more new jobs, reviving the economy, and improving the environment,” said McDowell, who welcomed the challenge from Gov. Markell to move higher in the report’s rankings. “Delaware is in a race to the ACEEE report card’s ‘top ten’ and we can do it.”
    
    Now in its second month the SEU’s Energize Delaware program is a one-stop resource to help Delawareans save money by cutting energy waste and tapping clean energy sources like solar, wind, and geothermal. The SEU’s Energize Delaware aims to reduce energy consumption by 30 percent by 2015, cut CO2 emissions by 33 percent by 2020, and create thousands of new jobs.
    
    According to the 2009 State Energy Efficiency Scorecard released this week each of the 50 states were ranked in six categories to measure their efforts to make the most of energy efficiency as the first, best, and cheapest way to realize savings, meet demand and foster economic growth. Delaware moved up from 32 to 20 since last year’s report, the most improved of any other state.
    
    Sen. McDowell noted that the path to the top ten ranking is well marked. Per capita Delaware uses more energy than any of its neighboring states and pays more for its energy.
    
    Programs offering residents and businesses the opportunity to save money and energy include the SEU’s “Energize Delaware” Appliance Rebate Program, which provides rebates ranging from $25-$100 for ENERGY STAR qualified refrigerators, freezers, clothes washers and dehumidifiers. A rebate form can be downloaded at www.energizedelaware.org.  More programs are scheduled to roll out in the coming months, including a commercial and industrial lighting incentive program, renewable energy grants for homeowners and businesses, and community-level and home performance initiatives to maximize and combine renewable energy and efficiency.
    
    Several state and municipal governments are studying Delaware’s comprehensive approach to achieving significant energy and dollar savings, job creation, and improvements to the environment.

    -----------------

    Energize Delaware is an initiative of the Delaware Sustainable Energy Utility (SEU), a unique nonprofit organization created to foster a sustainable energy future for the state. Under the program banner of Energize Delaware, residents and businesses in Delaware will have a single point of contact for education, resources and programs that will include low and no‐cost steps to save thousands on energy bills, boost the economy and improve the environment through new clean energy sources. The Energize Delaware programs will focus on conservation, efficiencies and the use of renewable energy sources, like solar, wind and geothermal. www.energizedelaware.org

     

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• Green Confidence Index

  • From: GreenDelaware
  • Description:

    The U.S. Green Confidence Index is Here!
    
    Americans are skeptical of scams and price gouging, and they want viable green options. Their confidence in elected leaders and manufacturers on environmental responsibility is shaping the green marketplace. Until now, however, this confidence has been elusive to track.
    
    Welcome to the U.S. Green Confidence Index. The Green Confidence Index gauges Americans’ attitudes and confidence in elected leaders as well as manufacturers on environmental responsibility. It also measures consumers’ own understanding of issues and willingness to make green purchasing choices.
    
    This is the first comprehensive monthly tracking of consumer trends around environmental responsibility, information availability, and purchase history and intent. Earthsense is proud to conduct the Green Confidence Survey for this industry changing measurement.
    
    Earthsense has collaborated with two leading companies to create the Index: GreenBiz.com and Survey Sampling International. GreenBiz.com produces industry research reports and events on the greening of mainstream business. (They published Earthsense’s paper, “The Corporate Reality of Consumer Perceptions,” in February.) Survey Sampling International powers the Index by supplying survey panelists, 2,500 of whom complete this tracking study online every month.

    

    “Americans’ attitudes about how they view environmental problems and solutions are complex and dynamic,” says Joel Makower, executive editor of GreenBiz.com and chairman of Greener World Media. “For years, periodic surveys have tried to capture snapshots of those attitudes. By surveying monthly, the Green Confidence Index will reveal real-time shifts and nuances marketers don’t usually see.”
    
    The Index is calculated using consumers’ responses in three areas:
    
        * Responsibility: how leaders and institutions are perceived to be addressing
          environmental issues (weight: 40%)
        * Information: the adequacy of information available to make informed decisions (20%)
        * Purchasing: past and future purchases of green products (40%)
    
    Initial Index Results
    
    The Index was set at 100 in July 2009, so subsequent scores above 100 reflect positive trends, with the reverse true for those below 100. The inaugural report includes results from the first three months of surveying: the Green Confidence Index currently stands at 103.8, showing a modest upward trend largely due to “big ticket” purchasing.
    
    Also, based on past and future purchase trends captured in the survey, initial results suggest that American consumers are ready to increase their purchases of environmental products and services as the U.S. economy emerges from recession, though premium prices for green goods remain a barrier for many.
    Green Companies
    
    In addition to the regular monthly tracking of attitudes and habits, the Green Confidence Index tracks Americans’ perceptions of companies: “What company, if any, do you think of as being ‘green’?” (This is an unaided question, meaning no list is provided. Respondents simply name companies that are front of mind.) In the September report, Clorox and Walmart loomed far ahead of other brands or companies, followed by (in alphabetical order) General Electric, Johnson & Johnson, Procter & Gamble, SC Johnson, Toyota, and Whole Foods. In all, more than 300 companies received at least one mention – though it was striking that 64% of consumers could not name a single green company. (We’re looking forward to seeing how much and how fast this will change.)
    Who do You Trust?
    
    The Green Confidence Survey delves into other questions useful for understanding the Index. An important one asks about the sources of information consumers use and trust when they “need information about environmental issues to guide decisions” about shopping, investing, and voting. The answer? They have little use for corporate blogs and websites, which were also deemed the least-trustworthy source of information. Friends, relatives, and colleagues were the highest-rated sources, with consumer ratings and reviews the second most-trusted source. “Social media plays a big role for companies looking to introduce new, green products to consumers. Since getting on the radar screen is often a huge hurdle for niche companies, anything that helps consumers share experiences – creating a “pull” rather than a “push” – will help a brand take root,” says Wendy Cobrda, president of Earthsense. “But there’s a flip side, of course: the Internet provides unprecedented connection to consumers who need nothing more than a Twitter account to broadcast a perceived right or wrong.”
    
    The green marketplace is poised for growth as the recession rebounds, and the Green Confidence Index will be its barometer with monthly tracking to gauge real-time market shifts. The Green Confidence Survey is a companion to Earthsense’s Eco-Insights survey which is produced twice a year with coverage of 140+ products, 84 retail chains and 30,000 consumers. Eco-Insights data provide in-depth insights into the motivations and barriers that drive green adoption – along with information about consumers who want to get on board.
    
    “Manufacturers and retailers are increasingly aware of the green gap, where consumers’ behaviors and purchases often lag behind intentions, due in part to marketplace confusion about what makes products green,” says Earthsense Chief Research Officer Amy Hebard. “As better information and clearer standards evolve, the Green Confidence Index will be a valuable monitor of progress in communications and how this translates into buying decisions.”

     

    --source: EarthSense.com

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• Former GM Plant to Build Affor

  • From: GreenDelaware
  • Description:

    

    WILMINGTON, DE -- Oct. 27, 2009 – Fisker Automotive has selected the Wilmington Assembly plant in Wilmington Delaware to build affordable plug-in hybrid cars.
    
    Fisker executives made the announcement inside the dormant facility today, joined by Vice President Joe Biden, Delaware Governor Jack Markell and other state officials.
    
    The plant will support Fisker Automotive’s Project NINA, the development and build of an affordable, family-oriented plug-in hybrid sedan costing about $39,900 after federal tax credits.
    
    Production is scheduled to begin in late 2012.  Fisker Automotive anticipates Project NINA will ultimately create or support 2,000 factory jobs and more than 3,000 vendor and supplier jobs by 2014, as production ramps up to full capacity of 75,000-100,000 vehicles per year.  More than half will be exported, the largest percentage of any domestic manufacturer.
    
    The modernized Wilmington Assembly plant was selected for its size, production capacity, world-class paint facilities, access to shipping ports, rail lines and available skilled workforce.
    
    “This is a major step toward establishing America as a leader of advanced vehicle technology,” said Henrik Fisker, CEO.  “Wilmington is perfect for high quality, low volume production and will soon be the proud builder of world-class, fuel-efficient Fisker plug-in hybrids.”
    
    Fisker Automotive has signed a letter of intent with Motors Liquidation Co. (MLC), formerly known as General Motors Corp. to purchase the Wilmington plant for $18 million after a routine four-month evaluation period.
    
    An additional $175 million will be spent to refurbish and retool the factory over the next three years.
    
    Funds will come from a conditional loan of $528.7M the Department of Energy awarded the company in September.
    
    The loan is part of the $25B Advanced Technology Vehicle Manufacturing loan program (ATVM) appropriated by Congress in 2007 to help the United States lead in the development and manufacturing of advanced technology vehicles.
    
    The company’s first car, the Fisker Karma, will be the world’s first production plug-in hybrid when it goes on sale this summer at retailers in the U.S. and Europe.
    
    Fisker plug-in hybrid cars will help remove the country’s dependence on foreign energy by eliminating the need for 42 million barrels of oil by 2016.  They will also offset 8 million tons of carbon dioxide emissions.
    
    “With our close-knit business, government, and educational communities and our potential to respond rapidly to new opportunities, today's announcement is a testament to what works best in Delaware.  Fisker is a perfect partner in shaping Delaware's economic future, and we are thrilled that the vehicle that can reshape the automobile industry will be built here in Delaware, by Delaware workers.” said Governor Jack Markell (D-Delaware).
    
    Gary Casteel, UAW director responsible for the plant, said,  "It gives me great pride to give UAW Local 435 workers the opportunity to partner with Fisker Automotive to create a greener America by building a plug-in hybrid car that will compete globally."

    
    
    Watch the Video

     

    ABOUT FISKER AUTOMOTIVE, INC.
    Fisker Automotive is a privately owned, premium American car company with a vision to lead the automotive industry into the next-generation of automobiles with high-end design expertise and eco-friendly powertrain technology.  Global headquarters are in Irvine, California, USA.
    
    The company was created in 2007 to leverage the design capabilities of Fisker Coachbuild, LLC, founded by auto design veterans Henrik Fisker and Bernhard Koehler, and the PHEV powertrain capabilities of Quantum Fuel Systems Technologies Worldwide, Inc. (NASDAQ-QTWW), a major Tier 1 supplier of clean vehicle technologies to the automotive OEMs.  Previously, Fisker, CEO, was design director for Aston Martin and president and CEO of BMW’s DesignworksUSA.  Koehler, COO, led operations for Ford’s Global Advanced Design Studio and created concept cars for Aston Martin, MINI and BMW.
    
    ABOUT WILMINGTON ASSEMBLY
    The Wilmington Assembly plant was built by General Motors in1947.  Over the years it has been expanded to 3.2 million square feet on 142 acres of land.  It includes an on-site powerhouse and waste water treatment facility.  More than 8.5 million cars have been manufactured there, including the Pontiac Streamliner, original Chevrolet Impala, 1997-1999 Chevrolet Malibu, Saturn L-Series and the Pontiac Solstice/Saturn Sky/Opel GT roadsters.  Production capacity is 300,000 cars per year.  The plant and its workforce have received many awards for excellence in quality, production and safety.

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• 9th Annual Native Plant Sale

  • From: GreenDelaware
  • Description:

    St. Jones Reserve Open House on Nov. 7
    Event includes the Delaware Native Plant Society’s Annual Plant Sale
     
    The St. Jones Reserve will host a free Open House and the Delaware Native Plant Society’s 9th Annual Native Plant Sale from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Nov. 7. The Open House and plant sale will be held rain or shine at the Reserve located at 818 Kitts Hummock Road near Dover.
     
    Held every year on the grounds of the St. Jones Reserve, the Delaware Native Plant Society’s Annual Plant Sale is a much anticipated event that offers beautiful native plants for sale for home landscapes. Native trees, shrubs, and perennial plants, including ferns, cardinal flower, pawpaw, and other difficult-to- find plants, will be available to purchase at exceptionally low prices. For the best selection, buyers are encouraged to arrive early.
     
    According to Delaware National Estuarine Research Reserve manager Kimberly Cole, new this year, the Reserve will hold an Open House and invite the public to tour the buildings and grounds and enjoy autumn’s splendor on the estuary. “We added the Open House to introduce the community to the many opportunities that the St. Jones Reserve has to offer.” said Cole. “We welcome families and people of all ages to our view our coastal stewardship exhibits, see science in action and experience the natural beauty of the Reserve,” said Cole.
     
    With activities planned for all ages, visitors can:
    
        * Tour the St. Jones Center for Estuarine Studies, a building dedicated to understanding Delaware’s coastal areas, including its research laboratory, exhibits and classrooms;
        * watch as real-time weather and wave conditions are reported to the internet from sensors at the Reserve and in the Delaware Bay;
        * explore the amazing creatures that live in our estuaries;
        * hear about the many ways that you can enjoy getting involved;
        * watch the video, Delaware’s Undiscovered Treasure, that features the Blackbird Creek Watershed near Townsend – one of the most beautiful and ecologically important areas in the state;
    
        * talk with researchers who explore our bays and learn about the Thank You Delaware Bay initiative;
        * test your Coastal IQ with the help of Google Earth;
        * take part in kids activities, walk the boardwalk trail, and more.
     
    "The Delaware Native Plant Society and the St. Jones Reserve share the same goals of protecting and conserving our native plants, and this event is a wonderful opportunity for us to work together to promote stewardship,” said Eric Zuelke, nursery manager for the Delaware Native Plant Society.
     
    Organized in 1998, the Delaware Native Plant Society, a non-profit organization, has a statewide membership and encourages the use of and works to preserve, conserve, restore, and propagate native plants and native plant communities in Delaware.
     
    Plants are grown in the Delaware Native Plant Society’s nursery from locally collected seed, have been donated by members, or have been rescued from sites scheduled for clearing and development. This is one of only a handful of sources for plants collected and grown in the Delmarva region. The sale is the society’s only fundraising event; all proceeds go back into nursery operations. For more information, visit www.delawarenativeplants.org.
    
    The Delaware National Estuarine Research Reserve (DNERR) was established in 1993 to promote the stewardship and understanding of Delaware’s coastal areas through science and education.  DNERR is a cooperative program between the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control, Division of Soil and Water Conservation, Delaware Coastal Programs and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. It is one of 27 National Estuarine Research Reserves across the country. For more information, visit http://www.swc.dnrec.delaware.gov/coastal/dnerr.
     
    --Oct. 22, 2009, Vol. 39, No. 426 - News from the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control.

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• Clean-Tech Forum

  • From: GreenDelaware
  • Description:

    First State Innovation's Clean-Tech Forum for Alternative Energy Entrepreneurs & Investors.

    Below is a complete list of sponsors. We appreciate their support: 
    
    

    • Acorn Energy
    • CMI Electric Inc.
    • The Delaware Emerging Technology Center: A Program of the Delaware Economic Development Office (DEDO)
    • Delaware Business Roundtable
    • Delaware Innovation Fund
    • Delaware State Chamber of Commerce
    • Early Stage East
    • The Emerging Enterprise Center at the New Castle County Chamber of Commerce
    • Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce
    • Laborers International of NA, Local 55
    • Mid-Atlantic Renewable Partners
      
    • New Jersey Technology Council
    • Pepper Hamilton LLP
    • Renewable Energy Business Network (REBN)
    • Select Greater Philadelphia
    • SolarDock

    Oct. 15, 2009 @ Chase Center on the Riverfront, Wilmington, DE

  • 4 weeks ago
  • Views: 31

• Clean-Tech Forum

  • From: GreenDelaware
  • Description:

    First State Innovation's Clean-Tech Forum for Alternative Energy Entrepreneurs & Investors.

    Below is a complete list of sponsors. We appreciate their support: 
    
    

    • Acorn Energy
    • CMI Electric Inc.
    • The Delaware Emerging Technology Center: A Program of the Delaware Economic Development Office (DEDO)
    • Delaware Business Roundtable
    • Delaware Innovation Fund
    • Delaware State Chamber of Commerce
    • Early Stage East
    • The Emerging Enterprise Center at the New Castle County Chamber of Commerce
    • Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce
    • Laborers International of NA, Local 55
    • Mid-Atlantic Renewable Partners
      
    • New Jersey Technology Council
    • Pepper Hamilton LLP
    • Renewable Energy Business Network (REBN)
    • Select Greater Philadelphia
    • SolarDock

    Oct. 15, 2009 @ Chase Center on the Riverfront, Wilmington, DE

  • 4 weeks ago
  • Views: 23
  • Not yet rated

• Clean-Tech Forum

  • From: GreenDelaware
  • Description:

    First State Innovation's Clean-Tech Forum for Alternative Energy Entrepreneurs & Investors.

    Below is a complete list of sponsors. We appreciate their support: 
    
    

    • Acorn Energy
    • CMI Electric Inc.
    • The Delaware Emerging Technology Center: A Program of the Delaware Economic Development Office (DEDO)
    • Delaware Business Roundtable
    • Delaware Innovation Fund
    • Delaware State Chamber of Commerce
    • Early Stage East
    • The Emerging Enterprise Center at the New Castle County Chamber of Commerce
    • Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce
    • Laborers International of NA, Local 55
    • Mid-Atlantic Renewable Partners
      
    • New Jersey Technology Council
    • Pepper Hamilton LLP
    • Renewable Energy Business Network (REBN)
    • Select Greater Philadelphia
    • SolarDock

    Oct. 15, 2009 @ Chase Center on the Riverfront, Wilmington, DE

  • 4 weeks ago
  • Views: 13
  • Not yet rated