Environmental News BitsBrowsing environmental news sources so you don't have to. Contact Laura Barnes (lbarnes@istc.illinois.edu) with questions, comments, and suggestions.Adopt-a-Watt- September 16, 2008 Read the full story from The Environment Report. A new program gets businesses and groups to pay towns to switch to alternative energy. Lester Graham reports it&8217;s a little like an &8220;Adopt-A-Highway&8221; program. See also &8220;Program helps city lights to go green&8221; in the Detroit News.http://lib.wmrc.uiuc.edu/enb/2008/09/16/adopt-a-watt/ Canadas Take on Trash- September 16, 2008 A two-part series on recycling initiatives in Canada from The Environment Report. Part 1 covers Toronto&8217;s recycling program, while Part 2 looks at composing and recycling on Prince Edward Island.http://lib.wmrc.uiuc.edu/enb/2008/09/16/canadas-take-on-trash/ 2008 Great Lakes Building ReUse Conference- September 16, 2008 Buffalo ReUse and the Building Materials Reuse Association (BMRA) are co-sponsoring the first Great Lakes Building ReUse Conference, November 16 through 18, 2008 in Buffalo, New York. This will be the first regional conference on developing and implementing building deconstruction and other creative solutions to address problems and solutions surrounding vacant and abandoned structures. Featured presenters ...http://lib.wmrc.uiuc.edu/enb/2008/09/16/2008-great-lakes-building-reuse-conference/ Tweaking corn genes to boost biofuel yields- September 15, 2008 Read the full story at CleanTech. Researchers say modifying genes involved in cell-wall formation could increase biofuel outputs. Purdue University researchers are probing genes that control the tough cell walls of maize and switchgrass. The idea is simple: Genetically modify those genes so corn and switchgrass plants can produce more biomass, which leads to an abundance of sugars ...http://lib.wmrc.uiuc.edu/enb/2008/09/15/tweaking-corn-genes-to-boost-biofuel-yields/ Use Google Earth To See What Solar Panels Can Do For Your House- September 15, 2008 Read the full post at Triple Pundit. Fancy installing solar panels on your roof Check out what it&8217;s going to cost you first. A new calculator called RoofRay uses Google Earth to give you an idea what solar panels can do for your house.http://lib.wmrc.uiuc.edu/enb/2008/09/15/use-google-earth-to-see-what-solar-panels-can-do-f... Texas Enacts E-Waste Recycling Program- September 15, 2008 Read the full post at Triple Pundit. The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TECQ) has officially implemented the Computer Equipment Recycling Program for their state. The program will expand free electronic recycling options for consumers. The wording in the program shows that the commission means business. Manufacturer&8217;s must offer a take back program for their products ...http://lib.wmrc.uiuc.edu/enb/2008/09/15/texas-enacts-e-waste-recycling-program/ Taking a Bite out of Cements Global Warming Potential- September 15, 2008 Read the full post at Triple Pundit. Hardcore greenhouse gas (GHG) geeks will recall that cement is a huge source of greenhouse gas emissions, with approximately 1 ton of CO2 equivalent emitted into the atmosphere for every 1 ton of cement produced. Damn. Forget your carbon guilt from flying, people! Cement is responsible for 5% of ...http://lib.wmrc.uiuc.edu/enb/2008/09/15/taking-a-bite-out-of-cements-global-warming-potent... Green Roofed Bus Shelters = Dynamic Green Marketing- September 15, 2008 Read the full story in Triple Pundit. The New California Academy of Sciences (CAS) in San Francisco will open September 27th with a long awaited, Renzo Piano designed, 2.5 acre living roof undulating across Golden Gate Park. While the roof has great scientific, educational, and ecological benefits, it will also have a financial benefit by ...http://lib.wmrc.uiuc.edu/enb/2008/09/15/green-roofed-bus-shelters-dynamic-green-marketing/ Con Edison Installs Green Roof- September 15, 2008 Read the full story at Environmental Leader. Con Edison is installing its first &8220;green roof&8221; at its Learning Center training and conference facility in Long Island City, where more than 21,000 plants will occupy over a quarter acre of the center&8217;s rooftop.http://lib.wmrc.uiuc.edu/enb/2008/09/15/con-edison-installs-green-roof/ What Does a Sustainable Can of Beans Look Like- September 15, 2008 Read the full post at Triple Pundit. Two years ago Truitt Brothers decided to figure that out, and added two products, green beans and pears, sourced and prepared sustainably, to their more traditionally packaged goods which they had been producing for over 30 years. While the sustainability-focused line is still less than 5% of their ...http://lib.wmrc.uiuc.edu/enb/2008/09/15/what-does-a-sustainable-can-of-beans-look-like/ |