Energy & Climate | Energy Efficiency | Greenbiz.com

AT&T to Switch to 2.6M LEDs in Signage, Save Millions

GreenBiz Staff — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 08:05:00 -0700

By swapping out the lighting on signs in 6,500 of its stores to an LED lighting system from GE, AT&T will save nearly 6 million kilowatt hours of electricity a year.

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.

Don't Leave Stimulus Money on the Table

Leanne Tobias — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 03:45:00 -0700

The deadline for local officials to apply for federal funding for energy efficiency and conservation projects is August 10, 2009; here's a quick primer on what's eligible and how to apply.

Efficiency Projects Save Texas Instruments $5.1M

GreenBiz Staff — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 15:36:00 -0700

The company's efforts trimmed energy use by 5 percent and water consumption by 7.3 percent, while overall greenhouse gas emissions shrank 2.8 percent.

IBM and Cisco to Help Amsterdam Become a 'Smart City'

GreenBiz Staff — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 05:00:00 -0700

IBM and Cisco will join Accenture to help the City of Amsterdam in its quest to become the European Union’s first “smart city.” The pilot project will serve as a testing ground to prove that smart grid technologies can better manage energy use and transmission while also reducing electricity outages and congestion.

Where Are All The Energy Star Slot Machines?

Steve Voien — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 00:48:00 -0700

Why has the U.S. gaming industry -- a $32 billion dollar sector -- been ignored by sustainability ranking and assessment organizations?

Planes, Trains, Hybrid Automobiles Keep UPS Trucking Toward Efficiency

ClimateBiz Staff — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 16:08:00 -0700

In its 2008 corporate sustainability report, UPS sets a hard target for emissions reductions in what it says is the world's ninth-largest airline, and lays out how a steady focus on efficiency is trimming the company's footprint.

Climate Corps: The Benefits of Monitoring Your Building’s Performance

Lindsay McCombs — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 11:34:00 -0700

With falling asset values and limited access to capital, many in the real estate industry are spending their time on the next best thing to doing deals: going green. Not only do energy and water efficient buildings have relatively low operating costs, asset managers report these buildings also have high occupancy rates, quick space absorption and proud tenants.

Climate Corps: A Little Information Goes a Long Way

Sarah Shapiro — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 07:01:00 -0700

It's well-known that information can make the difference in modifying behavior. Cisco is taking this concept to the operational level by installing Power Distribution Units on racks in data labs. PDUs don’t save energy themselves, but instead provide users with consumption and energy load information that can help users identify opportunities to improve efficiencies.

Efficiency, Renewables and Trees Vital to Global Climate Goals

ClimateBiz Staff — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 15:49:00 -0700

A new Climate Group report predicts that scaling up energy efficiency, renewable energy and deforestation prevention can deliver 70 percent of the global greenhouse gas emissions cuts needed by 2020.

IBM Reports Progress Toward CSR Goals

GreenBiz Staff — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 15:25:00 -0700

IBM made strides in reducing energy use, greenhouse gas emissions, material sent to landfill and hazardous waste, according to the company's latest corporate responsibility report.

Green-Collar Graduations Show the Promise of Stimulus Funds

Sarah Terry-Cobo — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 04:44:00 -0700

Funding from states and the federal government to spur the growth of green jobs is starting to pay off, and community colleges are graduating the first class of new green-collar workers. Plus: a national map of where job-training programs have begun.

PSE&G Launches $190M Customer Energy Efficiency Program

GreenBiz Staff — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 11:33:00 -0700

The new initiative expands on the company's nine-month-old project to conduct energy efficiency audits to hospitals, municipal buildings, businesses and residential customers.

Climate Corps: When the Low-Hanging Fruit Is Long, Long Gone

Christopher Anderson — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 09:39:00 -0700

Inexperience can be a tremendous asset when it provides the opportunity to look at a problem with fresh eyes. Asking the naive question may lead to initiatives that will save companies money while also reducing environmental impacts.

U.K. Targets SMBs For No-Interest Energy Efficiency Loans

ClimateBiz Staff — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 13:17:00 -0700

The Carbon Trust expanded eligibility of an interest-free loan program that will dole out £100m (US$165.6 million) over the next two years to help small- and medium-sized businesses replace old and inefficient equipment and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.