Environmental Leader Archive of Past Articles

EPA Finalizes Greenhouse Gas Inventory

April 15, 2009October 21, 2009 by Paul Nastu

U.S. greenhouse gas emissions grew 1.4 percent in 2007, according to “Inventory of U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Sinks: 1990-2007.” The Environmental Protection Agency released a draft of the report in early March, and had been taking public comments until recently. From 1990 to 2007, overall U.S. emissions have grown ... Read more »

Duke Energy Cuts Emissions by 712,000 Tons

April 14, 2009October 18, 2009 by Gina Roos

Duke Energy is on track to meet many of its sustainability goals initially established in 2007. The utility company’s 2008-2009 Sustainability Report indicates improvements in reducing CO2 emissions, sourcing renewable energy and cutting electricity usage. Key environmental metrics in the 48-page report show Duke’s progress in sustainability goals. Projects implemented ... Read more »

Bank of New York Mellon Adds Renewable Energy Sources, Boosts Recycling

April 14, 2009October 18, 2009 by Paul Nastu

In accordance with its corporate sustainability measures, at least one branch office of the Bank of New York Mellon is recycling three-quarters of all office materials. Additionally, seven of the firm’s U.S. offices have achieved the Environmental Protection Agency’s Energy Star designation, according to the firm’s 2008 CSR report. To ... Read more »

Texas Leads in Wind Power Capacity

April 13, 2009October 21, 2009 by Gina Roos

Twenty-four states opened, expanded or announced new wind turbine and component manufacturing facilities in 2008, according to an annual study by the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA). A key finding of the wind energy industry rankings report reveals that wind energy leaders in several categories maintained their number one positions ... Read more »

U.S. Interior Secretary: Wind Resources Could Power Coastal States

April 10, 2009October 21, 2009 by Gina Roos

Wind turbines off the East Coast could generate enough electricity to replace most of the coal-fired power plants in the United States, said the Interior Secretary Ken Salazar at a recent public hearing in Atlantic City, according to an Associated Press (AP) article. Salazar said at the public hearing that ... Read more »

Canadian Supermarket Diverts 328M Plastic Bags from Landfill

April 10, 2009October 18, 2009 by Gina Roos

Canadian food distributor Loblaw Companies Ltd. has diverted 328 million plastic shopping bags from landfill, and reduced its fuel consumption by 2.1 percent per kilometer in 2008, according to the company’s second annual corporate social responsibility (CSR) report. In 2008, the Brampton, Ontario-based company also diverted 70 percent of corporate ... Read more »

Water Issues Stretching Nations, Companies Thin

April 9, 2009October 21, 2009 by Paul Nastu

Companies and nations need to intelligently approach the issue of water availability. Failure to do so can result in declining profit margins, environmental calamity and even social unrest. A new article in the Economist shows that the amount of water being withdrawn from river systems and other resources is strained ... Read more »

ConAgra Releases Inaugural CSR Report

April 3, 2009October 18, 2009 by Paul Nastu

In its first-ever corporate social responsibility report, ConAgra exhibits its efforts towards sustainability in the supply chain, climate change and “lean manufacturing” processes. ConAgra, whose brands include Healthy Choice, Chef Boyardee and Hunt’s, says it followed Global Reporting Initiative standards in its report (PDF), which was released in late March. ... Read more »

Green Office Buildings Yield Financial Benefits

April 1, 2009October 18, 2009 by Gina Roos

The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) has announced the first study on the financial performance of “green” office buildings in the United States. Conducted by Piet Eichholtz and Nils Kok of the University of Maastricht and John Quigley of the University of California – Berkeley, the report evaluates the ... Read more »

Greenpeace: PC Makers Break Promises to Phase-Out Toxic Chemicals

March 31, 2009October 18, 2009 by Gina Roos

Greenpeace International’s latest update to its Guide to Greener Electronics found that HP, Lenovo and Dell won’t meet their promise to eliminate vinyl plastic (PVC) and brominated flame retardants (BFRs) from their products by the end of 2009. Lenovo has delayed its deadline to the end of 2010, while HP ... Read more »

Microsoft: Software Downloads Reduce Carbon Footprint by 88 Percent

March 31, 2009October 18, 2009 by Gina Roos

Microsoft has released the results of a comparative carbon footprint study that quantifies the environmental benefits by providing its software to consumers online. The digital distribution study, based on the online download of 10 million copies of Microsoft Office 2007, avoided eight times the amount of carbon emissions, or reduced ... Read more »

Southern Company Releases CSR Report

March 30, 2009October 18, 2009 by Gina Roos

Southern Company has released its second Corporate Responsibility Report detailing the energy company’s progress in energy efficiency improvements, renewable resource advancements and research in carbon storage technology. The Atlanta-based company highlights key initiatives in the report including its megawatt-saving EarthCents energy efficiency programs that help customers save money, a new ... Read more »

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