Transportation-focused jobs bill will boost clean energy through public transit investment. …
… “Both bus and rail manufacturing jobs have synergies with other sectors in the clean energy economy that are very crucial, Lowe says. One of the most crucial components is energy storage and advances there will be key to wind, solar and nearly all of those really big green job sectors. ” …
Via Duke Univ: http://bit.ly/aCcACn
for reduction to achieve Walmart’s goal to eliminate twenty million tons of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from its global footprint. The company will deploy a selection, action, and assessment process to enable its sustainability program. Walmart collaborated with external 
leaders in sustainability and will leverage this integration team to identify projects, measure reductions, engage its supply base, and drive proper procedures into each GHG reduction benefit. …
… “Selection — Walmart will focus on the product categories with the highest embedded carbon. This is defined as the amount of life cycle GHG emissions per unit multiplied by the amount the company sells. To find the embedded carbon, the ASC reviewed the GHG emissions associated with all Walmart product categories. This approach ensures the project team focuses on the categories that have the greatest opportunity for reductions. Reductions can come from any part of a product’s life cycle.” …
Via Walmart Stores: http://bit.ly/aBy2pX
Walmart Sustainability commitment aligns with the company’s sustainability goals of being supplied 100 percent by renewable energy, creating zero waste and selling products that sustain people. http://bit.ly/dsPMqE
Greening the Walmart integrated supply chain has the potential to reach tens of thousands of companies around the globe. http://bit.ly/cmVTcG The Walmart effect is expected to have significant implications for China according to the Environmental Defense Fund, given the size of the Walmart environmental supply chain. http://bit.ly/cwV1OW
To track benefit realization, Walmart will follow this process: Suppliers and Walmart will jointly account for the reductions. ClearCarbon will perform a quality assurance review of those claims to ensure methodology, completeness and calculations are correct. When the claims meet the quality assurance check, PricewaterhouseCoopers will assess under consulting standards whether the defined procedures were followed consistently to quantify the reduction claim. http://bit.ly/beaYyY
Walmart has received constructive feedback from its colaboraters, such as The Environmental Defense Fund. For example, EDF reviewed the WalMart’s Sustainability Report and made these comments: We’d also like to see Wal-Mart present more data that allows readers to verify the information presented. For example, the limited data presented on improvement to fuel efficiency in the truck fleet – an area where we know that WalMart has made progress – leave room for confusion. http://bit.ly/dfdj3s
Mike Duke, Walmart’s President and CEO discusses the new Greenhouse Gas Goal: Today we’re announcing an aggressive new goal to eliminate 20 million metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions from the life cycle of the products we sell around the world by 2015. http://bit.ly/bBXBYx
Walmart’s Sustainability Announcement was facilitated by the folks at TreeHugger. http://bit.ly/cLfWpW
Walmart is collaborating with the Environmental Defense Fund, who believes that the company can effect huge environmental change. http://bit.ly/9JGYOy
Walmart green supply chain facts, PDF.
What others are saying …
Chile commits to algae-based biofuels technology by making a public-private investment of $31.6 million on research and development of biofuels produced from algae, via SciDev.Net. http://bit.ly/cTQHY2
Bloom Energy fuel cell is launched and is based on a solid oxide electro-chemistry. The energy server is sized into a module that can be scaled to meet commercial power requirements. …
… “The Bloom Energy Server is distinct in four primary ways: it uses lower cost materials, provides unmatched efficiency in converting fuel to electricity, has the ability to run on a wide range of renewable or traditional fuels, and is more easily deployed and maintained. Unlike traditional renewable energy technologies, like solar and wind, which are intermittent, Bloom’s technology can provide renewable power 24/7. Each Bloom Energy Server provides 100 kilowatts (kW) of power in roughly the footprint of a parking space. Each system generates enough power to meet the needs of approximately 100 average U.S. homes or a small office building. For more power, customers simply deploy multiple Energy Servers side by side.” …
Via Bloom Energy: Advanced Fuel Cell, PDF
Bloom Energy Servers are sized to provide 100kW of power. http://bit.ly/bAYWep
Bloom Modular Architecture is build upon multiple stacks that are aggregated together into a power module. http://bit.ly/aF8jAk
Bloom Solid Oxide Fuel Cells are believed to hold the greatest potential of the various types of fuel cell technology. http://bit.ly/cFKhkF
Solid Oxide Fuel Cells, or SOFCs, are expected to be near 60% efficient at converting fuel to electricity and that can be higher in applications designed to capture and utilize the system’s waste heat. http://bit.ly/c950vL
Fuel Cell Technology Comparison Chart, PDF. http://bit.ly/94QpPp
Here is how the Bloom Energy Server works, PDF. http://bit.ly/d3aYOW
What others are saying about Bloom Energy …
to provide electricity balancing service onto the power grid and generate revenue for the power. http://bit.ly/aA37Ki
V2G Example: “typical electric-drive vehicle can put out over 10kW, the average draw of 10 houses.” http://bit.ly/brYZfG
PA Governor Rendell invests in a portfolio of solar photovoltaic projects in Pennsylvania. …
… “VS Solar LP will receive a $1 million solar energy program grant for the installation of a rooftop solar photovoltaic system for the Valley Square Lifestyle Shopping Center located in Warrington Township. Of the 11 buildings that comprise the Lifestyle Center property, nine will be fitted with the photovoltaic rooftop panel systems. The total system size will be 800 kW and will cover 90 percent of the annual shopping center common area’s electric requirement, which is presently 1,131,000 kWh. The total project cost is $4.1 million. ” …
Via Pennsyvlania Governor Ed Rendell: Solar Investment Announcement (Doc)
Penn Stater Stephanie Adams shares insights on students quest for low cost college living, example: Ann Holley, lives in a tiny house that cost only $25,000 to build. … home is powered by solar panels, made with reclaimed materials, has a composting toilet, a propane refrigerator … http://bit.ly/c8uDax
Bloom Box also installed in eBay using landfill bio-gas to generate power that exceeds amount generated by solar panel installations, via Cnet: http://bit.ly/ds0X8a
ASU researchers collaborate with other scientists to focus on the elemental steps of photosynthesis to develop new strategies for renewable energy. …
… “Firstly, an understanding of how these complex processes work in Nature is crucial to future fundamental research in photosynthetic reaction centers, and this discovery may well be universal. Secondly, the use of two charge separation devices working cooperatively to maximize efficiency is a design theme that may well be applied in future efforts to create artificial photosynthetic devices. ” …
Via ASU: http://bit.ly/aaCGQd
through source reduction, collection and recycling. http://bit.ly/c1VfgP
and gadget performance by operating at lower voltages than normal, via Engadget. http://bit.ly/9Cf3Y3
is approved by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, enabling the company to act as a market-based rate authority. WSJ: http://bit.ly/a7IunB
Florida schools that act as emergency shelters will be eligible for a solar energy installation under a program to be managed by Florida Solar Energy Center at the University of Central Florida. …
… Each participating school will receive a 10-kilowatt solar energy system with a battery back-up — complete with installation. The system will provide enough power for critical energy needs such as lighting, communications and essential medical equipment.” …
Via University of Central Florida: Solar-Powered Schools
MIT will collaborate with manufacturing consortium to drive sustainable supply chain practices. …
… “The researcher will work with the company to map the supply chain and business operation, and help the company access knowledge both inside and outside MIT, working toward a sustainability strategy. ” …
Via Managing Automation: http://bit.ly/9lQngf
Northwestern chemistry researcher looks to drive solar energy innovation at the frontier of innovation. The team will create a solar energy model targeted at the consumer market that is clean and near limitless as the energy produced by plants. http://bit.ly/d42Oaq
US Department of Energy : Energy Savers provides updated map and matrix of Approved Energy Efficient Appliance Rebate Programs by state. http://bit.ly/cn5sX2
Linde achieves growth in the solar photovoltaic market and positions itself for further investment. Linde believes that cost and technology leaders in PV manufacturing will continue to invest in capacity extension despite oversupply. http://bit.ly/a2u2hF
Porsche adds solar power to roof at manufacturing facility with 40,000 sq m of 8,500 photovoltaic modules resulting in output of two megawatts. http://bit.ly/cpgPM3
Paul Hawken will provide his perspective on sustainability at a lecture and reception, which will be held on February 18 at 7:30-9 pm at the Gustavus Adolphus College Alumni Hall. …
About Paul: “he dedicated his life to sustainability and changing the relationship between business and the environment. ”