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GE Spotlights Smart Grid Projects for Utilities, Industry and 'Net Zero Energy' Homes

Leslie Guevarra — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 08:35:00 -0700

General Electric says it's uniquely positioned to handle smart grid opportunities and challenges. On Tuesday, the company took the wraps off a series of developments to showcase smart grid -- and GE's -- capabilities. The projects include work with utilities and businesses in Maui, Canada and New Zealand and networked appliances and technology for "net zero energy" homes.

How is the USGBC Like Google?

Shari Shapiro — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 11:13:00 -0700

The USGBC recently announced that it is incorporating energy and water usage reporting requirements as a precondition for achieving LEED V3, and Google said it will debut a cloud-based operating system in the next 18 months. Both entities rolled out good ideas perhaps before their time.

Cisco Debuts the 'Mediator' to Connect and Control Smart Buildings

GreenerBuildings Staff — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 05:25:00 -0700

Networking giant Cisco has rolled out its Building Mediator -- the firm's bid to connect and control smart buildings and their automation systems in order to better manage energy.

DOD Enlists GE for $2M Project to Make Military Base a Smart Microgrid Model

Leslie Guevarra — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 23:14:00 -0700

General Electric, the world's largest industrial company, will work with the Department of Defense in a $2 million project to transform the Twentynine Palms facility, the world's largest Marine Corps base, into a model smart microgrid system.

Fairmont Hotels Power Up Green IT Program

GreenerComputing Staff — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 17:48:00 -0700

Fairmont Hotels & Resorts are adding eco-friendly IT strategies to the company's Green Partnership environmental program and developing power management, procurement and recycling plans for their facilities.

Mitsubishi Electric Spotlights Products that May Qualify for Stimulus Money

GreenBiz Staff — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 12:53:00 -0700

Since the passage of the stimulus legislation in February, a number of firms providing energy efficiency products and services have positioned their offerings in terms of their potential to qualify for tax credits under the Recovery Act. Mitsubishi's U.S. operations is among the latest company to do so, listing a diverse array of products.

Technology for a Low-Carbon Future

ClimateBiz Staff — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 16:15:00 -0700

This report from the Climate Group finds that scaling up energy efficiency and renewable energy while avoiding deforestation can dramatically reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the short term, and are much-needed steps to achieve global climate goals.

Obama, Chu Unveil New Lighting Rules and Release $346M for Energy Efficient Buildings

GreenerBuildings Staff — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 14:06:00 -0700

With Energy Secretary Steven Chu by his side, U.S. President Barack Obama detailed stricter new lighting standards and promised the swift release of $346 million in Recovery Act funds to boost energy efficiency in new and existing commercial buildings and homes.

Symantec's Oregon Site Lands LEED Gold Rating

GreenerComputing Staff — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 14:00:00 -0700

Symantec’s Oregon facility has been certified as a green building with a gold rating under Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design standards. It's the second time that the firm has earned the ranking for one of its sites.

Scientific Conservation Brings a New Dimension to Energy Efficiency in Buildings

Leslie Guevarra — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 06:53:00 -0700

Berkeley firm Scientific Conservation Inc. broadly goes to market today with its SCIwatch software-as-a-service solution -- a first in Automated Continuous Commissioning that its creators say enables building owners and operators to cut as much as 25 percent of annual energy spending by tackling a condition called energy drift.

Tapping into the Value of Being Virtually Green

Rob Watson — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 01:21:00 -0700

Certain principles can be broadly applied across industries. Take the principle of load diversity and full capacity utilization. This principle is used to great effect in the power sector, data centers -- and in some instances, buildings.

Sears Tower Unveils Plans for a $350M Green Facelift and a 'Net-Zero' Hotel

GreenerBuildings Staff — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 00:08:00 -0700

The owners of Sears Tower plan to ratchet up the efficiency strategies at the tallest building in the Western Hemisphere, cut electricity use by 80 percent and construct a net-zero energy luxury hotel next door.

Tracking the Stimulus Spending with Recovery.org

Marc Gunther — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 12:44:00 -0700

GreenBiz.com's senior writer Marc Gunther speaks with Eric Gillespie, the CIO of Onvia about how his firm's website, Recovery.org, is helping companies track federal stimulus spending -- and get a slice of the pie.

Baxter's Green Practices Yield $11.9 Million in Environmental Savings and Income

GreenBiz Staff — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 15:40:00 -0700

Water conservation, energy efficiency, retrofits and other eco-friendly initiatives yielded Baxter International Inc. a total of $11.9 million in environmental income, savings and cost avoidance for 2008, the diversified healthcare products firm said in its latest sustainability report.

Green Economy Investments Bring 300 Percent More Jobs, Reports Find

Matthew Wheeland — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 12:13:00 -0700

Two new reports on the impacts of moving to a low-carbon economy show putting money toward energy efficiency, building retrofits and renewable energy projects can create 1.7 million new jobs, significantly more than the same investment in fossil fuel industries.