The Executive’s Daily Green Briefing

September 21, 2007

NY’s MTA Launches Sustainability Initiative

nys-mta-launches-3439.jpgNew York’s Metropolitan Transportation Authority is convening an 18-member sustainability commission that will seek to create a plan for reducing the agency’s ecological footprint by Earth Day 2008, The Village Voice reports.

The Sustainability Commission will develop a master set of recommendations that will help reduce the ecological footprint of MTA operations and capital programs and minimize the impact of the MTA on ecosystems in the MTA region and Northeast Corridor. The commission will cast a wide net, looking at everything from energy use and waste management to transit-oriented development and green, high-performance buildings.

Part of the commission’s mission will be to identify sustainability initiatives that have both environmental benefits and financial benefits. These financial benefits can take a number of forms, including cost savings from the use of new technologies or revenue from an agency’s green venture.

The Commission will attempt to answer a number of questions about the MTA and sustainability, including:

  • What targets and goals should be set for reducing the MTA”s ecological footprint - CO2, other greenhouse gas emissions, water, waste, consumption of materials?
  • What strategies should be employed to achieve these goals?
  • As the nation and world experiment with carbon trading or carbon taxes, what role should the MTA play and how can it capitalize on the massive carbon savings the MTA produces by operating its public transportation network?
  • What role can the MTA play in promoting smart-growth strategies and transit-oriented development?
  • How does the MTA work with its state and local partners to harmonize its sustainability agenda with the sustainability goals of the municipalities in and around its 5,000-square-mile service territory?
Join the Discussion

Today's News

Industry Needs Energy Star For Servers - Now!

Industry Needs Energy Star For Servers - Now!

The other day while out shopping for Energy Star rated household appliances with my wife, I got to wondering why we ... continue »

Parse The Greens, Pass The Spectacle
Timberland’s Journey to Quarterly CSR Reporting
Peak Carbon
Consumers Understand Greenwash, So Why Can’t The Communications Industry?
MIT Report: World Can Learn From European Cap-And-Trade System

MIT Report: World Can Learn From European Cap-And-Trade System

The EU cap-and-trade system has operated well and has had little or no negative impact on the overall EU economy, according to ...

click to view full size chart »

Fewer Willing To Pay Premium For Green
EIA Projects 50% Growth In World Energy Use By 2030
Fuel Prices, Environment Drive Consideration Of Hybrids
UK Facing Higher Green Taxes

UK Facing Higher Green Taxes

Political and business leaders are warning that Britain faces a sharp rise in its tax bill to fund the country's move to ...

click to view video »

Climate Change And Public Health
Commute Program Helps Juniper Employees Reduce Trips
Clean Diesel Talked Up At Mid America Trucking Show
The Bottom Line

Marketing

New Video Shows Innovations In Textile Industry

Enterprise Rent-A-Car Says Thin Clients Will Save $500,000

Parse The Greens, Pass The Spectacle

Emissions

Ericsson Solar Cell Solution Deployed In South America

MIT Report: World Can Learn From European Cap-And-Trade System

Leaving Computers On Over Holiday Weekend Costs Big Bucks

Hi-Tech

Industry Needs Energy Star For Servers - Now!

Novomer Makes Sacrificial Binder From Recycled CO2

‘Old’ IT Doesn’t Have To Mean ‘Inefficient’

Efficiency

Logan Airport Wind Energy Excursion A Success

Ball Aims To Reduce GHG 16 Percent by 2012

Branson Plans Zero Carbon Resort, Launches Eco-Consulting Group

Manufacturing

Lee Company Installs Solar Power System

Anaerobic Digestion Facility At Maker’s Mark Powers Distillery

EPA Web Site Provides Importing, Exporting Environmental Rules

Carbon Offsets/RECs

Harrah’s Pitching Carbon Offsets

Denver International Carbon Offset Program Fails To Take Off

Passengers Will Pay For New EU Airlines Emissions Rules

CSR Reports

GHG Emissions Up At Owens Corning, Energy Use Down

IBM Launches Green Consulting Service

Baxter Aims To Reduce GHG Emissions By 45% By 2015

Major Players

P&W Geared Turbofan Engine Could Help Industry Cut Emissions

Dell Power Supply First To Receive ‘80 Plus Gold’ Certification

Dow Raising Prices, Again

See All Topics »