Stories About Energy/Utilities
Found 1461 stories. Page 70 of 74.
Celtic Renewables Proving That Whisky Can Actually Help You Drive
WASTE NOT - Edinburgh-based start-up Celtic Renewables is turning waste matter from whisky production into a “next-generation biofuel” — biobutanol. The whisky distillation process is tremendously wasteful; only ten percent of what comes from a distillery is consumed. The majority of the by-products — known as draff (a residue of grains: barley, rye, wheat and sometimes corn) and pot ale (residue leftover in casks) — are generally discarded, wasting a valuable resource and affecting the distillery’s bottom line. If the new process proves effective, using this renewed resource could result in a $90 million dollar value for the biofuel industry.
More than 300,000 Business Leaders Voice Support for Obama's Climate Plans
LEADERSHIP - The American Sustainable Business Council (ASBC), which represents more than 165,000 businesses nationwide and more than 300,000 entrepreneurs, executives, managers and investors, has thrown its support behind President Obama’s recent announcement to introduce new limits to carbon emissions from power plants and other pro-environment measures.ASBC applauded President Obama’s plans to address greenhouse gas emissions and the growing economic uncertainties posed by climate change. The organization says climate change poses a serious threat to American businesses, such as disruptions to supply chains, increasing insurance premiums, structural damage from extreme weather events and rising energy and health care costs.
WindMade Introduces Product Label and Calls on Consumers to 'Show You Care'
MARKETING AND COMMS - The WindMade organization has launched the first global consumer label for products made with wind energy, according to a recent announcement.The WindMade Product Label can be applied to all products using a minimum share of 75 percent of renewable energy in their total electricity consumption, with wind power representing the largest share. The announcement says a cradle-to-gate approach was adopted, which means the label will cover the entire power consumption for all product components, from the extraction of the raw materials all the way to the product leaving the factory gate.
Lego Thinking: Key to Futureproofing Your Brand?
PRODUCT, SERVICE & DESIGN INNOVATION - Key to futureproofing is creating a brand that fulfills your customers' higher order needs — things such as meaning, authenticity, self-fulfillment and all those other wonderful aspirations at the top of Maslow’s pyramid.But what if your consumer finds him- or herself in flux, discovering a purchase that felt meaningful a short time ago suddenly seems, well, less so today? How can you keep up with this sort of rapidly evolving ‘higher order’ demand?With Lego thinking.
Sustainable Shipping Initiative Working to Take the Environmental Sting Out of 'Sea Miles'
BEHAVIOR CHANGE - Ninety percent of international trade travels by ship. And that comes with the type of carbon impact you would expect: The shipping industry’s carbon emissions currently account for 3-4% of global emissions and are expected to triple by 2050 if current practices continue unchanged.Shipping is a vital, global industry. Part or all of the clothes you’re wearing, the phone you use and the materials in the buildings you live and work in were most likely transported by ship for at least part of their journey to you. But with a carbon impact like its current one, the sustainability of the whole shipping industry could be in jeopardy. And that affects us all.
How to Jump-Start Behavior Change Around Energy Conservation
BEHAVIOR CHANGE - For many years of Pulse studies, when asked who they most blame for rising energy costs, respondents have said they most blame either 1) oil companies or 2) the U.S. government — with utilities much farther down the list.
GM, BMW Complete Successful Testing on DC Fast Charge Stations
PRODUCT, SERVICE & DESIGN INNOVATION - After several days of joint testing, General Motors and BMW AG engineers say they are confident that DC “Combo” Fast Charge stations from several suppliers will consistently allow an electric vehicle to take on an 80 percent charge in about 20 minutes.This industry-coordinated early confirmation of DC Fast Charge hardware and software will accelerate efforts to roll out SAE Combo DC Fast Charge infrastructure in the coming months, the announcement says. Some of the suppliers participating in the testing were ABB, Aker Wade, Eaton and IES.
Toyota Launches Initiative To Drive Environmental Awareness In U.S. Hispanic Community
MARKETING AND COMMS - Toyota has announced a program aimed at promoting environmental awareness in the Hispanic communities in Miami and Los Angeles while also providing the tools to continue on the path of going green.
Pure Strategies Partners With CDP To Help Companies Disclose Emissions, Reduce Climate Risks
MARKETING AND COMMS - U.S.-based sustainability consulting firm Pure Strategies this week announced a partnership with the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) to help companies that disclose emissions to CDP to minimize climate risks and impacts in their organizations, products and global supply chains.
Blue Box Cleaning Up Equipment, Bottom Lines for the Industrial Sector
CHEMISTRY, MATERIALS & PACKAGING - In the final week leading up to the Sustainable Brands Innovation Open (SBIO) finals presented by Target on June 5th, where the runner-up will be decided via live online public vote, we will feature daily articles introducing our semi-finalists. Today, meet Blue Box.Blue Box is positioning itself as an innovative method of cleaning industrial equipment with very little chemicals, at very low cost.
The Two Deficits, Part Three: The Root of the Conflict
MARKETING AND COMMS - This is the third in a series of posts that comprise Future 500 founder Bill Shireman's insightful essay, The Two Deficits, from the book Towards a New Agenda for America:
BMW i Poised to Redefine Sustainable Mobility
PRODUCT, SERVICE & DESIGN INNOVATION - The BMW brand arguably defines automobile performance, engineering and technology.
Efficiency Exchange Leading 'Charge' To Improve Supply Chain Sustainability from the Ground Up
SUPPLY CHAIN - In the final week leading up to the Sustainable Brands Innovation Open (SBIO) finals on June 5th, where the runner-up will be decided via live online public vote, we will feature daily articles introducing our semi-finalists. Today, meet Efficiency Exchange.
Kaiser Permanente To Pursue LEED Gold For All New Major Building Projects
CLEANTECH - Kaiser Permanente has announced it now will seek Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold certification for all new construction of hospitals, large medical offices and other major projects.
Alcoa Facility Saves 50% of Energy Used To Recycle Aluminum for Forged Wheels
THE NEXT ECONOMY - Alcoa yesterday announced a major expansion to the Wheel and Transportation Products casthouse at its Barberton, Ohio plant that is expected to cut in half the total amount of energy used to recycle aluminum for forged wheels, reducing greenhouse gases and increasing the overall efficiency and sustainability of the company's manufacturing process.
Report: American Electric Power, Duke Energy, Three Others Emit 25% of U.S. Electricity GHGs
CLEANTECH - American Electric Power, Duke Energy, FirstEnergy, Southern Company and Tennessee Valley Authority generate a quarter of all electric sector greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions; however, some of these producers have significantly reduced emissions in recent years, according to a recent Ceres report.
Shelton Group Hires Brooks Clark as Managing Editor
PRESS RELEASE - KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Shelton Group, the nation’s leading marketing communications firm entirely focused in the sustainability and energy efficiency sectors, announced today that it has added Brooks Clark as Managing Editor of Shelton Insights, the agency’s soon-to-be-launched, web-based news service. “This is an exciting move for us a company because we’re expanding our service offering and exploring more ways to share our insights,” said Suzanne Shelton, founder and CEO of Shelton Group. “With Brooks’ extensive writing and editing experience, I know he will do a great job in pioneering this initiative.”
Shelton Group Study Shows Decline in Energy-Efficient Product Purchases and Home Improvements
PRESS RELEASE - KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Shelton Group, the nation’s leading marketing communications firm entirely focused in the sustainability and energy efficiency sectors, announced today that its latest Utility Pulse study shows that energy-saving habits have declined in the last three years. The national poll shows decreases in many behaviors, including those listed below: • Replacing incandescent bulbs with energy-efficient CFLs or LEDs, down 13 percent • Adding sealing, caulking or weatherstripping, down 17 percent • Purchasing a higher-efficiency/ENERGY STAR qualified appliance, down 6 percent In addition, the survey found: • 50 percent of Americans still don’t unplug chargers and un-used appliances • 40 percent don’t use energy-saving thermostat settings
Puma, Microsoft Call For Forest Protection To Combat Climate Change at REDD+ Talks
WALKING THE TALK - Corporate leaders and experts on global warming and climate change policy came together on Earth Day in Sausalito, California for REDD+ Talks, an inaugural event focused on how emissions from deforestation contributes to global warming and how this will affect the business world.
Study: Grocery Delivery Services Can Reduce CO2 Emissions Up to 75%
PRODUCT, SERVICE & DESIGN INNOVATION - Grocery delivery services such as those provided by Safeway, FreshDirect, Amazon and Google can slash carbon dioxide emissions by 20 to 75 percent compared to individual household trips to the market, according to researchers at the University of Washington.
