Total lunar eclipse visible Monday night

A total eclipse of the moon will be visible throughout North and Central America from 11:41 p.m. PST Monday until 12:53 a.m. Tuesday, the first such eclipse in almost three years.

Weather permitting, observers will see the moon enter the Earth's inner shadow, or umbra, at 10:33 p.m., with a red-brown shadow creeping across the bright moon. This shadow has a curved edge, a fact that was taken as proof to at least some ancients that the Earth is round. The sky will get darker as the shadow progresses across the moon, and more stars will be visible as sunlight reflected from the moon fades.

The total phase of the eclipse will last 72 minutes, then the moon will begin to emerge from the umbra, coming totally out of the inner shadow at 2:01 a.m.

Article courtesy of the Los Angeles Times by Thomas H. Haugh II

Mudslides, flooding close roads including PCH; 'huge' storm expected Monday afternoon

Rain continued to pound Southern California overnight, prompting several major road closures due to flooding and mudslides.

The California Highway Patrol closed a 10-mile section of Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu due to the rock slide on the road in Ventura County. The 710 Freeway was closed for several hours at Willow Street in Long Beach due to flooding.

Read more:   http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2010/12/mudslides-flooding-close-roads-pch-huge-storm-set-for-monday-afternoon.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:+lanowblog+(L.A.+Now)

Article courtesy of The Los Angeles Times Metro Staff

Cold-Weather Comforts: Give a Coat

Rather than throwing out an old winter coat, or even just dropping it off at the local thrift store, try giving it to someone who really needs it. The national project One Warm Coat is a good place to start if you're interested in simultaneously sparing a landfill and clothing a neighbor.

Article courtesy of The Green Life (green.life@sierraclub.org)

 

The oceans' SOS

The planet's great communal resource provides protein sources and oxygen and is used for transportation, recreation and inspiration. It's time to put it at the center of the climate change discussion.

The ocean is our global heat reservoir and one of two major carbon dioxide sinks. If you agree that humans are trapping heat and carbon dioxide in the planet's atmosphere — and 53 years of rigorous observations at Scripps and other research institutions show that we are — then the ocean must be at the very center of the climate discussion. But it rarely is.
Read more:  
http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/commentary/la-oe-haymetdickson-oceans-20101213,0,956649.story?track=rss&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+latimes%2Fmostviewed+%28L.A.+Times+-+Most+Viewed+Stories%29

Article courtesy of Los Angeles Times by Tony Haymet and Andrew Dickson

 

Folic acid levels are high enough in most people -- except the right people

Folic acid has been added to grain products for more than a decade in order to boost intake among women of reproductive age. The supplementation was endorsed after studies showed adequate levels of folic acid are necessary to prevent spinal cord defects and other birth defects. But a new study suggests everyone except reproductive age women are getting plenty of the nutrient.   Read more :
http://www.latimes.com/health/boostershots/la-heb-folate-20101213,0,7281493.story

 

Article courtesy of Los Angeles Times By Shari Roan

New England turbine project may dwarf Cape Wind

A larger and more expensive wind farm than the controversial Cape Wind project is proposed for an area off the coasts of Massachusetts and Rhode Island.

Deepwater Wind, which has previously proposed building up to eight turbines, yesterday unveiled ambitious plans to build as many as 200 turbines in deep federal waters south of the two states.

The $4 billion to $5 billion project, which needs both federal and state approvals, would be located about 15 miles southwest of Martha’s Vineyard and 15 miles southeast of Block Island. Read more  http://bostonherald.com/business/technology/general/view/20101209new_england_turbine_project_may_dwarf_cape_wind/srvc=business&position=also

Article courtesy of the Boston Herald by Jay Fitzgerald

At Patriots' stadium, home team looks out for the environment

From the time visitors park at Gillette Stadium until they leave, the signs of environmental awareness are everywhere.Recycling bags are handed out at the parking lot.In and around the stadium, solar-powered compactors collect plastic bottles and cans.The toilets are flushed with water that has been recycled at the stadium’s own waste-water treatment plant.Some of the electricity for New England Patriots and New England Revolution games is generated by wind turbines in the Midwest

Read more  http://www.boston.com/lifestyle/green/articles/2010/12/05/patriots_stadium_in_foxborough_leads_ecofriendly_efforts/

Article courtesy of The Boston Globe by Michele Morgan Bolton

Proposed wind farm between RI and Mass. doubles in size

A proposed wind farm almost 14 miles off Martha’s Vineyard has doubled in size to 200 turbines, making it the largest proposed offshore wind farm in the U.S., according to its developers.

Deepwater Wind announced its plans this morning to build 50 turbines in federal waters between Rhode Island and Massachusetts and another 150 turbines about 25 miles from both states. The turbines would be barely visible from land, the developers say.

To read more    http://www.boston.com/lifestyle/green/greenblog/2010/12/proposed_wind_farm_between_ri.html

Article courtesy of The Boston Globe –Green Blog posted by Beth Daley

 

 

Don't Get Burned by Petroleum-Green Your Holidays: Candles

Whether you're celebrating Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, or all of them, this week's tips will help you lessen your impact while you increase your joy.

If you're preparing to light a menorah tomorrow or stocking up on candles for Kwanzaa later this month, look for eco-friendly candles made from soy or beeswax instead of petroleum-derived paraffin. For better air quality, opt for unscented varieties. Keep wicks short to get more life out of your candles.

Article courtesy of The Green Life (green.life@sierraclub.org)

 

Climate change could bring sudden drought to La Paz

As the world warms, scientists expect some ecosystems to gradually migrate up slopes, essentially chasing environmental conditions they need to thrive.

But according to recent research on the historical ecology of the Andes conducted in part by a Westfield State University assistant professor, those steady changes can reach a tipping point in some cases that flips local ecosystems on their head.

The scientists examined fossilized pollen in Lake Titicaca, the world’s highest elevation great lake on the border of Peru and Bolivia, which allowed them to look 370,000 years back in time. They found that in two periods of past warming, the lake shrank by as much as 85 percent, and switched the grassland ecosystem into desert.

http://www.boston.com/lifestyle/green/greenblog/

Article courtesy of The Boston Globe- Green Blog posted by Beth Daley

Green Your Kids' School: Waste-Free Lunches

Do you see a lot of waste going on at your children’s schools? This week’s tips are about how to help green your local educational institutions.

Consider starting a waste-free lunch program at your children’s schools to help make trash reduction a priority. On a personal level, avoid resorting to disposables such as plastic bags and paper juice boxes. Instead, choose reusable items. Check out the EPA's handy guide (PDF) for committing to cleaner lunches, cleaner campuses, and a cleaner planet for your kids. 
Article courtesy of The Green Life (green.life@sierraclub.org)

Mayor Bloomberg to Promote Electric Taxis in Cities

City authorities are often better placed than national governments to combat climate change, New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg said recently. He vowed to promote the use of electric taxis as he takes over the leadership of a global coalition of major cities

www.smartgrowth.org/news/article.asp?art=7837

Article courtesy of Smart Growth

High Lead Levels Found in Urban Gardens

Researchers from Wellesley College have found that urban vegetable gardeners can be exposed to lead contamination even if they use raised beds with clean compost or topsoil. It isn’t the vegetables but the dirt itself that can collect fine lead particles. The lead, from industrial site around the city, can sometimes become airborne and lands in urban gardens, Daniel Brabander and his team of researcher found. The group presented their findings at the 2010 annual meeting of the Geological Society of America.
www.smartgrowth.org/news/article.asp?art=7844

 

Debate Over Turning a Sea Salt Operation into Smart Growth Development

A 1,436 acre sea salt operation south of San Francisco Bay may be the future site of a smart growth development. The natural evaporation ponds, located in Redwood City, have been in production since 1901. Cargill, who owns the operation, plans to develop this area with the help of Arizona developer DMB Associates. The development will be promoted as a “50/50 balance plan,” a community of 8,000 to 12,000 low-rise, energy efficient apartments, schools, offices, and retail space, mixed with open space and restored wetlands.
www.smartgrowth.org/news/article.asp?art=7843

Article courtesy of Smart Growth

U.S. Must Fight Its Oil Habits and Price Vulnerability with Efficient Cars, Transit, and Balanced Transportation Outlays

In an unprecedented collaboration between two federal agencies, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) jointly awarded nearly $68 million to help stimulate a new generation of sustainable and livable communities that connect housing, employment and economic development with transportation and other infrastructure improvements. The joint HUD-DOT funding will support 62 local and regional partnerships seeking to create a more holistic and integrated approach to connecting affordable housing, job opportunities and transportation corridors.
www.smartgrowth.org/news/article.asp?art=7840

Article courtesy of Smart Growth

 

Cross Country Bicycle Network

The U.S. Bicycle Route System is a new project that will connect many of the existing (and envisioned) bicycle routes around the country into an official, national network of cycling routes, linked coast-to-coast across state lines. The project was endorsed by U.S. Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood.
www.smartgrowth.org/news/article.asp?art=7848

Article courtesy of Smart Growth Network

DOT- Much More Than Roads and Bridges

Department of Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood stated in a Grist Magazine interview that “once politicians begin to listen to their constituents, they will realize a sustainable course is what voters want. They will find constituents way ahead on livability and sustainability, on having cleaner, greener communities, on having walking and biking paths, on having streetcar systems.”
www.smartgrowth.org/news/article.asp?art=7828

Article courtesy of Smart Growth Network

 

Smart Mobility for a 21st Century America

A new report on smarter transportation proposes how existing and emerging technologies can squeeze more capacity from over-burdened highways, help commuters avoid traffic delays, and expand and improve transportation options, all while saving money and creating jobs. Many of these smart transportation solutions are already fueling innovation throughout the country. The report proposes that establishing national targets for reducing congestion and emissions through programmatic changes and funding incentives would accelerate the development and implementation of new technologies.   

Resource(s): http://t4america.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/ITS-White-Paper-100710-FINAL.pdf

Article courtesy of Smart Growth Network

EPA Technical Assistance on Sustainable Growth and Development

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has chosen eight communities to receive technical assistance on sustainable growth and development issues. The assistance will help local governments address infrastructure constraints, protect water quality, set development standards, and create options for housing and transportation. EPA will work in collaboration with its partners at the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and Department of Transportation (DOT) to help communities become more environmentally and economically sustainable as part of the agency’s broader work through the Partnership for Sustainable Communities.
www.smartgrowth.org/news/article.asp?art=7822

Article courtesy of Smart Growth Network

U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood Announces $2.4 Billion for High Speed Rail Projects

California

U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood recently announced that 54 high-speed rail projects in 23 states will share in $2.4 billion to continue developing America’s first nationwide program of high-speed intercity passenger rail service.
www.smartgrowth.org/news/article.asp?art=7831

 

Article courtesy of Smart Growth Network

Single stream recycling comes to Cambridge

Recycling has gotten a whole lot simpler in Cambridge. Cambridge is the latest city to switch to single stream recycling. Cambridge residents can now throw all of their recyclables (glass, plastic, metals, paper, and cardboard) in one bin. The recycling plant in Charlestown will sort the products through a series of magnets, rotators, eddy currents, and optical scanners. Residents have also been given new larger bins with wheels (toters) to hold their recycling.

The new recycling trucks can compact the material, so they can now accept cardboard (no need to cut it up anymore), empty pizza boxes, empty paper coffee cups, large plastic items, and spiral cans (such as a Pringles can). The city expects the new, simpler program to increase recycling rates from 25% to at least 35%. Medford will begin single stream recycling on November 1st.

Watch this short animation from RecycleBank to see how it works

Article courtesy of The Boston Globe Posted by Dara Olmsted, The Green Blog

 

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

"Planning our communities smarter means parents will spend less time driving and more time with their children; more families will live in safe, stable communities near good schools and jobs; and more businesses will have access to the capital and talent they need to grow and prosper."
– Shaun Donovan, HUD Secretary
www.smartgrowth.org/news/article.asp?art=7818

Article courtesy of The Smart Growth Network

Backyard Cottages Address Housing Need

Many parts of Seattle are now allowing backyard cottages in residentially zoned neighborhoods. Though the practice is not legal throughout the Puget Sound area, a host of other cities allow it. Backyard cottages allow people to live where they work and play, and have smaller carbon footprints then typical homes. Additionally, structures built on already-developed land increase urban density and generate tax income, making them appealing for many cities.
www.smartgrowth.org/news/article.asp?art=7811

Article courtesy of The Smart Growth Network

Oregon's First Full-Service Bike Transit Center

The Grand Opening of the Bikestation Hillsboro bike transit center was announced by Mobis Transportation/Bikestation. The new Bikestation facility offers a range of amenities including electronically secure indoor bike parking, showers, restrooms, lockers, a bicycle self-repair stand with tools, and transit information. Bikestation is designed to address the needs of current cyclists and people who would like to bicycle but shy away due to concerns about theft and convenience. The transit center operates on a low-cost membership model and members can use not only the Hillsboro facility, but any Bikestation located across the country.
www.smartgrowth.org/news/article.asp?art=7817

Article courtesy of The Smart Growth Network

New York City's First Official Car-sharing Program

New York City announced a new partnership with Zipcar to begin the first official car-sharing program. The car-sharing fleet ,which consists of 23 hybrids and two trucks will be shared by 300 Department of Transportation employees during the week and will be available for use by the public during nights and weekends. www.smartgrowth.org/news/article.asp?art=7816

Article courtesy of The Smart Growth Network

Planning for a New Energy and Climate Future

by: American Planning Association   

Planners have an important role to play in helping communities meet energy needs, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and adapt to a changing climate. While most planners recognize the significance of these issues, they are still working to translate these imperatives into on-the-ground plans, actions, and regulations. Planning for a New Energy and Climate Future, the culmination of a three-year research and education project on the integration of climate change and energy issues into planning practice, was prepared by APA in collaboration with the Environmental and Energy Study Institute, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and the University of North Carolina Asheville.

The report presents fundamental information about energy and climate change, provides a framework for how to integrate energy and climate into the planning process, and offers strategies for communities to address energy and climate across a variety of issues, including development patterns, transportation, and economic development. Case studies illustrate communities that have already begun taking steps in these areas.   

Resource(s): http://www.planning.org/research/energy/report.htm

Article courtesy of the Smart Growth Network

 

California Dreaming

To spur thought about California’s big questions facing the state, the California Institute of Telecommunications and Information Technology and the Center for Information Technology Research in the Interest of Society created a map of California’s ''landscape-in-the-making''.

The map lays out four alternative futures for California in 2020. The four futures include: the Smart State - representing a continued economic growth model, the Culture Commons – a constraint scenario where growth is abandoned for conservative natural resource use, 21 Century Superstructures – a future with transformed health, education, food production, and manufacturing institutions, and last the Enclave Economy – a scenario where a natural disaster (forest fire or earthquake) drains wealth from the public sector leading to natural resource privatization. California exhibits signs of each of the alternatives today. The map is a tool meant for neighbors, colleagues, and community leaders to provoke conversation and creative thinking that will build the California of the future.   

Resource(s): http://iftf.me/public/IFTF_SR-1313_CaliforniaDreaming.pdf

Article courtesy of The Smart Growth Network

 

Different views on threat of radon

Radon — an odorless, colorless gas that seeps from uranium in the soil — accounts for more than half of the ionizing radiation most people encounter in their lives. When inhaled, this radioactive gas can set the stage for lung cancer.
Read more;   http://www.latimes.com/health/la-he-overradiated-radon-20101011,0,6604216.story

 

Article courtesy of The Los Angeles Times by Chris Woolston

Green energy field is fertile ground for wild concepts

Spray-on solar panels, power beaming down from outer space and gasoline-like fuel made from bacteria.

Sound far-fetched? Maybe, but these and other futuristic concepts for producing power are being taken seriously in scientific, business and academic circles. Some have even raised millions in funding.

Read more: http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-crazy-green-20101014,0,5892388.story

 

Article courtesy of the Los Angeles Times by Tiffany Hsu

 

Big Oil goes to college: a conflict of interest?

Have hundreds of millions of dollars in grants from major oil companies compromised the ethics of energy research at such institutions as UC Berkeley, UC Davis and Stanford?

That's what Jennifer Washburn, a longtime critic of academic conflicts of interest, contends in "Big Oil Goes to College," a new report that delves into the details of contracts signed between 10 major U.S. universities and global oil companies.

According to the 212-page study, released by the Center for American Progress, a Washington-based think tank, such companies as BP, Chevron, and ConocoPhillips have funded more than $800 million in potentially compromised research with few protections for academic independence.

to read more:   http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/greenspace/2010/10/uc-berkeley-stanford-energy-research-oil-companies.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+GreenspaceEnvironmentBlog+%28Greenspace%29

Article courtesy of The Los Angeles Times-Greenspace  Environmental News by Margot Roosevelt

WASHINGTON — Google and a New York financial firm have each agreed to invest heavily in a proposed $5 billion transmission backbone for future offshore wind farms along the Atlantic Seaboard that could ultimately transform the region’s electrical map.The 350-mile underwater spine, which could remove some critical obstacles to wind power development, has stirred excitement among investors, government officials, and environmentalists who have been briefed on it. Article courtesy of The New York Times by Matthew L. Wald

To read more  http://www.boston.com/lifestyle/green/articles/2010/10/12/google_investing_in_offshore_power_grid_in_atlantic/

 

Stonyfield yogurt uses plant-based packaging

Stonyfield Farm announced today that they will be using plant-based packaging for their multi-pack yogurts. The packaging, made from corn, will replace the petroleum-based plastic that is traditionally used in yogurt cups. The cup will be 93% plant-based; the other 7% will be made out of titanium dioxide (for color) and additives. When the label and lid are included, the entire package is 81% plant-based.

Traditional plastic is made from oil or natural gas. The bio-based packaging is made from polylactic acid (PLA). PLA can be made from a variety of plant products, but in the US, corn is used. The corn is turned into corn starch and then fermented into lactic acid (similar to how yogurt is made). The lactic acid is then made into plastic. Stonyfield hopes to make the plastic out of non-food crops in the future, such as switch grass.

Stonyfield has tried to make the process as environmentally-friendly as possible. Their concern about the prevalence of genetically modified (GMO) corn pushed them to create an offset through the Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy's Working Landscapes program to pay farmers to grow non-GMO corn using sustainable production standards. A life-cycle assessment of the packaging found that it would reduce Stonyfield's greenhouse gas emissions from packaging by 9%.

Technically, the cups can be recycled, but there are only two facilities in the world that can separate the lid and packaging from the cup, so it is not feasible for the most consumers right now. Most interestingly, Stonyfield found that, "the independent review of PLA’s environmental impact found that composting is not the best option for disposing of the cups, anyway. This is because composting would release back into the atmosphere the carbon dioxide (CO2) in the plant-plastic which was absorbed by the corn when it was growing

Article courtesy of The Boston Globe-Green Blog posted by Dara Olmsted

Grants available for charging stations

Massachusett’s State officials announced yesterday that they are taking applications over the next 60 days from cities and towns interested in installing electric vehicle charging stations. State officials said $200,000 is available, and they estimate the funds will pay for installation of 80 to 100 stations or more, if partners such as malls, garages, or hotel owners offer matching funds. While all 351 cities and towns are eligible to apply, the Department of Energy Resources will give preference in awarding the funds to cities and towns that have been designated as “green communities.’’

Article courtesy of The Boston Globe/State House News Service

More Transit = More Jobs

by: Transportation Equity Network   

What would happen if 20 metropolitan areas shifted 50 percent of their highway funds to transit? They would generate 1,123,674 new transit jobs over a five-year period — for a net gain of 180,150 jobs over five years — without a single dollar of new spending.

That's the finding of the Transportation Equity Network's new study, More Transit = More Jobs.

First, it's important to look at how much cities currently spend on public transit. As a percentage of total transit spending, the top five cities are:
1. New York, NY
2. Honolulu, HI
3. Portland, OR
4. Philadelphia, PA
5. Kalamazoo, MI

The five cities that spend the least on public transit are:
1. Minneapolis, MN
2. Boston, MA
3. Atlanta, GA
4. Denver, CO
5. St. Louis, MO

http://www.smartgrowth.org/library/article.asp?resource=4764&res=1280

Article courtesy of smart Growth Online

 

 

Low Supply of Workforce Housing Persists in Employment Hubs Throughout Boston

Housing that is close to major employment centers remains unaffordable to a large portion of workers in the Boston metropolitan area, despite the decline in home prices that occurred in many parts of the region during the recession. This is the conclusion of new research published by the Urban Land Institute (ULI) Terwilliger Center for Workforce Housing. In Priced Out: Persistence of the Workforce Housing Gap in the Boston Metro Area, researchers examine the availability of for-sale and rental housing near six major employment hubs in the Boston area, specifically in terms of housing that is affordable to workforce households. The study found that there is currently a shortage of about 25,000 housing units affordable to workforce households near each of the six employment centers, with the number expected to increase.
www.smartgrowth.org/news/article.asp?art=7808

Article courtesy of Smart Growth Online

Demolition of Baltimore's 'Highway to Nowhere' Underway

Demolition is officially underway of a segment of Baltimore's infamous "Highway to Nowhere." The demolition will make way for an expansion of parking at the West Baltimore MARC Station. The project will reunite the communities of West Baltimore that have been physically separated since the highway's construction in the early 1970s. The full improvement project is scheduled for completion in fall of 2010 and will support 35 jobs.
www.smartgrowth.org/news/article.asp?art=7801

 

Article courtesy of Smart Growth Online

Tri-State Transportation Planning Agencies Seek Input

To better understand the tri-state area's transportation needs now and into the future, the region's transportation planning agencies are launching a Regional Travel Survey that will look at how – and why – people move around 28 targeted counties in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut. Beginning in September and continuing over the next year, travel data will be collected from more than 18,000 randomly selected households in this area. The results will allow planners and transportation providers to develop plans to improve transit systems, reduce traffic congestion, address air quality issues, and ensure the safety of the region's transportation network.
www.smartgrowth.org/news/article.asp?art=7802

Article courtesy of Smart Growth online

California Takes the First Step toward More Livable, Sustainable Communities

California has adopted goals for more healthy and sustainable communities that improve the way communities are planned and promote more transportation choices. On September 23, the Air Resources Board adopted targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions in 2020 and 2035 associated with passenger vehicle travel in the state's 18 Metropolitan Planning Organizations. The proposed targets, required under SB 375 (2008, Steinberg), are designed to help coordinate land use and transportation planning.
www.smartgrowth.org/news/article.asp?art=7798

Article courtesy of Smart Growth Online

California Leads the Green Movement

There's nothing like a major boost in gasoline prices to motivate the American consumer. Automakers are hard at work producing green friendly, fuel-saving vehicles. This push for all things green is more than a trendy cause...it's politically savvy, environmentally conscious and increasingly profitable.


Read more: http://www.articlesbase.com/automotive-articles/california-leads-the-green-movement-1314270.html#ixzz10qIY2gux
Under Creative Commons License: Attribution

 

Storefront environmental museum opening Oct. 1

“e” inc., a Boston-based non profit that promotes environmental science literacy, is opening a storefront museum early next month.

The Learning Room will be a warehouse space to teach students – and the general public – about the science of sustainability with the goal of sparking community action in urban communities.

The group already works with more than 800 students in after school and summer programs.

The storefront museum is designed to teach environmental science to children, youth and families, inspire civic leadership, and train teachers and adults to create and carry out projects to help the environment.

The free opening is on Friday, October 1, from 4 to 6 p.m. at “e” inc.’s headquarters at 337 Summer Street. Afterward, a visit will cost $5 per child for the public and schools will pay a fee for field trips.

“Our aim is to reach every child, teen and family in the Greater Boston area and help them learn about how the Earth works and what they can do to protect it,’’ said “e” inc. director Ricky Stern. “The room is really such a wonderful opportunity for kids to really try things and ideas on and see how they are made or related -- we have them go outside and unroll a 100 foot rope just to see how huge a blue whale is.’’

Article courtesy of Boston.Com The Green Blog Posted by Beth Daley

 

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

"America's cities can be the engines of green innovation, leading the way in new technologies, energy efficiency and sustainable development." –Lisa P. Jackson, U.S. EPA

www.smartgrowth.org/news/article.asp?art=7788

 

Article courtesy of Smart Growth (www.smartgrowth.org)

HUD Announces Additional $1 Billion to Stabilize Neighborhoods Hard-Hit by Foreclosures

U.S. Housing and Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan has awarded an additional $1 billion in funding to all states, along with a number of counties and local communities struggling to reverse the effects of the foreclosure crisis. The grants represent a third round of funding through HUD's Neighborhood Stabilization Program (NSP) and will provide targeted emergency assistance to state and local governments to acquire, redevelop or demolish foreclosed properties   www.smartgrowth.org/news/article.asp?art=7789

 

Article Courtesy of Smart Growth (www.smartgrowth.org)

EPA Picks Five Capital Cities to Create Models of Green Design

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has committed to help the capital cities of five states pursue high-quality green development that includes cleaning up and recycling vacant lands, providing greater housing and transportation choices, and reducing infrastructure and energy costs. Through its new Greening America's Capitals program, EPA will fund private-sector experts to provide sustainable design assistance to Boston, Mass.; Jefferson City, Mo.; Hartford, Conn.; Charleston, W.Va.; and Little Rock, Ark.

www.smartgrowth.org/news/article.asp?art=7788

Article courtesy of the Smart Growth Network

Green Your Bicycle: Get Comfortable

Let's ride! Pedal power is airy, sweaty, liberating – and exhaust-free. This week's tips are about how to make your bicycle even greener.

The more comfortable your bike, the more often you'll trade engine for pedals.

• Choose a bicycle frame that's your size. When riding, you should feel neither scrunched nor overextended.
• For hilly commutes, get a bike with at least 10 gears.
• Raise your saddle to reduce pressure on the knees.
• Look for a saddle that distributes your weight to your sitting bones, not your cheeks. Women, choose wider seats to accommodate your wider hips.
• Attach fenders to protect from mud splatters.
• Install a handlebar cup holder for your caffeine fix.

Article courtesy of The Green Life (green.life@sierraclub.org)

 

Green Your Bicycle: Accessorize Thoughtfully

Let's ride! Pedal power is airy, sweaty, liberating – and exhaust-free. This week's tips are about how to make your bicycle even greener.

Every bike needs the bling to make the ride smoother and safer. Here are some ways to make your accessories eco-friendly: 

• Instead of lubing your chain with petroleum-based grease, use a product derived from natural plant oils.
• Light up without batteries by investing in a solar-powered bicycle light, or convert a cheap garden lamp into one.
• Tote your groceries in a pannier made of recycled materials, or create one from a kitty-litter box.
• Unless you’re a hardcore racer, you don’t need the infamous spandex suit. Instead, rummage around for your favorite worn-in T-shirt and shorts.

Article courtesy of The Green Life (green.life@sierraclub.org)

 

T's Route 28 ride isn't so smooth

New hybrid vehicles haven’t quelled discontent with transit service

 

When the MBTA recently rolled out 25 new hybrid gas-electric buses on Route 28, the agency said they would make commuting easier for riders in Roxbury, Dorchester, and Mattapan, where residents have long clamored for quicker, easier rides to points across the city. The 60-foot buses were billed as quieter, safer, and more fuel efficient. Plus, they can pack on more people.

Read more:   http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2010/09/14/new_buses_on_ts_route_28_havent_quelled_transit_service_discontent/?p1=News_links

 

Scientists Find Oil On The Gulf's Seafloor, In Least Surprising News Of 2010

Scientists on a research vessel in the Gulf of Mexico are finding a substantial layer of oily sediment stretching for dozens of miles in all directions. Their discovery suggests that a lot of oil from the Deepwater Horizon didn't simply evaporate or dissipate into the water -- it has settled to the seafloor.

Read more:  http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/09/13/scientists-find-oil-on-th_n_714951.html

Article courtesy of Jason the Huffingtonpost

Tropical Store Julia Forms Behind Major Hurricane Igor, but Karl May Do the Most Damage

Hurricane Igor, is not expected to make landfall imminently, while a new tropical depression, which would be named Igor if it reaches tropical storm strength, has more potential to do damage in the Caribbean and beyond.

Update Sept. 13: Hurricane Igor, now a major category 4 hurricane, is barreling through the Atlantic, with Tropical Storm Julia on its heels. Neither, however, poses any imminent danger to land. An as-yet unnamed tropical depression, which could become Tropical Storm Karl, has more potential for doing damage, as it forms in the Caribbean.

Read more: http://www.thedailygreen.com/environmental-news/latest/noaa-hurricane-2010-forecast#ixzz0zVLP5oDW

Article courtesy of The Daily Green by Dan Shapley

·

Ten Turtles and Conservation International

They might not be as cuddly as pandas or as fearsome as great white sharks.

But around the world, tortoises and freshwater turtles still capture the human imagination.

Now, many of these species are in trouble – and urgent steps are necessary to protect them.

An analysis that I just concluded shows that 40 percent of the world’s freshwater turtle and tortoise species are threatened with extinction. This figure makes turtles some of the most threatened animals on the planet.

Read more:   http://getinvolved.conservation.org/site/MessageViewer?em_id=24361.0&dlv_id=43121

Article courtesy of Peter Paul van Dijk, Conservation International [community@conservation.org]

 

Green Your Hotel Stay: Monitor the Thermostat

Vacations can be wonderful -- but some check out of their eco-values as soon as they check into a hotel. Whether your shelter for the night is a Ritz-Carlton or a Motel 6, this week’s tips should help you keep your hotel stay green.

Many hotels keep their guestrooms so frigid that entering them feels like stepping onto the tundra. To prevent some of this energy waste, readjust the thermostat as soon as you take ownership of your room. The DOE and Energy Star suggest setting air-conditioning temps to no lower than 78 degrees when you're there, and higher when you’re sleeping or out. (While you’re at it, turn off every light whenever you leave your room.)

Article courtesy of The Green Life (green.life@sierraclub.org)

Catalina ferry from Newport Harbor might suspend operations, citing state air laws

The Catalina Flyer, a popular 500-passenger catamaran that makes daily trips to Santa Catalina Island from the Balboa Pavilion, may halt operations for a few months to buy and install a new engine that complies with a state environmental law.

Article courtesy of the Los Angeles time - L.A. Now

Read more:  http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2010/09/catalina-ferry-might-suspend-operations-citing-state-air-laws.html

 

Coast Guard Responding to Oil Rig Explosion South of Vermilion Bay

VERMILION BAY —

ABC26 News has confirmed that the Coast Guard is responding to an oil rig explosion south of Vermilion Bay.

The U.S. Coast Guard office in Port Arthur, Texas, tells ABC26 News that an explosion was reported on the Vermillion 380 rig, operated by Mariner Energy, at about 9:30 Thursday morning by a commercial helicopter company.

The Coast Guard said initial reports indicated all 13 crew members from the rig were in the water. There were no deaths, but one of the workers was injured, and all workers are being taken to Terrebonne General Medical Center in Houma for medical examinations.

Read more:  http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/wire/wgno-news-rig-explosion,0,7240612.story

Article courtesy of the Los Angeles Times from WGNO-TV, New Orleans

China coal trucks stuck in 120 km traffic jam

BEIJING | Thu Sep 2, 2010 1:22am EDT

BEIJING (Reuters) - More than 10,000 trucks mainly carrying coal are stuck in a 120 km (75 mile) traffic jam in the northeastern Chinese region of Inner Mongolia, in the latest dramatic snarl-up on the country's roads.

Read More:  http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE6810UC20100902

Article courtesy of Reuters Reporting by Ben Blanchard; Editing by Chris Lewis and Sanjeev Migiani

 

No Impact Week: Food

No Impact Man, a.k.a. Colin Beavan, took a yearlong vow to live a zero-waste lifestyle in New York City. The experiment inspired a blog, a book, a film -- and others to embrace green habits. This week's tips will help you try a one-week carbon cleanse. Sign up here to share the results of your own No Impact Project.

Tip #3: Eat Locally and Seasonally

By making just a few dietary changes, you can lower your carbon "foodprint." Avoid packaged, processed foods and opt instead for locally grown, seasonal fruits and vegetables. Raising livestock for food is responsible for more emissions than all modes of transportation combined, so try substituting vegetarian or vegan dishes when you might otherwise have eaten meat.

Article courtesy of The Green Life (green.life@sierraclub.org)

 

Green Top 10

Top Ten Ways to Join the Network Effect We call it “The Network Effect” - the power of our employees, customers, suppliers and technology coming together to make an extraordinary impact on the environment. Each individual action, no matter how small, can have a big impact when we all join in. Counting down, here is our Top 10 list of things you can do, at home or at work to Join the Network Effect. 10. Insulate, insulate, insulate – You’ll bring down your heating and cooling bills while saving energy. Look for gaps between your doors and floors, and caulk around your windows to seal them up. 9. Unplug your appliances – Hair dryers, laptops, toasters… Did you know that even when these appliances are off, they still draw power? These are just a few of the “electricity vampires” lurking around your home and office. 8. Carry a flash drive – Want to back up your files? No need to print them or copy them to disks. Just load them onto a data stick and you’re good to go. 7. Carry a water bottle – Brand-name bottled water is expensive and wastes plastic. You can also invest in a water filter (as a pitcher or an attachment to your faucet). It tastes just as good, is just as clean, and pays for itself. 6. Recycle – At work use recycling bins for aluminum cans and plastic. Put paper in blue recycling receptacles. At home got batteries, electronics, paint, or other household items? Find the nearest drop-off point at 1800Recycling.com. 5. Reduce idling – Don’t idle for more than 10 seconds (30 seconds to warm up). Idling a vehicle for more than 10 seconds uses more fuel than is required to restart the engine. 4. Power down – At home, your laptops need rest as much as you do. At work, put your PC in sleep mode and be sure to turn off non-essential PCs and peripherals when you go home. 3. Sign up for paperless billing - Join the folks who have already signed up. You can add to the 69,000 trees that have already been saved through our paperless billing program. While you're at it, consider switching to online banking for all your bills, which lets you access your accounts 24/7. 2. Turn out the lights when you leave – This is an easy habit to get in to at home and the office. Here’s an easy trick for remembering: when you shut the door, shut the lights. 1. Join the Verizon Green Team – Learn more about Verizon’s Green Initiatives and find ways to volunteer for green. Click here for more details and to sign up! There’s no fancy equipment; most of these are free, and the savings add up, for you and for the planet. Article courtesy of VZ Today

FW: San Francisco's Transbay Transit Center Project Epitomizes Smart Growth

With initial funding from the 2009 Recovery Act, redevelopment of San Francisco’s 71-year-old Transbay Transit Terminal into a mixed-use multimodal Transbay Transit Center is now underway. ''This project is the ultimate manifestation of smart growth,'' said San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom at the recent groundbreaking event. The first phase of the project is slated for completion by 2017. The $4.2 billion transit center will include two underground levels – a shopping concourse, and both Caltrain commuter tracks and the future high-speed line below – and two higher levels, a bus connection platform, and a 5.4-acre rooftop park. Flanked by a first-phase 100-floor residential tower, and many other skyscrapers planned for the whole new neighborhood later, the center will link services of 11 transit agencies, serve up to 45 million people a year, and cut the area’s annual carbon dioxide emissions by some 36,000 tons.
www.smartgrowth.org/news/article.asp?art=7756

FW: If Cities Focus on Walkable Communities, Economic Development Will Follow

With a third of metro area populations eager for pedestrian-friendly settings, a key path out of the recession leads through urban infill and walkable mixed-use redevelopment of car-dependent suburban malls and strips. Meeting that pent-up market demand will take a generation, said Christopher Leinberger with the Brookings Institution Metropolitan Policy Program. Speaking at the fifth annual Louisiana Smart Growth Summit, Leinberger advised cities to combine transportation and affordable housing strategies to ensure the viability of walkable neighborhoods. ''Plan for your walkable future. Economic development will follow," he said.
www.smartgrowth.org/news/article.asp?art=7768

Article courtesy of Smart Growth News

FW: New York City Plans Major Street Improvements to Reduce Pedestrian Fatalities

New York City is planning to redesign more than 60 miles of streets for pedestrian safety next year. ''It's unprecedented re-engineering of our streets,'' said Transportation Commissioner Janette Sadik-Khan, to make them ''safer and better to walk around on.'' The plan involves installation of countdown pedestrian signals at 1,500 intersections, overhaul of 20 intersections on key two-way streets, and several safety programs, including a 20-mph neighborhood zone test.
www.smartgrowth.org/news/article.asp?art=7766

Earthquake strikes off Southern California coast

August 23, 2010 11:11 pm

A 4.0-magnitude quake struck Monday night off the Channel Islands.

The quake was recorded about 10:42 p.m., 32 miles northeast of San Nicolas Island and 39 miles south-southwest of Malibu, the U.S. Geological Survey said.

There were no immediate reports of damage.
ARticle courtesy of The Los Angeles Times by Robert J.Lopez

No additional details were available.

Woods Hole says oil trapped deep, degrading very slowly

Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution researchers have mapped a snaking, 22-mile-long underwater oil plume from the BP PLC well in the Gulf of Mexico, work they say provides strong evidence that oil from the disaster could remain trapped deep in the ocean for a prolonged period.   Read more: http://www.boston.com/lifestyle/green/articles/2010/08/20/woods_hole_says_oil_trapped_deep_degrading_very_slowly/

Article courtesy of The Boston Globe by Beth Daley

Power to the People

The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power is convinced it has a solution that is win-win. For the DWP, more solar panels means a further reduction in the use of fossil fuels and an increase in renewable energy in its portfolio. For customers, there would now be an achievable alternative to traditional power, one that reduces their carbon footprint and saves them money. Add some healthy federal tax credits for individuals and private companies that enable customers to convert to solar, and you have the ingredients for a successful formula. Read more:  http://www.latimesmagazine.com/2010/07/power-to-the-people.html

Courtesy of LA Times

BEIJING —

China struggled to cope with widespread storms that left dozens missing and presumed dead Thursday as rescuers cleaned up a mudslide-stricken town, while two passenger train cars plunged into a river after crossing a flood-damaged bridge.

Read more:  http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2012664618_apaschinafloods.html

Article Courtesy of the Associates Press

Underwater turbine called a success

PORTLAND, Maine — A developer of tidal power is reporting success with its first commercial-size underwater turbine, putting it on track to have one connected to the power grid by the end of 2011. Read more:  http://www.boston.com/lifestyle/green/articles/2010/08/19/underwater_turbine_called_a_success/

Article courtesy of the Associates Press

 

Frack Attack

Hydrofracturing ("fracking," for short) is a brute force way to extract natural gas. It's so lucrative (and potentially dangerous) that Dick Cheney made sure it was exempted from the Safe Drinking Water Act. Unfortunately, public safety and environmental concerns about fracking have been swept aside with disastrous results. Where have we seen this before?

 

Sierra Club Executive Director Michael Brune writes about the dangers of letting yet another energy industry run amok -- and what the Sierra Club is doing about it. 

 

Article courtesy of the Sierra Club Insider

Greenhouse Gas Emission Impacts of Carsharing in North America

by: Mineta Transportation Institute, San José State University   

This report presents the results of a study evaluating the greenhouse gas (GHG) emission changes that result from individuals participating in a carsharing organization. The principle of carsharing is simple: individuals gain the benefits of private vehicle use without the costs and responsibilities of ownership. Carsharing is most common in major urban areas where transportation alternatives are easily accessible. Individuals typically access vehicles by joining an organization that maintains a fleet of cars and light trucks deployed in lots located within neighborhoods, public transit stations, employment centers, and colleges/universities. 
Read more: http://www.smartgrowth.org/library/article.asp?resource=4716

 

China Said to Be Top Energy User in 2009

With a population of 1.3 billion and economic growth that reached 11.9 percent in the first quarter of 2010, China has overtaken the U.S. as the top energy consumer for 2009, says the International Energy Agency (IEA). According to reporter Jenny Barchfield, China's ''flood of new office towers, shopping malls, hotels and apartment complexes are straining generating stations in cities, where demand exceeds supply – forcing the government to order rolling blackouts during the summer."
www.smartgrowth.org/news/article.asp?art=7752

Article courtesy of Smart Growth News

Virginia Beach Businesses Lead Another Campaign for Light Rail

Light Rail Now recently held its first meeting, where it rallied support for a long-envisioned 10-mile Virginia Beach light-rail line that would link with Norfolk's 7.4-mile Tide line opening next May. Formed by the business community in 1993, the non-partisan Virginia Beach Vision organization lost a light-rail referendum in 1999, and the loss has now inspired its inclusive Light Rail Now nonprofit to run the campaign.
www.smartgrowth.org/news/article.asp?art=7747

Article courtesy of Smart Growth News

Senate Banking Committee Passes Livable Communities Act

The Senate Banking Committee on August 3 passed Chairman Chris Dodd's (D-CT) Livable Communities Act (S. 1619) to improve the coordination between our housing, community development, transportation, energy, and environmental policies to help create better places to live, work and raise families. The bill will promote sustainable development and enable communities to cut traffic congestion; reduce greenhouse gas emissions and oil consumption; protect farmland and green spaces; revitalize existing Main Streets and urban centers; spur economic development; and create more affordable housing.  www.smartgrowth.org/news/article.asp?art=7745

Article courtesy of Smart Growth Network State by State and International News Headlines