http://www.environmentalleader.com Environmental Leader Fri, 25 May 2012 17:41:13 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 http://www.environmentalleader.com/2012/05/25/inexact-computer-chip-15-times-more-energy-efficient/ http://www.environmentalleader.com/2012/05/25/inexact-computer-chip-15-times-more-energy-efficient/#comments Fri, 25 May 2012 14:43:59 +0000 Environmental Leader http://www.environmentalleader.com/?p=77375 Researchers have designed an “inexact” computer chip (pictured) that they say is up to 15 times more energy efficient than today’s chip technology. The prototypes cut energy use by allowing processing components – like hardware for adding and multiplying numbers – to make a few mistakes. By managing the probability of errors and limiting which [...]]]> http://www.environmentalleader.com/2012/05/25/inexact-computer-chip-15-times-more-energy-efficient/feed/ 0 http://www.environmentalleader.com/2012/05/25/texas-instruments-sustainability-report-normalized-emissions-jump-23/ http://www.environmentalleader.com/2012/05/25/texas-instruments-sustainability-report-normalized-emissions-jump-23/#comments Fri, 25 May 2012 14:05:33 +0000 Environmental Leader http://www.environmentalleader.com/?p=77383 Technology firm Texas Instruments’ emissions normalized on a per-chip basis rose 23 percent year-on-year amid a host of other disappointing environmental figures, according to its 2011 corporate sustainability report. TI attributes this to a number of facilities running under capacity – which the company says requires a similar amount of energy to fully loaded operations [...]]]> http://www.environmentalleader.com/2012/05/25/texas-instruments-sustainability-report-normalized-emissions-jump-23/feed/ 0 http://www.environmentalleader.com/2012/05/25/matt-brewing-cuts-steam-use-energy-costs/ http://www.environmentalleader.com/2012/05/25/matt-brewing-cuts-steam-use-energy-costs/#comments Fri, 25 May 2012 13:33:29 +0000 Environmental Leader http://www.environmentalleader.com/?p=77373 The company behind Saranac brand beers has installed a steam pressure management system that has reduced steam use by about a third, while saving water and cutting costs. The Matt Brewing Company consulted with sales engineers R.L. Stone Co. about the new instrumentation, which includes an ABB Swirl flowmeter, an ABB ControlMaster CM10 flow computer [...]]]> http://www.environmentalleader.com/2012/05/25/matt-brewing-cuts-steam-use-energy-costs/feed/ 0 http://www.environmentalleader.com/2012/05/25/policy-enforcement-briefing-wind-ptc-plastic-bag-ban-bp-penalty-shipping-fuels/ http://www.environmentalleader.com/2012/05/25/policy-enforcement-briefing-wind-ptc-plastic-bag-ban-bp-penalty-shipping-fuels/#comments Fri, 25 May 2012 13:15:01 +0000 Environmental Leader http://www.environmentalleader.com/?p=77405 Here’s the latest policy, enforcement and legal news affecting corporate environmental and energy executives. Today’s briefing includes 11 items. President Obama stumped for an extension to wind energy production tax credits at the facility of wind turbine blade manufacturer TPI Composites in Newton, Iowa. An extension of ten years is estimated to cost $4.1 billion, [...]]]> http://www.environmentalleader.com/2012/05/25/policy-enforcement-briefing-wind-ptc-plastic-bag-ban-bp-penalty-shipping-fuels/feed/ 0 http://www.environmentalleader.com/2012/05/25/new-york-power-authority-discusses-conservation-and-sustainability/ http://www.environmentalleader.com/2012/05/25/new-york-power-authority-discusses-conservation-and-sustainability/#comments Fri, 25 May 2012 10:23:29 +0000 Environmental Leader http://www.environmentalleader.com/?p=76202 New York Power authority executives John Suloway and Ed Alkiewicz discuss with HydroWorld.com the utility’s Little Beaver Island habitat improvement project, environmental sustainability, and the challenges faced in receiving FERC approval.]]> http://www.environmentalleader.com/2012/05/25/new-york-power-authority-discusses-conservation-and-sustainability/feed/ 0 http://www.environmentalleader.com/2012/05/25/pg-shifts-200-forklifts-to-hydrogen-fuel-cell-power/ http://www.environmentalleader.com/2012/05/25/pg-shifts-200-forklifts-to-hydrogen-fuel-cell-power/#comments Fri, 25 May 2012 06:58:28 +0000 Environmental Leader http://www.environmentalleader.com/?p=77288 Proctor & Gamble, owner of the Tide, Pampers and Gillette brands, will convert its battery-operated forklift fleets at three facilities to ones powered by hydrogen fuel cells. New York-based Plug Power, which has Walmart, Sysco and Coca-Cola as customers, will supply the technology. P&G’s manufacturing facilities in California, North Carolina and Louisiana will be the [...]]]> http://www.environmentalleader.com/2012/05/25/pg-shifts-200-forklifts-to-hydrogen-fuel-cell-power/feed/ 0 http://www.environmentalleader.com/2012/05/25/daikin-mcquay-commercial-ac-first-to-meet-doe-efficiency-challenge/ http://www.environmentalleader.com/2012/05/25/daikin-mcquay-commercial-ac-first-to-meet-doe-efficiency-challenge/#comments Fri, 25 May 2012 06:21:37 +0000 Environmental Leader http://www.environmentalleader.com/?p=77423 Daikin McQuay is the first manufacturer to meet the US Energy Department’s rooftop unit challenge, an initiative announced in January 2011 that aims to encourage companies to develop the next generation of cost-effective, high performance commercial air conditioners. The Daikin Rebel is expected to reduce energy use by as much as 50 percent to 60 [...]]]> http://www.environmentalleader.com/2012/05/25/daikin-mcquay-commercial-ac-first-to-meet-doe-efficiency-challenge/feed/ 0 http://www.environmentalleader.com/2012/05/24/exxonmobil-chevron-investors-call-for-fracking-risk-disclosures/ http://www.environmentalleader.com/2012/05/24/exxonmobil-chevron-investors-call-for-fracking-risk-disclosures/#comments Thu, 24 May 2012 20:53:57 +0000 Environmental Leader http://www.environmentalleader.com/?p=77325 Chevron and ExxonMobil shareholders have filed proposals asking the companies to disclose risks to their operations and finances from hydraulic fracturing. Shareholder advocacy group As You Sow filed the ExxonMobil resolution on behalf of the Park Foundation, while Sisters of St. Francis of Philadelphia and Green Century Capital Management filed the Chevron resolution. The organizations asked [...]]]> http://www.environmentalleader.com/2012/05/24/exxonmobil-chevron-investors-call-for-fracking-risk-disclosures/feed/ 0 http://www.environmentalleader.com/2012/05/24/four-things-your-company-needs-to-know-about-the-carbon-disclosure-project/ http://www.environmentalleader.com/2012/05/24/four-things-your-company-needs-to-know-about-the-carbon-disclosure-project/#comments Thu, 24 May 2012 16:18:01 +0000 Environmental Leader http://www.environmentalleader.com/?p=77264 It’s that time of year again when thousands of companies start preparing their annual Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) Report. In 2011, more than three thousand organizations participated, and if you are one of them (or plan to add your name to the growing roster), here’s what you need to know: #1. Participation in the Carbon [...]]]> http://www.environmentalleader.com/2012/05/24/four-things-your-company-needs-to-know-about-the-carbon-disclosure-project/feed/ 2 http://www.environmentalleader.com/2012/05/24/burning-down-the-house-the-shocking-economics-of-energy/ http://www.environmentalleader.com/2012/05/24/burning-down-the-house-the-shocking-economics-of-energy/#comments Thu, 24 May 2012 16:04:03 +0000 Andy Mannle http://www.environmentalleader.com/?p=77260 Imagine if Mitt Romney’s sons burned through their entire family fortune in less time than it takes to watch Titanic in 3D. That would be crazy, right? But that’s exactly what we’re doing when it comes to energy: we’re burning our inheritance instead of collecting our income. We don’t normally see it expressed in these [...]]]> http://www.environmentalleader.com/2012/05/24/burning-down-the-house-the-shocking-economics-of-energy/feed/ 4 http://www.environmentalleader.com/2012/05/24/google-fox-52-others-among-edf-climate-corps-newcomers/ http://www.environmentalleader.com/2012/05/24/google-fox-52-others-among-edf-climate-corps-newcomers/#comments Thu, 24 May 2012 15:55:28 +0000 Environmental Leader http://www.environmentalleader.com/?p=77270 Google, Pfizer and Fox Entertainment Group are among the 54 companies joining the Environmental Defense Fund’s Climate Corps program for the first time this year. The EDF Climate Corps fellowship places specially trained MBA and MPA students in companies, cities and universities to identify and assess cost-effective opportunities to save energy and reduce emissions. Since [...]]]> http://www.environmentalleader.com/2012/05/24/google-fox-52-others-among-edf-climate-corps-newcomers/feed/ 0 http://www.environmentalleader.com/2012/05/24/goldman-sachs-to-pump-40bn-into-clean-energy/ http://www.environmentalleader.com/2012/05/24/goldman-sachs-to-pump-40bn-into-clean-energy/#comments Thu, 24 May 2012 15:51:18 +0000 Environmental Leader http://www.environmentalleader.com/?p=77317 Goldman Sachs Group plans to invest $40 billion over the next 10 years into renewable energy, an area where the bank expects demand to grow as the global appetite for energy increases and major manufacturing countries like China set more aggressive emissions targets, Reuters reported. But the bank’s new clean energy target would average about [...]]]> http://www.environmentalleader.com/2012/05/24/goldman-sachs-to-pump-40bn-into-clean-energy/feed/ 1 http://www.environmentalleader.com/2012/05/24/most-retailers-using-energy-management-in-over-half-their-stores-report-says/ http://www.environmentalleader.com/2012/05/24/most-retailers-using-energy-management-in-over-half-their-stores-report-says/#comments Thu, 24 May 2012 14:29:15 +0000 Environmental Leader http://www.environmentalleader.com/?p=77318 Some 63 percent of retailers now have an energy management system in at least 50 percent of their stores, according to a report by retail and multi-site facilities management organization the Professional Retail Store Maintenance Association. The figures come from PRSM’s 2012 Benchmarking Report – its first benchmarking report on HVAC costs and best practices [...]]]> http://www.environmentalleader.com/2012/05/24/most-retailers-using-energy-management-in-over-half-their-stores-report-says/feed/ 0 http://www.environmentalleader.com/2012/05/24/shaw-industries-kilian-reveal-chemical-substitution-successes/ http://www.environmentalleader.com/2012/05/24/shaw-industries-kilian-reveal-chemical-substitution-successes/#comments Thu, 24 May 2012 14:27:50 +0000 Environmental Leader http://www.environmentalleader.com/?p=77277 German sign manufacturer Kilian Industrieschilder and carpet firm Shaw Industries are among the companies that have found environmentally friendly substitutes for problematic or dangerous chemicals in their manufacturing processes, according to the backers of a new online tool for manufacturers. According The International Chemical Secretariat (ChemSec), one of the organizations behind online substitutions tool SubsPort, [...]]]> http://www.environmentalleader.com/2012/05/24/shaw-industries-kilian-reveal-chemical-substitution-successes/feed/ 0 http://www.environmentalleader.com/2012/05/24/standards-compliance-briefing-zigbee-emas-iso-14001-leed/ http://www.environmentalleader.com/2012/05/24/standards-compliance-briefing-zigbee-emas-iso-14001-leed/#comments Thu, 24 May 2012 14:13:12 +0000 Environmental Leader http://www.environmentalleader.com/?p=77305 Here’s the latest standards and compliance news affecting corporate environmental and energy executives. Today’s briefing includes 7 items. The ZigBee Alliance says there are now more than 500 ZigBee certified products available to the market, a 60 percent increase since August 2011. This makes ZigBee – designed for monitoring, controlling and automating the delivery and [...]]]> http://www.environmentalleader.com/2012/05/24/standards-compliance-briefing-zigbee-emas-iso-14001-leed/feed/ 0